Chris Young’s article “Protesting the Protesters” is the funniest thing I’ve read in the City Paper since they dropped Tom the Dancing Bug.
As members of the Garfield-based social-justice organization gathered at Churchill Valley Country Club to honor Congressman Dennis Kucinich, a lone protester denounced the Merton Center’s affiliation with anarchists.
“Peace is not the same as anarchy!” chanted Kevin Skolnik, hoisting a sign asking, “Will the Thomas Merton Center denounce anarchism?”
Skolnik sounds like quite a character, but Kucinich is one for shizzle. He introduced the Space Preservation Act of 2001 (its delightful list of exotic weapons [germanely, my pal Jae recently posted this "dark chemtrail" photo, and I added a "tag cloud" to the sidebar], presumably compiled by exopoliticians Alfred Webre and Carol Rosin, not Kucinich, revised away in 2002), badmouthed the bailouts, admitted a triangular UFO blew his mind, introduced articles of impeachment against Bush and Cheney, equivocally bashed the Federal Reserve Act, as the Merton Center’s The New People notes, and exploited 07’s Blacksburg, Virginia shooting to push a blanket assault weapons ban (exempting, you know, cops and the military). While I do get a kick out of Kucinich, I still would’ve expected the Merton Center’s decision to wine & dine the dude at a country club and give him an award (as the Quakers also did in 03) to garner more flak than their loose affiliation with POG. Call me “crazy” or “just paranoid”, Melissa Minnich, but I suspect Brother Tom didn’t often use his literary rep (like, say, Gore Vidal did) to enhance that of any politician (goofy, seemingly good-intentioned, or otherwise). Could be wrong, though (anybody?).
I’d like to say something coherent about dumpsters and rocks and guilt by association, about how statism sure as a rain of bullets (or chemgoo) don’t equal peace, but all I got for now is that the bedfellows, living and dead, made for by politics are perhaps, like the rest of the universe, stranger than we can imagine.
Have fun and cuídate.
UPDATE, 11-19-09
Skolnik does not appreciate being labeled crazy, paranoid, or a poet. Can’t blame him.
I challenge the qualification of Merton Center communications director Melissa Minnich in labeling me “just crazy” and “paranoid.” She is, after all, unaware that “affiliate” means “to unite and associate with.” Or that “associate” means to partner/unite in the same interests and purpose. “POG is just an affiliate,” Minnich states. But if POG supports anarchy as an affiliate of the center, how is the Center not affiliated with anarchy?
I was never, as Minnich states “outside [a Merton Center awards ceremony] screaming at the top of his lungs.” I have a resonant voice. This has proven beneficial when leading or responding to chants at actions, rallies and protests through the years. The hills echoed my call. My voice never strained. The Raging Grannies always appreciate when I join their chorus.
I wasn’t interested in attending the dinner. I just wanted a statement.
I never sent “a poem” [to the Center]: There was no rhythm or rhyme, not even in the edit that CP printed, just words asking a question. I am not a poet.
I also never “demanded to speak with [Congressman Dennis] Kucinich.” I calmly requested a statement, as I have for weeks from the congressman’s office, justifying his accepting an award from “an affiliate” of those who feel his job should be eliminated. I never raised my voice, was never less than civil and smiling. The same cannot be said of the host, or some attendees. I take offense at the unfounded, unconfirmed and libelous accusation that I was “causing quite a disruption.” The only disruption made was to the tunnel vision of their self-righteous dignity.
Skolnik’s letter to the CP, 11-18-09
