I survived the Republican National Convention unscathed.
I walked through a couple of protests and survived.
Tuesday Aug 31, I ended up walking into a protest. Don't ask how I didn't notice. I was on my merry way after work. I was walking on 34th - even stopped to by an ice cream cone. Why should the RNC stop me from enjoying life as I usually know it? As I approached Broadway I noticed a line up of police vehicles and a line up of cops in their riot gear..wasn't sure what was going on. All of a sudden I hit Victoria Secret and am greeted by a sea of people. They seemed to have appeared out of thin air...lots of protestors blocking my path home. The cops also put up metal street barricades so we were unable to cross Broadway where Macy's stood. The subway entrance was blocked so you could not avoid the crowd by passing underground. I had no where to turn because I was already stuck in a sandwich of people. I had no choice but push my way through to the end of the block on 35th where it seemed to end. It brought flashbacks to when I attended a Yankee tickertape parade. I witnessed an argument between a bypasser and a demonstrator. The bypasser was enraged that he could not pass because of an illegal demonstration. The protester was enraged because the city refused to issue a pass so they could demonstrate. He told the passerby that they had the right to peaceful assembly. The passerby said that he had the right to be able to walk on the street and get home without all this. Good thing it did not end up in a brawl or else I probably would have had an elbow or more in my face. There was pretty much chaos for a bit...but once I made it past the crowd - I was home free up to 9th avenue. Except there was a police road block on the East End of 9th Avenue so I had to walk across to the west end of 9th ave for 1 block and walk back across to get to my apartment. I don't know which was worse - getting stuck in a mass amount of people or having to walk through hell and high water just to get home...and ofcourse having to flash ID once I got there.
The next day Wed Sept 1 - I was walking to work and I saw another demonstration - this one more quiet and subtle. Apparently they were lined up in a single file from Wall Street to 34th Street. When I saw them they had only made it to 27th street. They were all holding up a pink flyer representing a "Pink Slip" for all the jobs lost during the Bush Administration.
Thursday Sept 2 was the last day of the convention when Bush made his speech. I had gone to Union Square to watch a free movie screening. The Park was a bustle with people - all protesting activities...people selling anti bush anti war pins, etc. People singing. People lots of people. You knew something was set to happen but I wasn't sure what. It felt very electrified and active. Cops were waiting around as well, because I think they knew something was going to happen and they had to control it. After the movie, it looked like more people gathered at Union Square. It was about 9:15pm. Union square is never that busy. We were going to get something to eat. On the sidewalk in chalk was written something like "Scream Bush No More at 9:30." I wasn't sure what that meant - were all these people at Union Square going to scream at the same time? I wanted to hear or see...but I didn't hear anything and 9:30 passed. After eating I had gone to my friend's house. He has a veranda that looks out onto 6th Avenue...it was about 10:30pm when we heard a lot of noise. We looked out and there was a sea of demonstrators chanting "Bush No More" walking along 15th Street. The cops were prepared...they had lined up on the North and South Side of the street blocking traffic so that these protestors could pass. Was this a legal protest? If it wasn't why didn't the cops stop them instead of making a path for them? Were there too many people to stop? It was the strangest thing I had seen to see all these cars stopped in their path because of a human cop barricade so the people could walk through. I think it was not legal because they would probably have set up road blocks prior like they do for parades. So I guess that was what the message was for - it was a call for all the protestors to get together at 9:30. I admire the way they organized all these protests. It's a lot of effort. And for the most part, the cops were pretty good at keeping the peace, although they did go on an arresting rampage the 1st couple of days.
I went out to a bar that night, and when I got home at about 3am my street barricade was lifted and I was able to walk onto my block from 9th avenue (because 8th was still blocked) without having to show ID. I felt relief. I felt HAPPY. Cops were still around but they no longer had to pay attn to me. I could not wipe the grin off my face walking up to my apartment. It was finally over and I survived it all.
Now lies the election ahead of us and I only hope the best man survives.
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Monday, August 30, 2004
down and out in NYC due to the RNC
All I've written about wanting to feel at home and now the RNC comes to town.
I don't know why they decided to host this convention here, but I think it was a politcal ploy..that backfired atleast for me. I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling now that the Republicans are in town...I'm more pissed off.
I live right in the "Hot Zone" where my block is closed off and I don't have access to walk through without ID. Even with ID, I have to walk a block out my way to get home. I have to walk a round about way to get to work. I can't walk a block across 8th avenue to my apt although I see tons of people there because I suppose they're guests of the convention and I am just a lowly resident that lives there. Well there was no way I would be displaced from my apartment because of this convention. Although I know a lot of people took off or are working from home. Why am I paying an exorbitant amount for rent to have to leave my home because of this? I refuse! Although what a hassle it is.
