A whopping TWO protestors.

[asthmaticeog]

So fellow DUer ThirdWheelLegend and I just went to see F911 at the Valley View Cinemark in Cleveland. A friend of ours from Citizen Action drove, and on the way into the theater parking lot, we spotted the inevitable pro-Bush "rally": two guys. Upon realizing that just us in the one car outnumbered the entire demonstration, we giggled our fool heads off and dutifully extended our disapproval digits in their direction. Because, you know, an ineffectual gesture on the right has to be met with an equally ineffectual gesture from the left.

Felt good to flip off real live freepers, though.

[physioex]

1. Although this is funny...

Did you have to do this for no justifiable reason?

[Catch22Dem]

6. I would have done it too

I'm just an asshole like that. I certainly wouldn't infringe upon their right to protest the movie, but I DEFINITELY enjoy the freedom to flip them off.

[koopie57]

8. well,

I understand about taking the high road and it is the right thing to do and all that, but sometimes it just feels so good to flip them off and get the giggles or just do something cuz it is an opportunity. Maybe you are always able to do the right thing, but damn, I understand the desire and need to just be obnoxious. Remember, they were freepers. I think they should enjoy the moment, the excitement, the exuberance. I hardly think flipping off a couple of freepers is going to change the world anyway. If it did, the world would be much different I think.

[BlueCollar]

18. they were freepers

reason enough...

[ThirdWheelLegend]

24. Justifiable?

When one is in a moving car in a line of traffic. I believe that 'flipping the bird' is the universal sign of disapproval of ones support for war criminals.

Oh, and you are right. It was really funny.

:)

TWL

[salinen]

2. Poppy and Babs

should just stay home!

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. That's too bad that you did that

Missed an opportunity to show them that you (and therefore WE) don't need to be nasty, but can be pleasant, and you also could have opffered to pay for tickets for them so they could actually see the thign and make an informed opinion, and then debate the hell out of 'em when they say tehy don't want to see 'all those lies' and you start asking them 'how do you know it's full of lies without seeing it? Can't think for yourself?'

Flipping 'em off is kinda immature and freeperish, don't ya think?

But, I affirm the fact that it no doubt left you feeling pretty good. Many times, I would like to have a chance to flip 'em off, too, so I can understand. :-)

[asthmaticeog]

22. Immature, yes, absolutely.

But I've put up with enough abuse for my left-leaning (OK, left-falling-over is more like it) beliefs lately that letting off a little steam by flipping the bird to a couple of sad bastards is hardly anything of consequence.

I hope I don't come off as dick-ish by pointing this out, but your suggestion that we buy them tickets and/or debate them after the film sounds a lot like the "well, why don't you let bums into your house to eat your food and crash on your couch" type argument I seem to hear every time I advocate for improved conditions for the homeless. It would be the ideal, yes, but I'm a liberal, not a christ-figure, Rabrrrrrr! Besides, what's the point of being in a culture war if you don't lob a few volleys at the other side once in awhile?

Allow me, in closing, to re-affirm your affirmation: if you do get a chance to flip off a righty zealot, I highly recommend it. It'll feel wonderful, and it really doesn't set our cause back very far at all.

[CTLawGuy]

4. I went to see the movie in Manchester, CT

zero protestors, and HUGE crowds. Almost impossible to get a ticket and getting out of the theater was a nightmare.

I loved the movie! Very powerful and very well done.

[NightTrain]

7. Hartford, CT for me.

Cinema City, that is. I went to the 4:00 p.m. show. No protesters, and the theater was about 2/3 full.

[SarahB]

14. I didn't even realize they were showing it in Manchester.

I thought I'd have to go to Crown or Cinema City in Hartford. Cool!!!

[Beware the Beast Man]

5. Here in Cleveland: Moviegoers: tons. Protesters: zilch

The theater was damn near capacity. My wife and I were astounded. Huge applause at the end of the film. Now I feel a bit like that bee girl in the Blind Melon video. I know we're not alone!

[sasquatch]

10. I've always liked the mistake by the lake's politics

Your football team (post merger) is something to be desired though;)

[Beware the Beast Man]

11. They're not MINE! (caution- flame ahead)

How dare you! I'm a born and bred Pittsburgher. Go Steelers!

[johnnie]

9. I was thinking of going to that show also

The one in Valley View, but I had no one to go with. I will get there soon though. It's funny because on the local Fox station they were running the snippets saying something like "Controversial film opens, among protests". Or something like that. I guess they must have seen those two people.

[Beware the Beast Man]

13. Yeah, I saw that on Newschannel 5

They did a fairly balanced piece, but they took a clip from the film out of context. I went to the Loew's in Richmond Heights. No protestors.
FYI I started a thread in the state forums for us C-Towners:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=172&topic_id=824&mesg_id=824

[powergirl]

12. I think that's funny that you gave them the salute

WHo cares. Those two guys are in a parking lot in Cleveland on a Friday nightb/c they are doofuses who are lame and dateless. I saw another thread that suggested handing out pretzels to the protesters!

[Interrobang]

15. Oh my goodness, what a beautiful phrase...

I don't think I've ever heard "dutifully extended our disapproval digits in their direction" before. (I might steal it, only change "extended" to "deployed" because I have a perverted fetish for alliteration.)

While I agree in principle with the other posters on civility, sometimes it just feels too good not to... Catharsis is normal and healthy!

[asthmaticeog]

20. OMFG!

"Deployed" is WAY better! Duly noted, thanks!

[Misunderestimator]

16. Very cool.... I was itching to face some protestors....

but alas, no, only people absoFREAKINGlutely LOVING the film! What a night.

Good on you for showing your support! :)

:bounce:

[Throckmorton]

17. Did you point at them and laugh?

Thats what I always do.

[dudeness]

19. I would have chucked a browneye at the bastards

:)

[tjwash]

21. It went off pretty well here in San Diego...

story here.

[King Of Paperboys]

23. Yep

Not a protestor in sight, and the audience reaction was AWESOME!