Marching and Singing in the Rain and Fun With Useless Umbrellas and Killer Bubbles

Well, I’m back and I survived to tell the tale. Turn out was ok, could have been better, but by the time I got there, skies were turning into thunderstorm clouds and they did announce thunderstorms this afternoon and yes, we caught caught in the pouring rain, the thunder and the lightening. I don’t know what was louder: the vuvuzuelas some  of demonstrators had  or the thunder.

We all gathered at Philip’s Square, started meeting people; many handed out litterature regarding their respective groups and their mandates. Many chatted amongst themselves.

Then, one thing that is annoying the hell out me these days.  This woman came approached a girl I had seen before.  This woman spoke English & I wasn’t sure how strong this girl’s English was, so I figured she might need help with the language.  The woman knew why we were gathered at Philip’s Square. Yes, many of the signs and banners were in French, but there were signs in English that were near enough for her to see and read. Honestly, I think the woman knew full well why we were gathered there; she was there to lecture the girl. The girl attempted to explain in English and I attempted the rest. Clearly, as is the case usually, the woman didn’t listen. That is what gets on my nerves. If you don’t want to know the truth, why come up and ask in the first place? She spoke over us every time we tried to get a word in edgewise.  Sadly typical these days. We present them with facts, in print! But they don’t don’t want to read it. We may present audio, but they refuse to listen.  We may have a visual but they refuse to look.  The woman ended up walking away quickly: I found myself yelling after her: “Ignorance is bliss, isn’t it?” and “Nice to be stuck in a cocoon, ain’t it?” What are they so afraid of? I realize the truth can be a scary thing but not facing it is even more frightening. In fact, that is what sweater vest Steve and the Harpercons, as well as their cheerleaders count on.  Why don’t a lot of folks get  that?

Typical Steve. ‘Only I can keep you safe’ ; ‘Only I can save us from the recession’…the grandfather…the savior…

Anyway, back to the march.

We march. A young man leading us had no shortage of slogans; many of which were critical of the police and of course, capitalism; “La Bourgeoisie au Service de la Police” “Harper Out!” “Liberez nos camarades”  and many others .  Amazingly, the cops simply followed us by cars and bicycles, but no riot or cop car blockades; that is, until we reached Guy. It was a downpour. All of soaked.  There was a row of riot cops all lined up waiting for us just south of Rene-Levesque. Their cop cars waiting in the back.   I thought, oh SHIT!!! Now what?  And this was weird. We had marched a good distance and no blockades whatsoever until Guy, south of Rene-Levesque. Why was that? Was Steve in town and staying around there? Or some other dignitary? The next thing I knew, my umbrella popped on upside down with the spokes all sticking out.  I managed to fix it temporarily; for all of two minutes or so. Much to my relief and probably to the disappointment of the riot squad lined up south of Rene-Levesque, we turned east, so they ended up looking pretty silly.  The bicycle cops always in close range.  The rain was welcome though, as it had been muggy. All’s well, right?

Along Rene-Levesque, my umbrella popped again and the spokes were in full view. I was nervous, because I remembered finding out following the Toronto G20 arrests, things like backpacks and bandanas with vinegar ( a defense against tear gas, by the by) were considered weapons. I can only imagine my skeletal umbrella; my black skeletal umbrella.  I stepped away from the group to the sidewalk so no harm would come to anyone and figured it was a lost cause, but no garbage can around, so I tried to fix it in a way I can carry it with the spokes hidden so as not to harm anyone. A cop stopped me and simply asked in normal tone if I was alright. I merely thanked him and explained that I scrapped my umbrella and to my relief, he biked away.  He left me alone, thank Gawd.

I had to carry that umbrella with the bent spokes for a long while. There was not a garbage can to be found.  Mayor Gerald Tremblay says he wants a greener Montreal but garbage cans seemed to be a rare commodity along the route we marched. Ended up carrying that thing for over 10 blocks!

All’s well that ended well. Like I said, I’m sure turn out would have been better had the weather been better. Many more, I’m sure, ducked out  at the first sign of rain. It is also worth mentioning that many of those who were arrested that I have spoken to, who are out on bail have a condition attached that they are not allowed to attend any kind of demonstrations. Wow! Another way for Harpecons to silence dissent.

I wonder how the bubble blowing event went in Toronto? How did the other events go in other cities and towns?  I can imagine Queen’s Park looking like something like an outdoor set of the Lawrence Welk show. Well, I hope a little better and a lot more tasteful.

Well, Officer “I collect human garbage” Bubbles certainly has gained notoriety. He not only has a cartoon, he now has a video game, courtesy of Pale of ACR.

My high score is 2730 points. See if you can beat it.

I also want to add a song by Jeffery Shurtleff and Joan Baez that would suit the mood (insert Steve where he mentions Ronald Ray-guns) for the times we’re living in. The man they’re describing can certainly fit sweater vest Steve. Listen to the lyrics and let me know (except for his medals he won in the war; maybe not the leader of KKK, but damn close!). It was a song played in Woodstock, but as we can see, in so many ways, what’s old is new again. Yes, I posted this not too long ago. I want to post it again.  Enjoy!

Now, if my feet can stop hurting, my husband and I are going to catch a show at Just For Laughs tonite. I can use a few laughs about now.

Happy Saturday Nite!