From You
At The Arch
originally published October 10, 2007
I’m sure many people had a chuckle (no pun intended) at Chuck Jones’ tirade in last week’s Flagpole [“Protest Protest,” Letters, Oct. 3] concerning the young man wearing an old Army-issue jacket while protesting the war at the International Day of Peace vigil a few Fridays ago.
I like to hang out with Chuck, and over the years have become somewhat of a friend despite our differences of opinion regarding the ongoing war. I was hanging with him when he went to take a picture (for evidence) of the offending youth, and was with him when the police (that he called) came to answer the complaint.
So here is my memory of the events that went down:
- The young man wearing the jacket was a young woman. (Get your glasses checked, Chuck. You went up to her and got in her face to take the picture.)
- The officer explained (over and over again) that it was not in any way illegal to wear such a jacket in public even if the wearer was not, or had never been, a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
- I noticed that the young lady had taken off the jacket, so I went across the street to explain to her that the policeman (an Iraq vet) had said that she was totally in her rights to wear the jacket if she wished. She very politely and quietly explained to me that she had removed the jacket after conferring with some of the Women in Black (the “old biddies,” as Chuck calls them) who suggested that there were some who might find her wearing the jacket offensive, but that it was of course up to her as to how she should deal with that information.
The young lady, on her own accord, chose the peaceful option, which seemed appropriate on a day dedicated to love, peace and understanding. We could sure use some more warm hearts, like that young lady with the jacket, standing with us on Tuesday afternoons (5–6 p.m.), as we try our best to peacefully remember those many many lives that have been lost and continue to be lost because of our seeming inability to simply love each other.
Bio-Agro Defense
originally published October 10, 2007
NO way. There isn’t enough water - period! It’s wrong. Not to mention siting it next to our river, repealing a law, polluting the environment, making this town a potential dead-zone, etc. NO. This is not defense, this is insanity. After the BILLIONS of dollars spent to “protect” and “defend” us by starting a never-ending war, we are not safer. I live here, I don’t want to be protected in that way. Put it next to a nuclear bomb plant - it’s the real estate principle of conformity. It’s ludicrous. Stupid. Let's have a war on stupidity. Let’s have a war on greed. Let’s have a war on insanity. Let’s have a war on war. If that became this country’s mission, then I bet there would be a very different facility being funded. Don’t do this, don’t sell our wonderful Athens out for some crazy, outmoded way of seeing the world. Let’s save water, peace, ecology, otters - anything but more of this one-upmanship in the name of defense. NO.
Capitalism & Power
originally published October 10, 2007
M.C. [“Re: Oil & Power,” Letters, Sept. 19] has written, “The only thing we need is capitalism… Prices go up, people scale back. Simple.”
The fault in this grossly oversimplified analysis is that the “people” to which M.C. has so casually referred will not react (and have not in the past) in such a way. When prices go up, only those who can afford to pay them will be able to pay them. Unfortunately, this leaves the great majority in a very difficult position (as it has done throughout the history of capitalism). We in the United States have always felt that there must be something there to counteract the material control of the powerful. This is the reason for that great ideal for which our fearless leader claims he is using so much public money and life to chop up the Middle East: democracy. (Note: Even self-proclaimed Libertarian A. Greenspan has recently written that Iraq was invaded for the purpose of oil.) See, if the majority of the “people” do not approve of the way in which the powerful of this nation are dealing with energy, democracy gives us a means by which to change such a policy. That is why we have government and politicians and democracy. Sure, I know it’s not quite as “simple” as that, but at least I know it.
Now, if we could just put a stop to the commodification of democracy…
DVD Correction
originally published October 10, 2007
While I think it’s nice to have Robin Geddie writing about DVD titles that might otherwise get less notice, I want to correct a small but significant mistake in her review of LOL. [Lost Picture Show, Sept. 26] It’s well and good for her to trash this awful-sounding movie (which I have to admit I’ve never heard of at all!), but it’s unfortunate that she credited its director, Joe Swanberg, with the fine Mutual Appreciation. That mistake does a disservice to the film’s actual director, Andrew Bujalski, whose two features to date (the other being Funny Ha Ha) have established him as one of the more gifted filmmakers on the independent scene today.
On Protests
originally published October 10, 2007
I was headed home after work, driving down Broad Street, when I noticed a small group of protesters in front of the Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant. As I got closer, I saw they were holding signs representing PETA, and the signs shared information about the process of victimization that chickens go through when they are at the hands of a KFC chicken processing plant. “STEAMED ALIVE!!!” they read in big, bold letters. “BOYCOTT KFC!!!” They were serious!
So, it was a group of about four people. Well, three people and a human-sized chicken. One of the protesters was wearing a yellow chicken costume. He/ she appeared to be smiling and waving at cars as they drove by, like teenagers and sorority girls do when they want to wash your car or sell you peanut butter cups or cases of apples. The chicken wasn’t selling anything. The chicken was part of the message of PETA, which calls for ethical treatment of animals despite the fact that they slaughter a good number of them each year after “rescuing” them.
Honestly, the protest worked. It made me begin to think of what those chickens go through. I mean, these chickens are herded together on factory farms. They have their throats slit. They bleed to death and are then ripped apart, then cleaned. The parts that aren’t kept whole (wings, legs, breasts) are ground up and turned into little nuggets, and they… it’s horrible… the humanity… all the… oh… really. My brain was locked into thoughts of a squawking, clucking Auschwitz where chickens are lined up by the billions each year. Whoa.