What kind of feelings did the Republicans want to evoke by holding the convention here in NYC? Where most of the folk are known to be Democrats? The Balls. There are cops at every street intersection, tons of cops in the HOT Zone, blocked off roads, sirens going off through out the night, helicopters flying around, security checks everywhere. Motorcades causing pedestrian traffic. I don't really feel safe although with cops everywhere I guess I should. I feel ill at ease. Not because I think there is a terror alert. I actually feel like the NYPD is well prepared in that aspect. I feel uncomfortable because I have to show ID just to get on to the block I live on and I might not be allowed through. I understand the need for ID but it doesn't help me walk across where I need to go - I still have to walk a block out my way to enter. And what if I forgot my ID - would I be destined to a night of homelessness? Would I need the doorman to come to my rescue and pick me up at the security check? Probably. It's stressful and annoying trying to get home or walking to work because you can never be sure which way is ok to pass and all of a sudden you're a mile away from where you want to be. And because of all this hullabaloo, I feel like I'm reliving 9/11 all over again - I feel like we are living in a Police State (which also occured after 9/11). That's not a nice feeling. It'll probably be worse here when Bush comes into town. How does this benefit the Republicans? Who knows. I just can't wait till the RNC leaves and I can live my life in hassle-free peace. PLEASE GO! If nothing, you lost a vote from me although to be honest you never had it to begin with..
I don't know why they decided to host this convention here, but I think it was a politcal ploy..that backfired atleast for me. I don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling now that the Republicans are in town...I'm more pissed off.
I live right in the "Hot Zone" where my block is closed off and I don't have access to walk through without ID. Even with ID, I have to walk a block out my way to get home. I have to walk a round about way to get to work. I can't walk a block across 8th avenue to my apt although I see tons of people there because I suppose they're guests of the convention and I am just a lowly resident that lives there. Well there was no way I would be displaced from my apartment because of this convention. Although I know a lot of people took off or are working from home. Why am I paying an exorbitant amount for rent to have to leave my home because of this? I refuse! Although what a hassle it is.
What kind of feelings did the Republicans want to evoke by holding the convention here in NYC? Where most of the folk are known to be Democrats? The Balls. There are cops at every street intersection, tons of cops in the HOT Zone, blocked off roads, sirens going off through out the night, helicopters flying around, security checks everywhere. Motorcades causing pedestrian traffic. I don't really feel safe although with cops everywhere I guess I should. I feel ill at ease. Not because I think there is a terror alert. I actually feel like the NYPD is well prepared in that aspect. I feel uncomfortable because I have to show ID just to get on to the block I live on and I might not be allowed through. I understand the need for ID but it doesn't help me walk across where I need to go - I still have to walk a block out my way to enter. And what if I forgot my ID - would I be destined to a night of homelessness? Would I need the doorman to come to my rescue and pick me up at the security check? Probably. It's stressful and annoying trying to get home or walking to work because you can never be sure which way is ok to pass and all of a sudden you're a mile away from where you want to be. And because of all this hullabaloo, I feel like I'm reliving 9/11 all over again - I feel like we are living in a Police State (which also occured after 9/11). That's not a nice feeling. It'll probably be worse here when Bush comes into town. How does this benefit the Republicans? Who knows. I just can't wait till the RNC leaves and I can live my life in hassle-free peace. PLEASE GO! If nothing, you lost a vote from me although to be honest you never had it to begin with..
Wednesday, August 25, 2004
French vs English
My boyfriend lives in France right now. When he was here, he had a lot of friends from France, and since I don't speak French, I was the odd man out in my own homeland whenever we hung out. Pretty funny and pretty sad. When I went to visit in France, I spoke very minimal French and otherwise he was my translator. His friends also for the most part spoke English. Am I the typical American that doesn't speak any other language but my own? Maybe. It's not to say that I haven't tried to pick up a foreign language. I've been working on Spanish ever since high school. OK maybe I haven't really put that much effort into it, but I always want to improve. And now I feel the need to learn French on top of that because I don't like not understanding what people are saying around me.
There is all this typically "French hate the Americans" and "Americans hate the French" stereotypes floating around, but for the most part I don't think they really hate America. I mean most of the French people I've met think NY is cool, although many people think NYC is it's own country and is not like the rest of the US. The point is I don't think there is any hate against the people of America. What I do find is however a strong dislike for our President. Well some people may say that is the same as hating Americans, that is if you agree with the policies of the Bush administration. My French friends already feel that Kerry won (even though the elections have not taken place yet). And I told them that the US is probably split 50/50 and we can't tell yet who will win the elections. I think possibly the Americans who hate the French don't personally know anyone from there. How can you hate a country without truly knowing it's people? And once you visit many countries, you see that we are all very similar. There are nice people and not so nice in any place you visit. This goes the same for people you meet here, whether it be Boston, NY or California.
