I don't know what to make of this,

[John Kerry VonErich]

As you know by my name, I am a huge wrestling fan. My friend invited me to go with him to this local wrestling show at the Armory yesterday. Well, when the show started, they played the national antham. But a guy in a baseball hat and pinstripe shirt came out with 2 guys that have a punk looks with one holding a sign that said "Demillitarize America" enters the ring in the middle of the Antham. He pushed the ring announcer down and announces himself as, get this, "Michael Franken", thouugh he does look like a much skinnier version of Michael Moore. He then starts talking about how Bush ruined America and the audience was a part of it by voting for him. He brought one of the audience members to the ring and asked him who he would vote for in the next election, and the guy said Giulliani. Then Franken asks him who he voted for in the last election and he said Bush. Suddenly all hell broke loose and this punk tagteam, which I learned later is called "The Black Block", starts beating the piss out of him. It pretty much was a set up as in the wrestling business, people must know what they are doing. The guy was carted away on a gurney afterwards. The whole thing lasted almost 10 minutes. The threesome would appear peiodically throughout the show protesting the war at ringside only to be taken to the back by security. But The Black Block will later wrestle and won the tag team titles against a couple other unknowners by hitting one of the guys with a film camera Michael Franken carried with him that you can get at a flea market of a dollar and getting the three count.

This has been itching at since I got home. I was insulted because it stereotypes progressives as ultraviolent, yet at the same time, JBL, WWE wrestler, has a gimmick which brings right wing to the extreme. Plus it is entertainment and that the guys who portrayed these characters are just doin what the promoter said. How would you guys take it if you saw this as well?

[mockmonkey]

1. I would send

John Stossel to investigate.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x6890875

My family used to go to wrestling matches in the late 60's. It's wrestling, you have to have extreme characters. I've always assumed that wrestling would attract more pubs than dems.

I think it's funny the way Andy Kaufman could rile up a wrestling crowd with the most childish taunts.

[John Kerry VonErich]

2. But how far is too far?

The stuff these charaters I saw, a lot of people take very seriously, and to some, their top priority. Thats what gave me mixed feelings on this wheather I should be insulted or not. Next time, if they have another show, I will bring a camera.

[mac56]

3. This isn't new.

Pro wrestling has always featured caricatured personalities. Both as the good guys and the bad guys. "Gorgeous George", anyone?

Our local circuit in Minnesota featured "The Sheik" for many years as a costumed bad guy wrestler.

It's the same old song, just a different verse. Now it's just liberals' turn to be caricatured.

The better question to ask would be, why do wrestling audiences respond so powerfully to caricatures?

[John Kerry VonErich]

4. Absolutly.

But isn't there a limit as to how real is too real?

[PaganPreacher]

5. Umm... no. No limit.

It is caricature. Most people know wrasslin' isn't real.

The outrageous heels are what sell tickets. If you don't like it, don't buy the ticket.



The Pagan Preacher
Putting you in the headlock of common sense.

[John Kerry VonErich]

6. Just hope people don't take that seriously.

nt