Seems the Qatar-based based news organization al-Jazeera wanted to capture a slice of American culture while covering the Democratic National convention. So the 150 year Biker Bar, the "buffalo Rose" offered to let al-Jazerra broadcast from it's bar.
Well hey, why not. Bikers are an independent sort who loudly proclaim their patriotism to a country built on the the principles of freedom, including but not limited to, freedom of speech. Whoops! Somebody forgot to tell the bikers.
"Word spread that three rival biker gangs -- the Sons of Silence, the Banditos and the Hell's Angels -- declared a truce for the night so they could meet at the Buffalo Rose in a united protest against al-Jazeera. But the network stood its ground and set up its cameras. "
"Across the street from the bar, two dozen protesters under the watchful eye of a statue of Adolph Coors waved American flags, blew air horns and revved motorcycle engines. "Al Jazeera is terrorism," announced one sign. "Go home, Al Jazeera -- Voices for al Qaeda and bin Laden," proclaimed another. The protesters had shirts printed up for the occasion, saying "Buffalo Rose/Tokyo Rose" in English and Arabic, although they botched the Arabic translation.
The Golden police manned the rooftops around the bar. Inside the bar, the al-Jazeera crew sat idly while the overhead television flashed scenes of the Democratic convention, where Barack Obama was being nominated for president by acclamation. Nobody was watching.
The regulars at Buffalo Rose took the Qatari invasion, and the demonstration, in stride. "Al-Jazeera? Is he here? Where is he?" inquired Travis Henry, sipping a Bud Light."
"Al-Jazeera, like Fox News, bills itself as a straight-news outlet (Ed. note: unfortunately Fox news is a known propaganda machine), but others, including the Bush administration, accuse it of an anti-American bias; it also seems to have first dibs on all of Osama bin Laden's videotapes when al-Qaeda chooses to release them.
City Manager Mike Bestor, before he rescinded his barbecue offer, called the al-Jazeera visit a way to "show Arab viewers what Americans are like." For better or worse, Golden seems to be doing just that."
"The leader of this would-be terrorist cell: al-Jazeera's Josh Rushing, a Texas-born Marine veteran who wears blue jeans and cowboy boots. "I guess you could call it a mild jihad for the truth," said Rushing, sipping a latte. Wearily, he added, "This isn't the first time this kind of thing has happened.""Buffalo Rose owner Murray Martinez, a biker himself with long hair and a chin beard, folded his arms across his chest. "They think I'm bringing in terrorists to launch a jihad in the little town of Golden," he scoffed.
"Buffalo Rose owner Martinez, who said he received death threats for hosting Al-Jazeera, responded by tacking the First Amendment to a pillar outside the bar and directing his staff to wear the "Buffalo Rose/Tokyo Rose" T-shirts the protesters made.
"They're doing it strictly on emotion," he said as he watched the flag-wavers across the street. "They only support the First Amendment for people who see things their way." Martinez said something else, but a protester's air horn drowned out the words."
This is the "Free" country we want the rest of the world to see? This is the result of our loudly proclaimed Christian foundation of tolerance, love thy neighbor, turn the other cheek, and kill any "MF'er" that don't believe it background we think the world should trade whatever different they might believe for?
Seems to me we might want to look in a mirror and then build a big ol mirror facing Washington D.C.
"Al-Jazeera? Is he here? Where is he?" inquired Travis Henry, sipping a Bud Light."Fortunately, in America, the stupid still have rights. Of course there is no guarantee that won't change. There is supposed to be. But there isn't.Add to Technorati Favorites
