Now the "green" light comes on. A crescendo of drums builds to its climax. Time to begin another speaking time.Before you start writing, fifteen minutes (12:35-12:50) of silent microphone have gone by - but those fifteen minutes have not gone by silently. When the red light came on for the Social Workers, and their microphones shut off, the white boys with African drums moved down to in front of the stage, and have played there incessantly, their backs to the Convention Center. The pounding rhythm has accompanied the hanging of Green party banners on fences around the stage area (to the left, out of sight of this picture).
Now the "green" light comes on. A crescendo of drums builds to its climax. Time to begin another speaking time.
HOW'RE YOU ALL TODAY? WE'RE THE GREEN PARTY!
Drum drum drum drum.
Meanwhile, back at your sign-in table, a tall, slender blond man appears before you. Kenneth Lee Erickson, the speaker who comes on after the Greens. He bends down, scribbles his name and time, and hurries away into the zone, looking a bit frightened. Stage jitters?
WE'D LIKE TO THANK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY (laughter) FOR HAVING THEIR - WELL, YOU KNOW - ACROSS THE STREET....
Shortly after Erickson leaves, a reporter and cameraman approach. Channel 12, San Antonio. The reporter asks questions about the free speech site. You point out some of the scheduled groups and individuals.
"Do you mind if we do a little interview here with you?""No. Let me just write down your name...."
THE REPUBLICAN AND THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY BOTH....
Talk nice to their camera, now. The whole world's laughing. You tell them about the traffic lights and fifty-five minute speaking times. They ask about the vest you're wearing.
"Is that really a bulletproof vest?""No, it's fake... faux. Made by a group of local artists. It's their Friendly Fire (www.friendlyfire.com) project. Symbolizing that we are all the targets of Republican friendly fire. This is the America's Finest City vest - see? The stars and stripes furling on one side, and barbed wire on the other side."
"Which symbolizes...?"
"Well, mainly the fence along the Mexican border, but..." you lean forward, conspiratorial, thinking about Connie Chung and Newt Gingrich's mother as you glance at the camera eye... "it also, for me, stands for the fences around this protest zone, and the whole process of fencing in free speech."
You rather uncomfortably remember the key to the gate, nestled in pants pocket on your key ring. (Talk about who is selling out! I think you should quit your unpaid job Right NOW and walk out! Or is that only the afternoon heat driving you mad?)
Mad dogs and bureaucrats go out in the noonday sun.
"Where can we find these artists?""They've got a shop just a couple blocks away from here, at 511 Island Avenue. Here - I've got one of their pamphlets."
A woman has been standing near your table, listening. She comes a bit closer, and you notice she is - coincidentally enough - wearing one of the vests, "Look," you say, "here's another example of their work. This is the...?"
"Hospital Worker vest," the new woman says, and holds out several more brochures, "I brought you some more flyers."
The camera and reporter turn upon her. Shoot a few seconds of her vest. She pivots, showing the bullseye target on the back.
Meanwhile, back at the stage:
SPEECH SPEECH drum drum drum SPEECH SPEECH RALPH NADER FOR PRESIDENT SPEECH drum drum drum drum SPEECH SPEECH AND NOW WE WANT TO INTRODUCE drum drum THE GREEN PARTY CANDIDATE FOR VICE-PRESIDENT....
"Well, thanks for the interview," San Antonio says, and heads off toward the stage.You turn to the Hospital Worker vested woman. "You got that at the artists' store?"
She smiles. "I am one of the artists, myself." Extends her hand. "Liz Sisco."
You laugh, "Ah!" Shake hands. "Danial Thomas."
"Yeah, Lewis told me you came in and bought your vest to wear while working here. How's it going?"
"Okay, I guess. I wish more people would come down to see the specches. But... why didn't you say something to the reporters here?"
"You already said it all... thanks! Maybe they'll come by the store. That will tell them more than anything I could add."
"Oh. Well, thanks for the brochures. I already gave out the few I picked up when I bought this vest last week."
"You're welcome. But I really came by for another reason."
"Oh?"
NO LONGER CAN WE REGARD THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE REPUBLICANS. THE RECENT CAPITULATION OF PRESIDENT CLINTON TO THE REPUBLICAN-DOMINATED CONGRESS....
"Well, we've been offered some time to put on a fashion show.""Really? Here? That'ld be excellent!"
"Yes, we think it will be a good thing for our project. The Point Loma Democratic club said we could use their time slot, at... 12:50 on Wednesday, I think."
Look down at the schedule. "Yes, that's their time."
"Will there be any... um, protocol problem with that?"
"No. It's their time, their permit for the stage. As long as they agree, the time is yours. They can give it up to anyone they choose."
"All right." She turns, looks toward the stage. "That's it, over there?"
"Uh-huh. You can put up any banners you want. The P.A. comes on and off automatically. You can see the light just now turned red. The Green Party time is up."
"Who's on next?"
A vision of Abbot and Costello flashes into your mind - I don't give a damn - He's our shortstop! But you suppress it. "Kenneth Erickson. I'm not sure what he's going to talk about."
"Oh. Well, thanks again for your support."
"You're welcome. Good project. Much more subtle than your previous works."
"Yes."
"How long will you keep the store open?"
"Only another two weeks."
"Mmmm. I'm sorry to see you close so soon."
"Well, we're going to open at the Museum of Contemporary Art in L.A."
"All right!"