I went to th vigil last night, on Bayshore Drive in south Tampa. It's along a majestic sidewalk promenade on Tampa harbour, a luscious stretch of normally placid water with a colonial style fence on the water. There was a stiff breeze from the east across the water. It was difficult to keep the candles lit, but we endured with several re-lightings myself. Turn the wrong way and the flame would go out. I used up two candle lighhters and a wic I made to light a coleman lantern....
There was this mother there, a Gold Star mom with her photo of her son, a Latino fellow who was killed in Iraq. She was so gracious sitting there with her photo of her fallen son holding a cabdle that burned continuously in her cupped hands, sitting next to a flag draped coffin. There was a gathering of perhaps twenty. Spell it out, sounds longer.
There were prayers and intonations, even a rebellious scuffling by a proclaimed agnostic against the blessings. I told her that was nickel-and-dime stuff. I went over and talked with the fat dude in the robe wearing a large Coptic cross. He said he was an eclectic universalist. His sister aksed me what was the problemo with the agnostic. We remembered the Pagan celebrations we had earlier in 2002. Then they read the names of Florida's fallen. After that some guy came strolling by with his family and said, "You're in the minority, dude!" to this vet for peace and walked on. Everybody shared a moment of silence then we all laughed cause he used the "DUDE" word. Mom sitting there taking it all in.
this biciclyer stopped and stared at my "BUSHWHACKED" sign and after awhile he said, "I agree with you 100%" and "I read in your sign everything I need to know, Thanks" and rode on. I said "I see everything I need to know in you too!" as he rode away, the answer's a blowin in the wind. I mom and her young daughter stpooed and mom read the "War Is Not Healthy for Kidz and etxc." poster sombody had, and walked on.
I saw my old Buddhist friend, Robert Nunzen. Some others including Mauricio from Guatemala. also Pax Christ. We got a slightly favorable comment from passers-by, the up thumbs and happy honks a bit more than the hollers and angry beeps.
The cops were in the parking lot across the street when I got there. Saw a squad car parked behind me when I parked it. I did not get a photo of them head on, but when I walked across the street, I took out my camera and pointed it in their direction and saw them driving off. Got some shots of the cops in March, great sport. There wasan incident in Tampa during Presidunce dumbyas's brief visit to the senior citizen paradiso, Sun City. Driving into the place, the Prez and his entourage, a welcome greeting by anti-war anti-idiot protestors, there was a buzz gun pointed out of the rear windows of one of th limos. Nobodt had a camera, altho there were several written eyewitness reports from both siddes oif thstreet, guns were pointed at the protestors in the Presaiduncial entourage into Sun City, Florida. Evidently this has happened before.
Mom left well after dark in her wheelchair. I told her, "Orgulla, Senora." She nodded politely and split. I said thanks and split too, my candle was out again and it was after nine. Memorial Day antidote to the dopes and peddlers of stupidity, the masters of war.
i have some shots locked inside our pld Minolta film box. will post them later.
some police chots from Tampa in March, 2006, the anniversary of the Iraq War's impetuous begginningg.
who'se watching whooo?
there they gooo
police paradise, a moment in eternity
