The Morning News

Friday, November 21, 2008

Currently: nurturing all the nature obtainable
Today’s Feature: “Pilgrimage” by Jessica Francis Kane
Latest in Digest: The Chicagoan
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August 31, 2004

Notes From Protests Around New York

 I’m guessing most of the kids wearing Palestinian scarves will probably enjoy a comfortable, good night’s sleep once the RNC’s over, without facing tanks in the morning.

Why can’t the protesters wear more interesting costumes? Isn’t there something the Republicans hate more than dirty hippies? Why not dress like Hillary Clinton? For an effective message, I’d like to see a parade of Ann Coulter look-alikes telling the Republican delegates they need to convert to Christianity—i.e., the religion reported to value compassion and love for those less fortunate than yourself. Then again, greed’s not only good, it’s a lot more marketable than sacrifice.

 One nice thing about the protesters: You can tell which ones are tourists right off the bat. No matter how many anti-Bush pins are attached, the fanny packs give them away.

 “Unlearn Your Gender Expectations” isn’t the clearest message for a picket sign.

 It’s unclear which people in the protest crowds are press and which are protesters. A random sampling at Union Square this afternoon gave me a 50/50 split, but maybe it’s because Sony has apparently sponsored the protests. Everyone has a video camera, and every second’s worth recording. I feel for the protest film editors, back in the yurts drinking Red Bull.

 Amateur drummers should be deployed to the nests of our enemies.

 Turns out protesters like sex too. A large crowd of men with signs turned noticeably quieter when a pretty blond in a mini-skirt and red heels walked by. With her sunglasses, she was the perfect image of New York hot: oblivious to the stares, but quite aware her legs could power a small country.

When she was gone the men went back to yelling about Bush.

 Two big guys carrying pro-Bush signs were dumb enough to stand in the middle of an open plaza. In 20 minutes they were surrounded by a crowd 50-people deep. If they’d been smarter, they would have stood on the edge of the sidewalk so a quick dash to the subway could have saved their hides from a few hundred seething liberals. Then again, they were Bush supporters…

 Like the majority of cops keeping an eye on the events, the majority of protesters are remarkably polite. I was excuse-me’d more times in an hour than I get in a single year in New York. Still more proof the streets belong to the tourists.


TODAY’S FEATURE

Pilgrimage

Many people hope to be authors, even some in the publishing business. JESSICA FRANCIS KANE goes back to a monastery to see both sides of the story.

Cause and Effect

What’s the Point of Giving Thanks?

Matthew Baldwin investigates the grand tradition of gratitude.

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The Chicagoan

The Second City citizen’s eponymous magazine, which initially ran from 1926 to 1935, is revived in the form of a well-produced, well-illustrated coffee table book.