Report from the "public square" in New Hampshire today.

[Raven]

I don't know if people really care, but I post once and awhile about my Saturday forrays into the public square with my stop the war lit table. Today we were in Keene as usual in the morning and then we relocated to Fitzwilliam where there was a very well attended antiques fair.

In Keene again, as last week, people with military connections coming to the table, concerned about their loved ones being in a "useless war". One woman whose son just enlisted against her pleadings saying that she would "take to the streets" if this war goes on much longer. Another man in a mechanized wheelchair, who has passed our table every week for months, stopped today and said "I hope I don't offend you, but I'm a Republican and I'm ashamed. I admire you for doing this."

In Fitzwilliam, at first a frosty reception. A well-heeled middle aged man told us he did not want to stop the war, he wanted to start another one. Nice! I hope you'll go, sir. A few other really snotty comments and then we attracted a crowd. We heard about peoples' health care problems, money problems, disgust with this lying President. One person stops, then another, then another. Good people, decent people, regular people...waking up from a long sleep. I cannot count the people who said "Thank you for doing this, do you think they'll listen?"

There is something afoot in this country. I am depressed all week with what I read and hear and then I hit the street and I am renewed, encouraged. There is hope yet. Doing this tabling is like breathing fresh air.

[monmouth]

1. I remember your posts and always look forward to them. You are a true

patriot and am sure you will be largely rewarded when this is over. These positive comments you receive on a Saturday are the little rewards for all you do. Thank you..

[ClassWarrior]

2. Great job Raven. Thank you for donating your Saturdays.

Never Give Up.

[SpiralHawk]

3. Thank you - from a former Granite Stater

Lived in the Monadnock region for 25 years. Noted that the Old Man of the Mountain lost face and collapsed in terminal embarassment (ritual suicide) immediately after Commander AWOL Bush pulled his shameless and false publicity stunt, parading the deck of the Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier in a freakin codpiece prolaiming the lie: Mission Accomplished.

R.I.P. OLD man of the Mountian

R.I.P. republicon integrity.

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

4. Thanks for this post!

No one in my town is talking about the war at all. They just look grim. It is like a dirty secret everyone is keeping. What the guy at Keene said to my mind shows that there is a groundswell of opposition to this war -- finally!

[IChing]

5. Raven I have followed your adventures over time

when you were routinely hassled at your booth and now.

Thanks for your steadfastness and continual fight and great report BTW.

[Raven]

6. Then you have noticed how things have changed. Slowly, but

moving in the right direction. Also, the people who come to the table list the War, health care/ education as their top concerns.

[jaysunb]

7. Keene , New Hampshire ....

January 23, 2004, when I left Los Angeles to campaign for Howard Dean, it was 72 degrees. Arriving that evening in Keene it was 15 below zero.

I get serious chills just hearing that name.....:evilgrin:

[fudge stripe cookays]

8. Kinda how I feel when I hear "Storm Lake, Iowa."

Greetings from a fellow Deaniac and "Texas Ranger."

:hi:

PS-- Good on ya, Raven!

[Raven]

11. Well, we don't table in those temps but, my first year up here I

lived in my log cabin which is a "summer house" on a small lake. No running water and minimal heat. I knew I was roughing it when the dogs water dish froze one night. None of my friends would visit because they were afraid of the "manual flush toilet". Will would come up and just shake his head and laugh. Temps with wind chill got to 30-40 below. So -15 sounds almost tropical to me! I loved that winter in the cabin but I would never do it again!

[ninkasi]

9. Thank you, Raven

I look forward to your reports. As far as the man who not only doesn't want to stop the war, but also wants to start another one, then that man needs to enlist, and make sure all of his friends and family who feel the same way do, as well. Of course, he doesn't really mean HE would be involved, he wants the children of those not quite so well-heeled do that.

I admire your dedication. People are beginning to wake up, slowly, but they are waking up. Let this disaster of a war be over, and let's concentrate on repairing the damage to us, and the Iraqi people. :patriot: Real patriotism is not slapping a yellow ribbon on your SUV and listening to right-wing hate radio, it requires thinking, and realizing that our loyalty is to the Constitution, not to the crowd currently infesting the White House with their corruption.

[Raven]

10. Amen! :-) Lots of work ahead. nt

[Raksha]

12. Thank you for posting this.

Just reading about how the grassroots are FINALLY starting to wake up is encouraging.