The Scene: Cincinnati Ballpark for Reds vs. Cubs, game time 6:10 pm, promoted in republican circles as a "Hamilton County Republican Club Reds Game, $70/person, includes ticket, drinks & food.

I watched world cup soccer all day, but left right at the end of the third game so I could take the sign down for the benefit of the fans at the Cincinnati Reds game.

There were the usual traffic control police on the corners by the ballpark. They didn't want me there, but eventually let me stand by the road barrier and I think about 90% of the people coming to the game between 5:15 and 6:30 to to see and consider the message of the sign.

It was quite a throng going by for the better part of an hour. Most were impassive, many were supportive, and a few were obnoxious. Aside from the usual vulgarities, I got another "How do you know they were lies? Did you give them lie detector tests?" I retorted "I suppose you came over here to show off just how stupid you are, right?" My questioner stood speechless while another young man came up to me and thanked me for being out there with the sign.

At 6:30 the police started taking down the traffic barriers. One officer asked me in a polite way why exactly I was out there. I started to reply and he said "Wait a minute, I need to finish these barriers. Wait over there (pointing to the sidewalk where these sign pictures were taken.

I complied and when the officer returned we spoke briefly about the Iraq war and about the fact Iraq had nothing to do with 9-11, nothing to do with Al Queda, and no threat at all to the US, but that the thing I found most offensive was the sheer stupidity of invading that country as we did, when we did, for whatever stupid reason we may have thought we had. The officer seemed satisfied with my answer and said he respected my convictions. At that point the head of the police group came up and we cut short our converstation.

As I left I asked a street musician to take a picture of me holding the sign, and he happily complied. I gave him a few dollars, and gave away a few more dollars to some of the others with cups out for dontations. I ran out of dollars before I ran out of beggars. I'll try to remember to take more cash with me next time.

p.s. The Cincinnati Reds reportedly lost 4-2.

Notice:
Today's sign event is dedicated to sports fans everywhere.

More fun later,

Ray

Written June, 10, 2006