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Whose Streets? Gleeful New Yorkers unite in hatred of the President. Since the September 11th attacks, New York City has been the poster-boy for American patriotism. On February 15th, the poster-boy turned problem child. Despite Yellowknife conditions, New Yorkers mobbed Manhattan’s streets to redefine American patriotism. Exercising their freedoms of speech and assembly, Gotham residents proved that the American spirit is not necessarily tied to carpet-bombing. For the last year, President Bush has used the specter of the smoldering towers to justify his international “war on terrorism” – on this Saturday, New Yorkers demonstrated that they were unhappy with the way he had been fighting the battle. The protest, which popped off in response to Bush’s haphazard attempts to associate Saddam’s dead corpse with American safety, also occurred during one of America’s most severe security lockdowns. And although Homeland Security advisor Tom Ridge recommended for New Yorkers to hunker down with plastic-wrapped windows and extra Goya beans, they arrived in droves. The impending war against Iraq was the issue of the day, but, despite the talk of peace, the vitriol against the current President was anything but dove-like. Evidenced by the countless anti-Bush posters, (such as “Buck Fush” and “Draft the Bush Twins”), the demonstrators’ rage was the culmination of a year’s worth of frustration with the current administration’s sex sessions with corporate criminals, bare-knuckled assaults on First Amendment rights, and trickle-down tax-cuts. Dissent may have been labeled unpatriotic a year ago, but on Saturday it was finally okay to be outspoken against American policy, it was finally okay to curse Bush in the streets and it was finally okay to creep onto the roof and heave child-sized chunks of ice down upon police officers’ heads. For people tired of helplessly grimacing behind their New York Times, the chance to join countless thousands of likeminded citizens in boisterous protest was therapeutic. New Yorkers did not march alone on the 15th, as they joined millions of svelte Europeans in protest against America’s most ugly Texan. For much of the 20th century Europeans have grudgingly respected America’s global triumphs and democratic rhetoric. Within the past year, the jealously has turned to disdain. New Yorkers, weary of being considered bedmates of the fuck-mouthed Commander in Chief, warmed their cold feet by marching to the chorus of lefty call and response chants. In doing so, they reminded the international community of the reasons Roosevelt and Clinton were both beloved. By day’s end, New Yorkers proved that American patriotism is not about apathy, oil and ignorance -- no matter what Ari Fleisher would have you believe. |
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