I’ve been thinking about the reaction that many people had, getting upset at those of us who rejected mourning or called for celebration at Reagan’s death. It’s strange to me because, really, what is a more fitting honor for a man who dedicated his life to having people like us hate him. My reaction was instinctual*, not out of any desire to pay tribute, but that’s what he worked for. He chose his side, and it was against me, now I’m supposed to honor him? Fuck that.
HUAC snitch, union buster, destroyer of the environment, funder of death squads and terrorists, man who stood silent while tens of thousands were dying of AIDS.
Our little Reagan Memorial Stroll went well. It wasn’t super energetic or big, but we didn’t really expect it to be or try and make it that way. There are just some times a symbolic effort is enough to remind oneself that what the media is portraying isn’t the whole story. I mean, I have an analysis of the media, but there are times when it gets to me anyway.
We actually went around doing good deeds. We taped back up a memorial to the victims of AIDS on 18th and Castro that had fallen down in the wind. We righted a motorcycle using a cone in place of the broken kickstand. Our little march was greeted with some indifference, some supportive honking,**, a person or two who joined us who we didn’t know, and a fair amount of "finally!"s. But honestly, the whole thing was worth it just seeing a couple of older gay men who raised their fists and got teary-eyed as we passed by. I wrote this in a comment in someone else’s journal, but after a whole week of our truth being denied, it was a community service to publicly remember the "other" side of Reagan, the one most of us think of first.
Because of the hostility around the internet on this, I won’t out anyone else there. Out yourselves if you want to in the comments. It was nice to meet a bunch of you and good to see old friends. It was kind of like 1984 but we were dressed in suits instead of leather jackets. I’m not sure which era’s haircuts were better. Actually, I think I have the same one.
Oh and we must go to Zeitgeist again in full suits and ties! I don’t remember which LJer said it, but it was like in a Western when the saloon door opens and everyone goes silent.
*well, actually it was socially constructed, but you know what I mean
**We made the tactical error of walking with traffic instead of against it. It’s been awhile since I organized a march, so we mostly got attention when people were stopped at red lights and could see what we were up to.
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