Friday, March 2nd, was a cold and VERY windy day here in Louisville. The weather was certainly not conducive to holding flags and banners without snapping your buddies in the face with polyester or to being able to stand upright on the sidewalk while holding a huge sheet painted with "God Bless the Free Iraq!" It was a day that actually echoed the event -- blustery.
The two Marks (Mark Shuler on the left, Mark Lewis on the right) and our sail... errr, ah... our banner!Mark Lewis, the organizer of the Support for Victory Rally was rock solid with his grip on the banners and flags and on the need to be on the street that day to give voice to the pro-victory contingent in this town. We had a good turn-out for a bunch of Conservatives who are tired of being the "silent majority." The local paper (or "fish wrap" as its known among local Conservatives) chose to focus the headline of their story on our numbers versus the number of Lefties. If that's the way you want to measure it, fine. Here's how we measure it: it takes 10 or more negative Lefty America-haters to cancel out the positive America-loving spirit of just one victory supporter. Given that math, the Lefties fell far short of taking away our heart, our spirit, and our support for this country, our President, and our troops.
Sure, we were a smaller group in number but not in spirit!
Most of the media got photographs early on and missed the larger crowd.
It was hard to get a shot that included all of our signs, flags, and banners.
The offical rally Mom was unstoppable in her support of our President, the troops, and the mission! 
Local troops stood on the homefront in support of their compatriots overseas!
Denise Lewis and Kraig Taylor standing strong in support of victory!History was made on Friday when a local television station (WLKY-32) actually interviewed the rally organizer and it made the telecast! In addition, I saw coverage on channel 11 (WHAS) that included a short bit of the reporter's interview with Denise Lewis -- I couldn't find that one online but it was nicely done. This is a rare event, indeed. In the past when Protest Warrior made its pro-America/pro-troops stands against the local Lefties, we were interviewed a few times by local papers but those interviews showed up paraphrased out of context and none of them ever made the TV newscasts. So, congratulations to Mark Lewis for representing us well and a big thank you to the reporter for presenting a fair picture of the situation.
Unfortunately, we Conservatives are amateurs when it comes to drowning out differing opinions. Call us old-fashioned but we still believe in the First Amendment and every American's right to be heard. We are never prepared for the favorite tactic of the Left -- raising enough noise to drown out the voices from the other side. Sure, they're supporters of free speech but only if it's THEIR speech. It's almost eerie the way it plays out on the streets just like it does in the mainstream media in this country.
The usual suspects...
Our favorite FReeper, Robert Strickland, rallies the pro-victory "troops!" Read his AAR (along with more pictures) on Free Republic.The most interesting thing about these types of rallies and counter-protests are the number of passers-by who stop, talk, and then join us. As with many past Protest Warrior actions, this rally garnered five different folks who had never participated in such a demonstration of support but were tickled pink to be able to join us in facing donw the cacophony from the local Left.
An impromptu member of the rally team from local radio station WLRS lets his free flags fly!Our best weapons, as always, were our smiles, our spirits, and our ability to carry flags, banners, and signs aloft with a steady hand and a steady heart. We knew what we stood for; it didn't matter how loud the old hippies got. Even when they sought to drown out our chants, our singing of the Star Spangled Banner, and our Pledges of Allegiance to Old Glory, our hearts swelled just knowing that we were standing for victory in the face of America-haters. Many on the other side of the street made obscene gestures at us, shouted out nasty names, grabbed their crotches, and threw their little American flags on the ground in response to our signs, our spirits, and our smiles. And, in their wake? Well, trash, of course. After all, not only are they "peaceful" but they're "environmentally conscious!"
"Peace" supporters needed a few reminders from the mounted police onsite.
Now THAT'S enthusiasm for the cause, Mark!And so, folks, it was another victory for those of us who refuse to cave into the constant negative yammering and hysteria of the Left here in Louisville. We pro-victory types showed our colors on Friday: Red, white, and blue... held aloft with hands that believe in reaching for victory and knowing it's within our grasp.
Comments
They don't love America the way people who value our representative Republic love it. They honor the murdering Communist guerilla Che Guevara. Most of us who know anything about history understand what a gross misrepresentation it is to claim to love this country while hoping/working for its downfall.
Yes, I have been guilty in the past of using terms that purposely get under the skin of some folks. It's my own little private agitator coming out... however, in this case, I was being sincere.
Dig deep on that website and you ought to end up at "Peace and Justice" and/or International ANSWER's website. Both organizations are the antithesis of what America stands for. I am firm in my conviction that these people hate America.
Ironic though, isn't it? An organization that is able to freely express themselves by virtue of our democracy works toward an end to it. It's ridiculous.
Wayne