After I thought about the chicken Holocaust for a couple of minutes, I thought about the yummy noodles I had for lunch. I thought about how hungry I was. And then, thanks to the person in the chicken costume who pointed out a Kentucky Fried Chicken to me, I turned my car into the parking lot and purchased some finger-licking goodness in the form of a Variety Bucket.
It cost me $6.94. And in full disclosure, I never considered the human cost. Or the feelings of poultry.
Yet another pretty decent message wrapped up in silliness. UGA wants free child care - and by God, they WILL bring a clown that plays the saxophone to the rally! A group of people want out of Iraq - and Hell’s bells they WILL bring a fake soldier! And what good did it do? Kids R’ Kids and Iraq are still BOTH full of America’s children. I’m not saying you shouldn’t “speak out” or whatever. But think about what you’re changing, and particularly what your aren’t.
Because, really: dudes like me just want to eat something. And a chicken on two legs in front of a chicken restaurant is just… goofy.
Football Mojo
originally published October 10, 2007
I don’t know whether this is a long letter to the editor connected to previous Bulldog tales, or whether it’s just a bizarre story. I’ll let you decide… a good heading might be “My Wife Saves the Dawgs…”
It all started before the South Carolina game, six long years ago. For the first time in my long career as a Dawg fan, I bought a gameday t-shirt and wore it as Georgia played pitifully in an embarrassing loss. I vowed never again to purchase such cursed apparel and burned it on my grill as I barbecued that night. The last Saturday in September, however, I succumbed to the temptation again as my wife and I strode toward the stadium. I popped into the Baxter Street Bookstore, ripped off my button-down North Face shirt (it wicks!) in the middle of the crowded sidewalk, and donned the red and black. Jill stuffed my former garb in her purse, and 15 minutes later we were seated by the hedges.
Well, you might not have gathered from the newspapers that the first quarter of that game was a dire time in Dawgieland. Mississippi scored a quick touchdown and stifled our offense completely. We looked listless, ripe for a gut-wrenching upset. As the quarter wound down, Mississippi drove at will the length of the field against our hapless defense, pausing momentarily on the six-inch line when one of their wide receivers went out of bounds, just short of a second touchdown that threatened to put the game out of reach. As the unstoppable Rebel offense huddled, Jill turned to me urgently and yelled, “Take off the shirt!” I stared at her incredulously until I remembered the other voodoo red and black t-shirt I had bought. “Take it off!” she shouted as she tugged on my sleeve. To the hisses of the fans behind me who doubted my school loyalty, I ripped off the shirt and threw it to the concrete. Sculpted pectorals glistening in the afternoon sun, I turned and explained to the gaping strangers, “This is my rally shirt.” Jill obliged by handing me my old button-down. I turned and slipped it on as a roar went up from the crowd. Mississippi had fumbled! The defense had forced its first turnover of the season! The day had been saved by some mysterious, inexplicable twist of fate. By the time I had my buttons done, the Dawgs had started on a 96-yard touchdown drive that would tie the game and save their season.
Some of you are too rational to believe that my wife’s quick thinking saved the Dawgies, but two friends were there and witnessed the timing, and therefore the causation. I did not dare touch the cursed t-shirt until the game was over. It will be buried in an unmarked location. As for the rally shirt, it will be on display in my office, 308 Rusk Hall, until the football season is over.
Tailgate Theft
originally published October 10, 2007
I was raised in Athens and graduated from the University, so the majority of my life has been in this great city. I love the caliber of the community and the people here are truly unique. At no time is this more evident than on a gameday. I began going to tailgates when I was barely four years old and it has become a tradition I look forward to sharing with friends and family. We were tailgating on the quad before the Ole Miss game and I am shocked and appalled at what happened. Someone stole our cooler, food and beverages!
What concerns me is not the loss of material goods but the loss of how I feel about our town and its citizens. We had ample food and beverages and are always happy to share with newcomers and neighbors. One friend commented on us leaving our belongings while going to the game and we reassured her that nothing had ever been stolen. Why would someone take from us that which we would have gladly offered? The shock and surprise at seeing our empty table and missing coolers was a horrible wake-up call. My friend had been right: trust no one. What a disappointing feeling. I love Athens and will continue our tailgate tradition, but I lost two things on Saturday: my deviled egg plate given to me by my deceased grandmother, and my trust in my fellow Dawg fans to do the right thing.
Hope you enjoyed the bar-b-q and bloody marys. Karma will take care of the rest.
At The Arch.2
originally published October 10, 2007
I would really like to ignore Chuck Jones and his recent letter to the editor ["Protest Protest," Oct. 3], but for the record I feel that I must speak out. The young woman wearing a military jacket at the 2007 International Day of Peace event took it off immediately when I told her that many find wearing a uniform disrespectful. This was before the police officer came in response to Chuck’s phone call. Chuck regularly appears at our weekly peace vigil and has been treated with civility by our group. Sept. 21 was designated by the United Nations as International Day of Peace. A number of us, including Women in Black of Athens and the Athens Society of Friends, want to celebrate working for peace. Peace-making is not passive. It is difficult and requires compromise, sacrifice and bravery.
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