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Reprinted from The Orlando Sentinel, June 3, 1998.
The City Pathetic? We Don't Think So
By Greg Dawson
Commentary
The anti-abortion group Operation Rescue, which is spending this week in Orlando
protesting anything that moves funny, has raised a provocative question:
What (if anything) does the city of Orlando represent?
Flip Benham, national director of Dallas-based Operation Rescue, offered this opinion:
"Orlando is a microcosm of everything that is pathetic in America."
That's an outrageous statement. Orlando is a microcosm of only some of what's pathetic
in America, like T-shirt emporiums and local TV news.
Change Orlando's motto from The City Beautiful to The City Pathetic? I don't think so
-- certainly not on the advice of someone from Dallas, home of the pathetic Cowboys.
The issue of Orlando's identity also was raised by a local Baptist minister who opposed
the flying of rainbow flags in Orlando throughout June, National Gay Pride Month.
"This is antithetical to all that Orlando represents," the Rev. Randolph
Bracey told the Orlando City Commission, but he didn't say exactly what Orlando does
represent.
To me it represents a one-season climate and the triumph of the mall culture. But I
guess it depends on your perspective. It's like the story of the blind men touching
different parts of the elephant: Each man described a different creature.
Maybe Flip Benham got a bad part of the elephant. Or a pathetic motel mattress.
That's entertainment. Is it awful to admit that I was entertained by the spectacle of
dueling protesters Monday outside an abortion clinic in Orlando? It was so thoroughly,
poignantly American, a reverse Norman Rockwell tableau.
Over here we had the sorrowful abortion opponents, eyes glistening with sanctimony,
arms raised to heaven. "This is the darkest, the dankest place in the United States
of America!" a minister cried, pointing to the clinic behind him on Virginia Drive.
And over there, in a festive Hawaiian shirt, we had Miami gay rights activist Bob
Kunst, marching up and down the street shouting "So many men, so little time!"
and carrying a poster reading, "Will Somebody PLEASE Give Operation Miscue Some
Viagra Already?"
There was a shouted argument about who did and did not stand with Dr. Martin Luther
King in the '60s. Each side claimed that it did and the other did not.
Another abortion backer held a poster reading "Abortion On Demand And Without
Apology" while a number of opponents wore T-shirts with the message,
"Intolerance Is A Beautiful Thing." (Are you listening, Dr. King?)
Item: I noticed that the leaders and talkers on both side were men.
A leader on the anti-abortion side urged his followers to grab a snack at Henry's, a
Cuban sandwich shop a few doors down from the EPOC Center clinic. "They're
believers," he said of the owners.
Sofia Rossell, who runs the shop with her husband, Marino, said the endorsement had
indeed brought her extra business -- enough to make up for regular customers who were
deterred by police barricades set up around the block.
The Lord giveth ...
The beat goes on. All grown up but still have the urge to march in formation while
playing a musical instrument? The Acme All-American Alumni Marching Band wants you!
Originally known as the World's Worst Marching Band even though it wasn't, the Acme Band
is made up of former high school and college band members. It makes serious road trips and
marches in real parades.
The band's next appearance is July 4th in Atlanta, and it needs some reinforcements.
The next (and only) rehearsal before the trip is June 28. If you're hot to trot, call Chaz
Waldrip at +1 (407) 425-6029. The band welcomes kids, but "anyone under 18 must be
accompanied by a playing adult," Waldrip said.
Attention, Viagra users ...
I'll be on your favorite oldies station
today, Cool 105.9 FM (WOCL), from about 7 to 9 a.m. So if you're not otherwise occupied,
tune in the Scooter & Co. show for a potent combination.
Greg Dawson welcomes your comments. Telephone:
+1 (407) 420-5499. E-mail: gdawson@orlandosentinel.com Please include
your name and phone number in messages.
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