Sign Tearing at Dem Rally Leads to Tears

My 3 yr old daughter came home from her Aunt's house after visiting, terribly upset. She said we were going to hell because we weren't voting for Bush.
She was very concerned that we were killing babies.

Let's leave childhood alone. It's scary enough to understand the world without getting them into this crap!

3 yrs old and already a Political genious....lol...but once again....youre right...3 yrs old is too young to give a child that strong of an influence...like stated in an earlier post...wait until the middle school era...when the child (now pre-teen) can began to reason things out for themselves...

Well I'm proud to say I'm not an American after reading this thread. Pretty brutal that some of you guys, and even a mod are taking joy in this. Your country is falling apart, you come down on your fellow americans and their children because of differing opinions. It's a sad day when your fellow countryman can't take his children to a political outing without getting harassed. IMO too much of America has no class, and it's just getting worse.

I took my 3 year old to see President Clinton when I was stationed in Alaska. I did not support Clinton, but I wanted my son to have the chance to see political rallies and a President. I see nothing wrong with getting young people involved in thier government. However, Telling a 3 y.o. that someone is going to hell if they vote against Bush is wrong. I would never tell that to an adult.

He should have taken her to the Zoo.

A political rally is no place for a child, especially when the adult responsible is actually protesting against the main body at the rally.

Some people shouldn't be allowed to have children let alone vote.

Originally posted by d1k
Well I'm proud to say I'm not an American after reading this thread.

It is because we are Americans that we are allowed are to read, write, and voice our opinions pertaining to other Americans, even if our opinions are not in agreement with others. My country's government was founded by pioneering men and women protesting taxation. Yes, we have the right to gather, but we also have the right to protest.

Pretty brutal that some of you guys, and even a mod are taking joy in this. Your country is falling apart, you come down on your fellow americans and their children because of differing opinions.

Generating our opinions in an online forum is FAR from brutal. This is a peaceful medium of collecting, sharing, and debating information. It doesn't get any better than this. We will not be pepper-sprayed, clubbed, or dragged to abandoned subway stations and jails for posting on ATS.com

It's a sad day when your fellow countryman can't take his children to a political outing without getting harassed. IMO too much of America has no class, and it's just getting worse.

My fellow countryman did not take her to the Smithsonian. He did not take her on a tour of the White House. He did not take her to see the Liberty Bell. He took her to a RALLY, which is defined as a gathering, especially one intended to inspire enthusiasm for a cause.

Enthusiasm is an emotion that can take a very quick turnabout. There is positive enthusiasm and negative enthusiasm, and a rally can exhibit both. A rally is an unpredictable crowd, which is why most rallies have fences and other means of crowd restraint. The man and his daughter are standing front row behind a fence:



The boy on the right is quoted as being the man's son. Does he look inspired with enthusiasm?

Dot.



edited for non political correction.

[edit on 17-9-2004 by dotgov101]

And, of course, since the guy was a republican and made the mistake of bringing his daughter to a politcla rally, the democratic supporters there were totally justified in what could possibly be assault under the law.

Yes, the dad was wrong to take his 3-year old to the rally. And YES, the people there were WRONG to grab her sign and tear it up. It wasn't her fault she was there, yet she was the target of the attack. Inexusable and juvenile on all sides of the matter.

Why can't people just accept the fact that just because you're liberal or conservative doesn't mean you aren't allowed to point out where your guys' eff'ed up?



EDIT: Removed paragraph that was a bit off-topic

[edit on 9-17-2004 by Esoterica]

I'm a bit confused. Is that guy on the left with the baseball cap on backwards the guy who ripped the little girls sign? He seems to have some of it in his hand. And appears do be doing a "boo hoo" with his face.

I believe he's responsible, cargo.

That guy needs to correct his immaturity. Whether he likes it or not that family is exercizing their rights. Had I been present he would have likely received a swift kick to the forehead.

Originally posted by taibunsuu
You're right, democrats make little girls cry, and we should cultivate more interest in politics amongs kids ages 2 - 4.

I'd say thats propably an "improvement" in the eyes of the republicans. Seeing the democrats moved from being "girly men that cry like lil kids" to "republican like bully's that make lil girls cry"

Wonder how Arnold feels about it ..

They get arrested and kicked while being held.

Someone gets into a Dem rally, where no oath of loyalty is required, and a sign gets ripped, no arrests.

Both where holding opposition signs, only one group got arrested, and beat to boot.

Hmmmmm.........

I think the guy was a pedophile!!!

Originally posted by Bangin
I believe he's responsible, cargo.

That guy is an arse. If I was a democrat and at that rally, I too would have taken him out of the crowd and dealt with him.

With that said, I think it is totally wrong to place a child in such a heated environment, dem or repub it doesnt matter. 3 yearold children do not have the capacity to reason intelligently when crossing a street let alone with political matters. That absolutely goes without saying.

Trying to justify it by saying that the younger they get involved the better is totally irresponsible. Those who do are bad parents imho.

This whole topic really makes me sick. The girl should not have been there in the first place if she was protesting but the actions of the crowd are completely inexcusable. I for one am so tired of all of these people who take their opinions to the next level and harm other people. No protest should cause a riot or people getting hurt. People really need to grop up and start acting responsibly.

Oh this is just a shameless publicity stunt.

What person in their right mind would dress their kiddo up in their teams colours then go stand with their opponents and expect southern hospitality and a polite "ok then". In an increasingly partisan nation this is nothing short of idiotic. Why was he there? If he wanted to hear John speak then why did he need those signs?

He took his kids to an event knowing he was stirring sh*t with a very angry crowd of people.

p.s. Its common practice to tear down opposing signs when you're covering an event, everytime you see a Bush OR Kerry rally then look out for the men in the black suits who "politely" ask the people to move out of camera view.

We should remember that this guy did not harm the girl, he tore her sign. But that doesn't make it at all acceptable. My opinion is that this dem guy who ripped the sign is intimidating the family and needs to be dealt with.

But you really have to ask what the motivation behind taking the girl to the rally is, in what is probably the most heated and decisive election lead up for a long long time. there has been enough evidence of assault and intimidation reported on the news at these rallies, on both sides.

I must say with all the gatecrashing, heckling and now harassing a kid thats not exactly a good way of showing people they should be associated with you. I think the Democratic supporters behavior is probably the best reason to vote for Bush.

I guess freedom of speech is a one way street?

Typical Democrat hypocrisy on parade. They act like they carry the torch for things like free speech when if fact the try to quiet any speech they disagree with.

Originally posted by Mynaeris
I must say with all the gatecrashing, heckling and now harassing a kid thats not exactly a good way of showing people they should be associated with you. I think the Democratic supporters behavior is probably the best reason to vote for Bush.

I guess freedom of speech is a one way street?

Are you blind? Did you read this link?? - Coward kicks woman held on the ground at RNC

I suppose kicking defenseless women is also a good way of showing people they should be associated with you?

Dad is guilty of child abuse on this one.
Taking a child to a spectacle like this, or a potential spectacle is nothing I would ever do as a mother. I suppose the child is lucky he didnt leave her in the hot car with windows rolled up.

cargo: I am pleased you referred posters to that thread, its mentions numerous occasions of Democrat supporters misbehavior. Could you list for me please the number of times that Republican supporters gatecrashed the DNC? And the number of times they started screaming and heckling speakers at the DNC??? Oh wait they were caged outside like animals to protect the civil rights of the Democrats.