First visit to the DU Lounge. Is it always this playful in here?

[MiniprotesterTodd]

I’ll take off my brooding activist hat for a bit and just hang. Trying to change the world is hard work. Think I’ll kick off my shoes as long as you don’t mind the smell.

So...folks...tell me stories of what you’ve taken to the streets to support. Was it in response to a tragedy, or social injustice? Were you out supporting a candidate? Railing against one? Did you get a call and go hold a sign with other folks you knew - and weren’t really clear on why?

And for you old timers like me, did you do Occupy? You didn’t have to sleep outdoors to say yes. If so, what did you think of all the hand signals? Did you yearn for an actual leader to control things? Did you stay with it for awhile?

Inquiring minds would like to know. Well, OK, maybe just me.

[Ptah]

1. Washington D.C. May 10, 1970

[True Dough]

2. When I found out

they were closing the Red Robin. I was out there with a placard!

[Aristus]

3. Welcome to DU.

The Lounge is where we come to chill for a while, get away from politics, and just enjoy each other's company.

I attended three anti-Iraq War rallies in Seattle, two with Veterans For Peace (although I did meet some fellow DU-ers there) and one with a large Seattle contingent of DU-ers, and got to hold one end of our big DEMOCRATIC UNDERGROUND banner, representin'...

Several of the DU-ers I met that day are no longer with us. One sadly died several years ago after a prolonged illness. We all miss her.

In one of the rallies, Father Guido Sarducci led the invocation. For a comedian merely pretending to be a priest, he delivered a very moving prayer, although it was funny, too.

I also attended a much smaller peace rally here in my home town of Puyallup, Washington.