kidsmoke Posted January 22, 2017 Author Share Posted January 22, 2017 Home. So exhausted but so encouraged and inspired! ABC News is saying that instead of the projected 70,000 people, we had instead a crowd of something like 750,000. Somebody needs to work on their estimating skills! Despite the MASSIVE crowd, I saw absolutely NO instances of violence, anger, or even peevishness! It was an energized, motivated, and festive atmosphere and damned if everyone wasn't terrifically kind to each other! People carefully parted when the fire engines needed to crawl through slowly, and many cheered for the firefighters and thanked them for their service. The fire engines got slapped with multiple "I support Planned Parenthood" stickers as they passed through, but that was honestly the most "lawless" behavior I saw all day. If you don't count the brave gaggle of girls who showed up having forgotten their tops and had painted slogans on their backs. The crowd left them alone although there were some admiring glances their way. As in so many other cities, the march didn't begin when planned....because the streets were so flooded with people that the entire proposed march route was completely full! So there was literally no way to march to city hall. About an hour late, the entire crowd was turned to face the opposite direction simply by word of mouth spread back through the streets. Then we all took an alternate, longer route to city hall. The whole thing felt joyous and defiant and so, so satisfying!Pictures to follow. Too tired right now. Tell me how all of your marches went! One last comment....every sort of diversity was represented...all races, ages, you name it. I was impressed by how many disabled people joined the march, including many in wheelchairs. I'm so gratified by what I saw of our American population today. We are some pretty great people. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
NoJ Posted January 22, 2017 Share Posted January 22, 2017 After yesterdays despair, todays experience at the march brought a certain measure of hope. The sun coming out for the first time in what seems like weeks certainly helped. The 60 degree temps were welcomed too. My wife, daughter and I got to the march site around 10am and found it incredibly packed with people. We marched down Michigan avenue a few blocks and found a nice spot to observe our fellow marchers. It was a rainbow of people and smiles and great protest signs. We ended up at Daley Plaza and watched the marchers head east on Washington. All told, a very pleasant and inspiring event. I haven't been to civil protest since 2003-2004. Something tells me that we all are going to get a lot more opportunity to do so in the coming years. Authorities estimated yesterday a crowd of 50k. Today the news is saying 250k showed up. Take that, trump! We aint rolling over. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Isn't it awesome when the person who creates a lot of the music you love turns out to be a pretty fantastic person, as well? Dear fellow citizens who are being mean in our comments section,I don't know you so it's hard for me to accurately guess how much time you spend on your devices commenting on and unfollowing "celebrities" and moderately well known music figures. My assumption is that it's more than even you would care to admit. Since I don't know you it's extremely difficult for me to weigh the degree to which I should take you seriously. Still, it's easier to infer things about you than it is to take on board your criticism of me. For example: When you say something about Bill Clinton it makes me realize that you're old (or at least as old as I am) but it means nothing to me because I don't care for the man and I don't know where anyone would get the idea that I do.Anyway, it occurred to me that being in the position I'm in - where people devote their time and energy to negatively comment and insult their Formerly Approved of Musician™ (F.A.M. - I think that's going to really take off as a phrase in these upcoming years) for lending his support to things he and his band mates and all of our families have feelings about - I should take advantage of the opportunity to occupy your time and energy as often as possible to infiltrate your minds. Not because I have much hope of changing your opinions (again, I don't know you, so I'm not sure what your bag is) but I mean, MAYBE our sincerity about the things that concern us can inspire some deeper investigation into those concerns. I suppose that's why we share our opinions on Facebook, social media, etc., but I think it's more often than not just a helpful reminder to like-minded people (our bubble?) not to despair and to try to remain hopeful. It's a place for us to model some coping strategies that have made us feel better as citizens and to remind people to participate.Speaking of bubbles...sure, we live in a bubble. I'd love for more of you to share our bubble though! It's awesome! In our bubble I know cops and rappers and grocery store cashiers and artists and garbage collectors...so many decent people that don't really care that much about people being different than they are. If you can trust a reality TV star billionaire when he says, "believe me," surely you can believe me when I say you're welcome in my bubble. I grew up in what I think might be something like your bubble. You should at least try this one! Come on in!Or....maybe you just get off on getting people angry and it helps you blow off a little steam and feel a tiny bit more in control of your life. Good for you. Or...maybe you're serious about all the hurtful things you've been saying. If you ARE serious, I would like to welcome you back to our little corner of the web to spit and foam anytime you like. I can take it. I'm not afraid of you. There are more of us here and there always will be. So please come back! We'll keep laying out dishes of warm outrage for you to lap up in the form of our vision of a better world, causes we believe in, actions we're taking, etc., and in turn we'll have peace of mind in knowing that you aren't out in the world acting on the anger so evident in your hastily typed and misspelled defenses of a man who has been elevated to a position of immense power but in whom I've yet to see any evidence of virtue. You'll be here where we want you and the most vulnerable among us will have one less danger to encounter.With love (seriously),Jeff Tweedy Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kidsmoke Posted January 23, 2017 Author Share Posted January 23, 2017 It couldn't be more awesome! GO Jeff & Sue! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Madcap Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 hell yes. It makes things a little bit easier to know that your musical hero is a legit dude. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Jeff's a smart guy. He's gotta know many fans of music...including me....could give a flying crap about his political opinions. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 Jeff's a smart guy. He's gotta know many fans of music...including me....could give a flying crap about his political opinions. But it appears to me that you do, otherwise you wouldn't have said anything. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted January 23, 2017 Share Posted January 23, 2017 But it appears to me that you do, otherwise you wouldn't have said anything. My point is that, I think Jeff is fully aware that if he chooses to be part of a political rally or takes a side politically, that there's gonna be some people who don't agree with said rally, and will get worked up about it and say dumb/nasty things to him. Jeff has said many times that when he and Wilco put out a song, it's not there's anymore. I love that. And I agree. I love "Pieholden Suite". It makes me think of my wife. I love "Shot In The Arm", cause when he says "what you once were isn't what you want to be anymore", I think of how many dumb things I may have said or done in my lifetime and how I don't want to be any part of that anymore. His songs are mine now. So I honestly don't care what he thinks politically. When I listen to his music, I hear what I hear. I don't always 100% like the things he supports politically, but I'm able to separate it. Now, if I go see him in concert, I expect him to not get political. It ruins the whole concert vibe for me. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Now, if I go see him in concert, I expect him to not get political. It ruins the whole concert vibe for me. Well heaven forbid Jeff Tweedy lets you down and uses his platform to express things that he feels deeply about. I forgot about the part in the 1st amendment that said it didn't apply to celebrities and their opinions. You should not expect anything from Jeff Tweedy or any celebrity that is an extremely selfish way to look at things. The only reason the people (I am not necessarily saying you, but it looks that way) get so upset over celebs protesting or expressing their views is when they don't agree with them. If Jeff wrote a letter supporting whatever you believe in, I doubt you would feel it necessary to throw out the statement that you don't care about what he believes politically. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
uncool2pillow Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Well heaven forbid Jeff Tweedy lets you down and uses his platform to express things that he feels deeply about. I forgot about the part in the 1st amendment that said it didn't apply to celebrities and their opinions. You should not expect anything from Jeff Tweedy or any celebrity that is an extremely selfish way to look at things. The only reason the people (I am not necessarily saying you, but it looks that way) get so upset over celebs protesting or expressing their views is when they don't agree with them. If Jeff wrote a letter supporting whatever you believe in, I doubt you would feel it necessary to throw out the statement that you don't care about what he believes politically. Painting with a broad brush there. I remember seeing Marc Olson and Gary Louris on tour together during the Bush years. Marc Olson had written a protest album about the Iraq war. The songs sucked. I'd voted for Bush, my friend hadn't. We both hated those songs, though the rest of the concert was fantastic. Neil Young's Bush protest album also sucked, politics aside, it just plain sucked. I appreciated Tweedy's message. It was delivered with a bit of humor and humility. If others don't like it, you cannot simply assume it's because they disagree politically. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lost highway Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I appreciated Tweedy's message. It was delivered with a bit of humor and humility. If others don't like it, you cannot simply assume it's because they disagree politically. Yeah, it was well written. Do you think it bothered people who do agree politically? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Painting with a broad brush there. I remember seeing Marc Olson and Gary Louris on tour together during the Bush years. Marc Olson had written a protest album about the Iraq war. The songs sucked. I'd voted for Bush, my friend hadn't. We both hated those songs, though the rest of the concert was fantastic. Neil Young's Bush protest album also sucked, politics aside, it just plain sucked. I appreciated Tweedy's message. It was delivered with a bit of humor and humility. If others don't like it, you cannot simply assume it's because they disagree politically.I stand by my assessment. If you agree with a celebrity's, people will accept /tolerate their political rantings. If you disagree you will have the desire for that celeb to just make music, movies etc. It is human nature, it is easier to accept what we like. Granted Sid would probably dislike if Tweedy posted about respecting the President, but I doubt he would be compelled to express his displeasure. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Passenger Sid Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Well heaven forbid Jeff Tweedy lets you down and uses his platform to express things that he feels deeply about. I forgot about the part in the 1st amendment that said it didn't apply to celebrities and their opinions. You should not expect anything from Jeff Tweedy or any celebrity that is an extremely selfish way to look at things. The only reason the people (I am not necessarily saying you, but it looks that way) get so upset over celebs protesting or expressing their views is when they don't agree with them. If Jeff wrote a letter supporting whatever you believe in, I doubt you would feel it necessary to throw out the statement that you don't care about what he believes politically. Um, huh? Jeff can say whatever he wants. I like Tweedy. I think he's a genuinely very good guy. A caring guy. Seems a sweet guy. A grounded guy. A funny guy. A talented guy. I never once said anything specifically about disagreeing with him. Or being outraged in any way at what he says or thinks. In fact, the opposite. It bothers me ZERO...because I honestly think that...generally...entertainers' opinions and thoughts on political issues mean as much to me as my 3 year old nephew's opinion on political issues. I sometimes think that entertainers think, because they have popularity and a platform, that people like me all of a sudden give more weight to their opinions. I don't. As for concerts, Jeff, for example, could walk out with one of his crude, anti-Trump sentiments on his T-shirt and lecture me and the audience on how bad Trump is. It wouldn't bother me because me of what he's saying. I could give a rip. But it WOULD bother me that someone as smart and nice and caring and Jeff would actually think a group of thousands of people wanting to have a special night of listening to great music, would want to hear HIS thoughts on politics. