Too strident? Consider this....

[wellstone_democrat]

A number of posters in the "I hate Bush* as much as you all do, but..." crowd are infesting the place. Beyond showing that F911 has hit a big nerve that some forces will do *anything* to deny exists, consider this fact:

I saw F911 in Lubbock Texas on Friday night. A city often called "the Buckle of the Bible belt". A city that is wholeheartedly Republican. A city where "Harry Potter" isn't selling out due to church opposition in many cases. But, the churches are four square behind Bush* in everything he does. The media here has denied any interest and made it seem to be a film for lunatics and malcontents.

Yet, it is a city whose sole theatre that showed F911 has been 90%+ full at every show since Friday noon. And, still, a city where a college student told me he was "nervous" about seeing F911 because *no one* he knew was going--some said that it was a "sin" to go. If you want to talk about Religious Right Central: its here.

Still, 3 shows a day for 3 days haven't *quite* sold out but they have *nearly* sold out and its still going strong---that's about 1000 people per day in this highly radically religious right city of 200,000. There were no five minute standing ovations I've heard of but each show had solid spontaneous applause following the film.

If we cannot be definite about the crimes of this administration now, then when? And *definite* we must be, strident if we must be. There is a curiousity in some and a hunger in many to know the truth. Let's not whisper it in fear of "offending"

Recognize these people posting for what they are: they seek to demoralize us and to neutralize honest dissent. The moment to speak is now. If there is an audience here, there is an audience everywhere.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

1. Lubbock?

Try College Station, TX, home of Texas A&M University, one of the biggest and proudest conservative schools in the nation.

Every show so far: sold out.

[Lisa0825]

4. I thought Waco was the buckle of the bible belt!

I went to Baylor, and heard that phrase allllllllllllll the time!

[maggrwaggr]

2. people can sense they've been lied to

and there's a real hunger for some truth out there

[Eloriel]

3. I agree wholeheartedly we must speak up at every opportunity

And maybe strident works for some, or in some situations. Sometimes a bucket of cold water in someone's face can wake them up. Sometimes it just makes them mad.

I would just caution everyone to do what they can, and do it in the way(s) that seem most appropriate for the situation and people involved.

But yes, the time for silence is over.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

5. Right

I mean, use common sense. Don't go beating people over the head with stuff when a softer approach would work. Size up the situation and proceed.

But definitely proceed.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

6. I haven't seen too many of these "I hate shrubya as much as anyone here"

posts... maybe I have a natural "ignore" feature in my brain where I identify and autofilter the infiltrators from my consciousness...

[Lindacooks]

7. It's NOT The Bible Belt, damn it

it's The Bigot Belt.