The town of Crawford felt like a real circus on Saturday. A contingent of about 120 bikers, in red, white and blue do-rags, was socializing and milling about in the parking lot of the Coffee Station. Across the road at the Yellow Rose, a group of Bush supporters, all wearing red, white & blue had set up a metal awning and underneath it, a tiny lady, in a red pants suit with a rhinestone "W" pin, was collecting donations.
"What's happening here today", I asked. She pointed at the white board where it said -
7:30 - Angle candle service (I'm guessing angel?)
8:30 - Main Event - "Awake America"
Mr. Hall, owner of the Ten Commandants Liberty Bell Tribute float, was dressed in a navy frock coat, riding boots and a colonial tri-corner hat. He was ceremoniously ringing the Liberty Bell for all assembled and carefully positioning himself for the television cameras.
Since it was really hot and really loud, I ducked in to the Yellow Rose and found myself in conversation with a trim guy wearing a green flight suit, in front of an extensive display of Bush bobble-head dolls. Matthew Giles is a helicopter pilot from Fort Hood and one of his current duties is flying people in and out of Bush's Crawford ranch. He had driven past Camp Casey that morning and was disturbed by it. He had a quiet, thoughtful demeanor and he spoke with no ire. He said exactly the same thing that I hear many times a day up here in Crawford - "That is just what the terrorists want." Every single critic of the anti-war protest has told me this - without exception.
Outside the Yellow Rose, two riders on horseback suddenly appeared in the doorway. The first, a slender blond in big, black, Jackie Onassis sunglasses, was carrying a large American Flag. It looked like another thrilling photo op and I ran outside to rubber neck (I love horses - I can't resist them). They clip-clopped across Avenue G (the main drag in Crawford), and headed towards Peace House, pausing for photos. They were headed for a meeting at Peace House to discuss the removal of one of the memorial crosses, lining the road, leading to Camp Casey. They didn't want the name of their relative on a cross (and when I left at 5:30, the meeting still hadn't occurred). About this time, I heard the distinctive percussive, roar of the 120 Harley Davidson's. They thundered past Peace House and disappeared and I didn't see them again.
Out at Camp Casey 1 (there are now two) it was a ten minute walk just to get to the port-a-pots and another 10 minute walk past a long line of tents and cars to get into Camp itself. I regretted my decision to forgo the shuttle (they arrive every 10 minutes from Peace House).
In Camp Casey 1, the best part of my day, was meeting Ken Gordon. He is the Senate majority leader of the Colorado State Senate. Again and again, I've met legislators from all over the country, who have come to Crawford because they somehow needed to be there, without expecting anything for themselves and for no political gain. Indeed, most of them have a desire to remain anonymous, often fearing political repercussions. They have come a long way, deep into the dusty heart of a state they've never been to, with what I can only describe as an authentic purity of intent.
Ken Gordon was seated quietly in a lawn chair (you know how Portland has a yellow bike program, well, Camp Casey has had a lawn chair program from day one - anybody can sit is everybody's lawn chair) reading What's the matter with Kansas? He was contemplative and seemingly uncontaminated by the need to make draconian assertions. He'd run for office because he wanted to do better for people. In our hour long conversation about politics, the war in Iraq, and the nature of governance, he seemed to constantly be working out how to do just that. When he told me he had been elected without any PAC money, I felt like kissing him on the lips.
And then I walked across the road to talk to Earl Johnson. He was seated in a lawn chair under his big banner that said "Remember 9-11?" Mr. Johnson is a survivor of the world trade center attack and has written a book soon to be published.
He felt 9-11 was a good reason for the war in Iraq . It seemed to be the general consensus among the counter protesters (about 10 of them today) that: 1) Iraq had ties to Al Qaeda predating September 11th, 2) that the weapons of mass destruction have been moved to Syria, and 3) there is biblical justification for the war. What can I say? They always shake my hand and tell me how much they have enjoyed our "discussion" even though I've said almost nothing apart from the occasional, mild rejoinder.
"Doesn't the 9-11 Commission Report say there were no Al Qaeda ties with Iraq?", I asked mildly. One of the guys, a veteran of Iraq, shook his head forcefully, "that was the Democrats", he said.
I drove back to Austin in a stupor, over ate, and spent the rest of the night watching "Woodstock" on VH-1. Woodstock, a watershed event, was planned by it's organizers and financial backers for over a year. They thought they were just planning a big party, but it became something else - it became part of the bedtime story of America. When Cindy Sheehan's August commitments fell through, she just got it in her head to come to Crawford and camp. But this has become something else. Will this become part of who we are?
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