I cannot bring myself to criticize, or critique. The Green Party left during the fifteen minutes before he started, so he speaks to a mostly empty parking lot, except for the cops, a few media gypsies, and a handful of passerbys.
After only ten minutes, he stops, and then leaves. No one asks him for the remainder of his time. I wonder if people even know the Free Speech Site started today - maybe the public thinks it won't happen until tomorrow - when the Convention itself opens. Or maybe most of San Diego is just TOO Laid Back to care.
The City's electrical technician turns on the Kenny G tape - the only music the Police Department approved.
After another fifteen minutes, two young women come into the zone, look around, then walk up to my sign-in table.
"Hi," I greet them."Hello. Umm... did Kenneth Erickson speak today?"
"Yes, just now. But he's left already."
"Oh... but he spoke? We were worried about him actually doing it... what did he say?"
"Mmmm... it was rather heavy. About being arrested and tortured in Mexico."
"Yeah. They were pretty rough on him. But it's a good thing that... that he can talk about it. Thanks."
I look into their eyes, feel their concern for their friend. "It was rather brave of him. Thank you for caring about him," I say.
The two women smile, a little sadly, I think, and then leave.
What would we men do without women? First, mothers give us birth, then, even if we're gay, they can be among our best friends, and if we're straight, well... a woman can be even more. The one thing we spend our whole life looking for, and once we find it, struggle to stay true to....
I am becoming rather maudlin. Losing the cynical edge. But I don't think it's the heat. I've been married twice, have been separated nine months from my (second) wife, and am praying like hell that we can get back together again....
Another few minutes pass. I scribble a few lines, satisfied that the "I" voice is most appropriate here. Damn all that structuralist literary theory, messing up my hyperventilated voice with dangerous bits of little knowledge and questions of which person is actually speaking when you read these words.
Amnesty International: enter and sign in please. It will be your line, soon.