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 ^^^^I understand your point, but regarding an entertainer's opinions and thoughts on political issues meaning as much to you as your 3 year old nephew, file that under hyperbolic bullshit. Even a stupid celebrity's command of the issues is better than a 3 year old's. Equating an adult's opinion on politics with a 3 year old's, simply because said adult is a celebrity, is foolish, and I doubt you would do it in practice. If you truly wanted other views/information on an issue at a specific time when you have no internet access, and the only people available were Jeff Tweedy and your 3 year old nephew, you'd chat up Mr. Tweedy. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Everything is a debate these days. Wild. Speaking of 3 yr olds, best sign at the marches (not sure if he/she is actually 3, so please don't challenge me on it): Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Doug C Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Everything is a debate these days. Wild. Speaking of 3 yr olds, best sign at the marches (not sure if he/she is actually 3, so please don't challenge me on it):As I said in a different thread, we are a gathering of pedants. Also, I don't see a pic or a link for the sign. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 As I said in a different thread, we are a gathering of pedants. Also, I don't see a pic or a link for the sign. Hm. Showed up on my post. Either way, it's the kid:https://scontent.fapa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16114986_10212488168066074_912233577145100678_n.jpg?oh=d61faf6900e424bc8a8c55802464c966&oe=58FFF20C Quote Link to post Share on other sites
KevinG Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Hm. Showed up on my post. Either way, it's the kid:https://scontent.fapa1-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-9/16114986_10212488168066074_912233577145100678_n.jpg?oh=d61faf6900e424bc8a8c55802464c966&oe=58FFF20C Awesome. In another place, got into a discussion about kids at this march and other marches (either right or left) and whether or not it was appropriate to have children at these marches. Do they really know what they are marching for, the significance, etc. Are the parents just forcing their views on to their children and is that ok. For myself, my daughter, who is nine, and my wife were one of the 75,000 marchers in Madison WI. Through out the election cycle we have had an open discussion about the election and the results and kept everything as even keeled as possible. But obviously letting both our children know how disappointed we were in the result and how the purposed policies would affect our community. My wife and I agreed, if we felt she did not understand what this was about she could not go (though we did not tell her that). We talked with her before the march, ask her what she thought it was about, and explained what they purpose was. It was always her decision to go, and she did. She came up with a sign and slogan on her own "Stronger together, united" and she marched. I am glad she was part of history. But more than that I needed her to understand what this was about. I think that is the important thing with children. And I hope that the marchers with children tried best to explain what was going on. and BTW that kid in the picture is only like 18 months, tops. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 Yeah, my 9 yr old and 13 yr old sons went with my wife and her friend (I was sick in bed). the 9 yr old wanted to make a sign the night before but we were lacking in poster board and one of his ideas was a bit shallow (he wanted: No More Signs) so we bahgged the sign deal But yeah, we definitely have not hidden our political views (his mother, my ex, as well) so I'd imagine he's been swayed, just as if we had taken him to church or something. When they get old enough they can come to their own conclusions. The 9 yr old, in particular, loved going to the march and was amazed at the power of people coming together like they did. It served a purpose, not only for the adults, but for the kids. ed. I'd guess that kid is closer to 19 months..... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I thought that brainwashing your own kids was the whole point of having kids. How am I expected to create my own Cosa Nostra without that notion? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 I thought that brainwashing your own kids was the whole point of having kids. How am I expected to create my own Cosa Nostra without that notion?Exactly! Do we crank are own music in the car "for" them? YES! (although I used to acquiesce to kid tunes when they were little). I've tried to brainwash my kids into enjoying sports with me, too. No dice. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Winston Legthigh Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 My two boys (2 and 4) always shout "NO MUSIC!" in the car when I'm driving. nice. Though they do love the Casino soundtrack. They make me play Ain't Got No Home over and over and over! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 We took our 11 & 13 yr old kids to the march. Even though they knew on a superficial level at least why we were going, it wasn't until the "this is what democracy looks like" chant got going that I think they finally started to understand why it was important to be there. But it's also entirely possible that they were just humoring us so that we'd stop for ice cream on the way home. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Lammycat Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 My two boys (2 and 4) always shout "NO MUSIC!" in the car when I'm driving. nice. Though they do love the Casino soundtrack. They make me play Ain't Got No Home over and over and over!If they (or if they do down the road) watch Spongebob, the soundtrack is a fun disc for adults, too (I'm sure you are aware, but just in case). Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ih8music Posted January 24, 2017 Share Posted January 24, 2017 If they (or if they do down the road) watch Spongebob, the soundtrack is a fun disc for adults, too (I'm sure you are aware, but just in case).Spongebob is fine, but Phineas and Ferb is the best. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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