PGE Park Announces "Protest the Protesters" Promo for July 31, 2003 Baseball Game

As noted on  http://www.pgepark.com , Thursday 31 July is "Thirsty Thursday".
This should add to the patriotism at Enron Park.

or ........ maybe we should just be happy that there will possibly be some media coverage of the event that brings publicity to the fact that there are some injustices in this country. It sounds like a decent victimless promotion event to me. I look at her statement to you for what it was: "as a "light-hearted" thing with no intention of denigrating protest as such." I do not see it as a personal attack on my beliefs or marginalizing my opinions. If you chose to protest this event, you will be doing nothing more than "confirming" the popular belief that the people of Cascadia will "protest anything and everything." The event actually sounds like it should be fun. If I didn't already have plans, I'd consider going to the game.

I heard the announcement for this thing, too. The announcer said something like "are you tired of protestors shutting down our city? Then come out to protest the protestors." Didn't sound all that light-hearted to me.

Glad to see someone wants to take issue with their portrayal of us.

One good thing, though, I was not the first person to loudly BOO during this announcement. Lots of people around me, and not just my commie friends, were booing loudly.

Sure it's light-hearted! Y'all are jus' too jumpy. So why not get your red, white, blue knit Bud hat an' com'on out to the ol' ballgame. Maybe afterward we'll have a good ol' fashioned con hunt.

This might be a good opportunity for the PUD folks to show whay Enron should be kicked out of Oregon.

As time passes, I'm tending more toward positive posters such as "PGE Park: Promote Community, not Conflict".
Just wanted to let everyone know, since I've had some clear feedback on my earlier-planned convoluted negatives!

I am incredulous!

Think of it this way: would it be appropriate for PGE or any other city-funded organization to EVER hold an event targeting a class or group of people? NO.

Let's see, we could have:

"Keep the midgets indoors!" night
"Protest the pro-choicers!" night
"Protest the pro-lifers!" night
"Protest the NBA!" night

I am just shooting off the cuff......but rallying against ANY group of people is unconscienable. Amazing. AND, remember, they are using OUR tax dollars to run that place because the managers are too inept to turn a profit. Not to mention the $30 million Portland gave for the renovation. I want my money back!!!!!!!

i think a good idea would also be to infiltrate this Enron Park protest, especially if you plan on going to the game. make ridiculous signs that push even the limits of the sheep mentality. signs such as
"Who cares if theres a war, Survivor's on!"
"Ban freedom of speech!"
"Who cares about freedom, I'm gettin' drunk!"
"Kill everyone who ain't American!"
"Give me Convenience, or Give me death!"
"I hate free speech!"

etc.
once people realize that you're making fun of them, i think that will take a lot of the wind out of their sails. i really think a serious counter protest would just give them more fodder. these morons are trying to be witty, and its our job to show them we will always win a battle of wits.

Come on, it's just a silly event anyway. No need to protest the protester protesters... that will confuse the journalists. Why not participate in their events??

Defend MY rights? No Thanks!
Protests are UNAMERICAN
Love the president or DIE
Questioning Authority is UnPatriotic!
Beer, TV, Bush: No questions asked
Commute-Work-Commute-Sleep...

Damn, I wish i was on the west coast.

Better hope Jennifer Gartz doesn't see the suggested promotions, you meant them in jest but PGE park might like to run with one or two of them.

I think I might just go to the first and only ball game tomorrow night.

Thanks for the sign ideas you guys!!

'course, it would be nice to go WITH someone.....if anyone is interested.........

I mean.....REAL people go to these games.......I have no doubt many also protest the bullshit from Washington...... With a little encouragement, they will make some signs too

I like that......Protesting is unamerican; kill the 1st amendment......and that one about assembly too!

It's one of the ways he launders his money.

Don't think a phone call or two from the White Hou$e isn't behind this.

This will be a non-event...unless you take the bait and show up to confront a bunch of baseball fans.

This is a staged conflict for the local media, and media thrives on conflict.

Ignore the event, and it will most likely fall flat.

Do you really think a bunch of baseball fans are going to drop their tailgate parties, hot dogs, and BIG beers to draw their own anti-protest signs?

How about, "Why do they call it PiGgE Park, anyway?"

CULTURE JAM or NON-EVENT?

could do one. could to the other.

Every taxpayer in the City of Portland got screwed on the creation of this boondoggle called PGE park. A secret, sweetheart deal to make Vera's cronies get rich off the sweat of all of us, as well as diverting needed dollars from valuable social programs. We ought to protest the park, not just any particular event. Vera and the Council put on a great liberal front but FOLLOW THE MONEY. I'm not living in a zero tax condo in the Pearl..... are you????

Just so you know, I was linked to this site by another site that parodies real things that take on aspects of the ridiculous.

Now, I am not a professional protestor. One thing I can't stand is people who can't let other people live their own lives. Admittedly, not all protestors are like that. In a peaceful, lawful assembly, the people make their opinions known and offer to communicate their concerns to any willing to stop and listen. More often though, many of these protests wind up degrading into in-your-face, cram-it-down-your-throat decibel fests of "I'm right, you're wrong, and if you don't like it why don't you go cower behind your closed doors like a good little commie."

If I'm statistically off-base with the phrase "many of these..." (as I'm sure someone will say I am), then I apologize.

That being said, there seems to be something of a conundrum here. These "Protest Protestors" are doing this with tongue firmly in cheek, but it is still their right to do it, if I understand the right to free speech (or would it be the right of lawful assembly). If you form a counter-protest, are you not then in fact attempting to protest THEIR right to free speech and/or lawful assembly?

If non-protestors have to accept your right to protest, do you not also, to avoid being hypocritical, have to accept their right to protest Protesting? (no matter how seriously it is intended)

But of course, forming a lawful, peaceable protest is within your rights, just as it is within theirs. Take that into consideration and watch the wording of your placards. If you attempt to deny their rights with what your own signs say, then you're just proving them right. The same goes for attempting to pressure either the park or local government to put a stop to it.

I really do have a problem with noticing dates of events and posts, so I didn't realize it was all already over. My apologies to anyone who may still be following the thread.