I went to Morocco this year for my summer vacation. My boyfriend's friend lives in Casablanca. So we decided to meet there. Here another example of being the odd man (WOman) out...They speak Arabic and French there. So once again I was lost in translation. His friend speaks English and ofcourse my bf speaks English so around them I was ok. But for the most part my boyfriend did all the talking especially in Marrakech- negotiating cab rides, getting directions etc. When it came to bartering for goods, however, most people could speak English as well. Money is a powerful tool. But here I was an American venturing into an Arab/Muslim Country. I was a bit apprehensive about going. People also warned me that it might be dangerous, etc. Not sure if they meant dangerous b/c I was American or dangerous for other reasons (theft, etc). I am not sure if Moroccans hate Americans. When they found out I was from NY, they seemed to be ok. As our Moroccan friend explained, they don't hate Americans - as a tourist etc, we shouldn't worry, because it is Bush and his policies that they hate and they know we individually are not to blame for our governments actions so they don't hate us as people. Although, I'm thinking if you had an I love Bush T-shirt on, you might get spit on. I didn't try it but then again I would never own such a shirt. I would call that more than a major fashion faux pas. I definitely felt like I was in another world in Morocco. It was an exotic place to visit...I couldn't live there but it was an interesting place to see. I was only able to go to 2 cities while I was there, and would have liked to see more.
I think we need to spread more love around the world...Not war.
There is all this typically "French hate the Americans" and "Americans hate the French" stereotypes floating around, but for the most part I don't think they really hate America. I mean most of the French people I've met think NY is cool, although many people think NYC is it's own country and is not like the rest of the US. The point is I don't think there is any hate against the people of America. What I do find is however a strong dislike for our President. Well some people may say that is the same as hating Americans, that is if you agree with the policies of the Bush administration. My French friends already feel that Kerry won (even though the elections have not taken place yet). And I told them that the US is probably split 50/50 and we can't tell yet who will win the elections. I think possibly the Americans who hate the French don't personally know anyone from there. How can you hate a country without truly knowing it's people? And once you visit many countries, you see that we are all very similar. There are nice people and not so nice in any place you visit. This goes the same for people you meet here, whether it be Boston, NY or California.
I went to Morocco this year for my summer vacation. My boyfriend's friend lives in Casablanca. So we decided to meet there. Here another example of being the odd man (WOman) out...They speak Arabic and French there. So once again I was lost in translation. His friend speaks English and ofcourse my bf speaks English so around them I was ok. But for the most part my boyfriend did all the talking especially in Marrakech- negotiating cab rides, getting directions etc. When it came to bartering for goods, however, most people could speak English as well. Money is a powerful tool. But here I was an American venturing into an Arab/Muslim Country. I was a bit apprehensive about going. People also warned me that it might be dangerous, etc. Not sure if they meant dangerous b/c I was American or dangerous for other reasons (theft, etc). I am not sure if Moroccans hate Americans. When they found out I was from NY, they seemed to be ok. As our Moroccan friend explained, they don't hate Americans - as a tourist etc, we shouldn't worry, because it is Bush and his policies that they hate and they know we individually are not to blame for our governments actions so they don't hate us as people. Although, I'm thinking if you had an I love Bush T-shirt on, you might get spit on. I didn't try it but then again I would never own such a shirt. I would call that more than a major fashion faux pas. I definitely felt like I was in another world in Morocco. It was an exotic place to visit...I couldn't live there but it was an interesting place to see. I was only able to go to 2 cities while I was there, and would have liked to see more.
I think we need to spread more love around the world...Not war.
Saturday, August 21, 2004
Garden State
I saw this movie the other day and liked it. I even liked the soundtrack and actually bought it yesterday.
I'm a sucker for romance movies but there was something that the main character said that really got to me. It was about being home. Sometimes you feel at home with a person and it's not an actual physical place. I suppose my parent's house where I grew up and lived for quite some time is my official home, but at the same time, since I now live on my own, I feel like I'm still searching for my own home. Right now I reside in the best city in the world but my apartment doesn't really feel like home even though I've lived here since October. It feels more like a transient place which I guess is because I know I won't be living here for long. Which brings me back to feeling at home with people, i.e. friends or your significant other. And it's so true. When you're with someone and you feel safe when you're with them, that security is one of the greatest feelings of all.
I'm a sucker for romance movies but there was something that the main character said that really got to me. It was about being home. Sometimes you feel at home with a person and it's not an actual physical place. I suppose my parent's house where I grew up and lived for quite some time is my official home, but at the same time, since I now live on my own, I feel like I'm still searching for my own home. Right now I reside in the best city in the world but my apartment doesn't really feel like home even though I've lived here since October. It feels more like a transient place which I guess is because I know I won't be living here for long. Which brings me back to feeling at home with people, i.e. friends or your significant other. And it's so true. When you're with someone and you feel safe when you're with them, that security is one of the greatest feelings of all.
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