Just another rant

i understand that it is our right, nay, our duty to peacefully protest our government when we believe it to be unjust. sometimes i sympathize with the mob for what they are protesting, however does this have to happen when i am trying to get home from work? does this also have to happen on the busiest street in bellingham? and when you put the two together, does this have to happen on the busiest street in bellingham when i am trying to come home from work?

when i am on my way home, i just want to get home. i am driving from a good distance away and i see lots of flags, people and signs which say something to the effect of "stop spending my money." and one kid had a sign that said "i am too young to be in debt." my guess is the kid could give a crap about why he is there, he is just thinking, "my parents are making me hold this sign that i don't give a crap about on a day where i can actually be playing outside."

now, the guide meridian i would say rivals any of the busiest streets in anytown america. mostly for the fact that the traffic is only for about 6 blocks, yet can take about 20 min. to go from walmart to the freeway. all i wanna do is go to Joe's, see if they will fix my tennis racket, check out their "going out of business sale" and come home. normally i realize this is going to be a nightmare because joe's is on block 3 of this 6 mile clusterpoop of a street.

so i am driving, i see the protest (which lines the guide for a good 4 blocks) and i think to myself "shit, this is really going to suck." it takes me 10 min. to go the first block. i am frustrated, my blood pressure is rising. people start to honk in acknowledgment to the sign holders, people cheer. i get to the road i need to turn on to get to Joe's, an old man wearing a fluorescent jacket, jumps out in traffic like he is a traffic cop, to let people cross. i realize that the lights suck, but you know what, as a motorist, i hate those lights too. cars are blocking intersections because this douche bag is stopping for people to cross. why they can't use the crosswalk button like everyone else, i don't know. after everyone crosses, my light turns RED! i am pissed. "screw these retarded protesters, i don't give a shit, your message will not be heeded by the government, i promise you that." one lady decides to cross the guide when people are finally allowed to turn left on to it (and believe me, those people get screwed the most because that particular green arrow lasts 30 seconds). she waves her sign and the guy going to hit her, she smiles, he gives her the bird, she crosses with an angry face, "you deserved it" says i. my turn arrives, i finally get to go.

my beef is this, i know you want to be seen so you go to the busiest street. i am sorry but you don't get my support because i want to get to were i am going and get home. i don't want to see your signs, i don't want you to get in my way, now i am pissed and would not side with you if there was a vote tonight. maybe this is all very self centered and conceded but damn it, when i wanna go home, i wanna go the F home!

one last thing. let me paint a picture. if you have to go to the bathroom really bad, the line is long and it crosses a hallway. you are stopped at the hallway and people are going in front of you to get through the line. all of this while 2 people are talking to you about the meeting they just came from. you are aware of the meeting but weren't involved so you understand the most remedial points but beyond that have no understanding or feeling one way or the other. now the line is moving, you are grabbing your crotch, one thing is on your mind, and these people keep talking to you and want you to be part of the conversation. they want you, of course, to be on their side. you are getting angry now because you have to wait for a long time, yet you know that there is an empty bathroom on the 2nd floor but didn't think you would make it in time and are now wondering if it would have been faster to just go there rather than wait in line, plus these jerks keep bothering you about the meeting. (i thought about taking a different road but thought it would take longer. this is of course before i knew about the protest.) can you tell me that you would really care about what these two people are talking to you about? wouldn't you have that feeling of "some other time guys, i have one thing on my mind"? i tend to go to the place where i think "you guys are pissing me off, i don't care what you are saying and probably just to show you my frustration, would side with whatever you are against." (would i really do this? probably not but that is how i feel).