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Berkeley protesters take note: put down your picket signs and loudspeakers and pull out your bagpipes.
In an odd spectacle of bagpipe serenading and pro-Proposition 8 pamphleting this past Monday, a group of very stern-looking, red cap-sporting male members of The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family and Property invaded the Berkeley campus to tell us all why we should stop being gay.
Apparently, this Pennsylvania-based organization is on a 30-day whirlwind tour through California, handing out pamphlets explaining the “10 Reasons Why Homosexual ‘Marriage’ is Harmful and Must be Opposed.” We found that their ten reasons could actually be summed up into four words: “because God said so.”
In true Berkeley fashion, their protest lasted about a good half hour before being invaded by a counter-protest of a more animated group of anti-Prop 8 protesters, their rainbow flag in stark contrast to the medieval-looking “Tradition, Family, Property” crest of the opposing group. Oh Berkeley, the only place we know where you’re relieved to see protesters to distract you from…other protesters.
We still don’t get the bagpipes though, except that their choice of instrument is as archaic as their message.
Image Source: Stimpdawg under Creative Commons
The American Society for the Defense of Tradition, Family, and Property [Website]
Tags:American Society for the Defense of Tradition Family and Property, Bagpipes, gay rights, Propostion 8, protest
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Comments:
Sep 26, 2008 at 1:34 pm
I disagree with the notion that bagpipes are “Archaic” as stated in the article. Perhaps in the past, but in the last 15 years or so, many bagpipes have become quite progressive, some being used for Techno and Progressive Rock Bands. The music they are play are more than the old standby “Scotland the Brave” and “Amazing Grace.”
I do agree that not unlike the Shriners who use to use them in parades, these bagpipers are probably using them wronly, and probably sounded like crap. I hate that. Bagpipes should be used as music instruments, not try to reinforce an foregone idea that pipes sound bad, as so many Americans think they should from groups like the Shriners and this silly Anti-Gay Group.
Oct 9, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Too bad they didn’t carriy trumpets!
As a piper myself;
I think people should mind their own business and leave each other alone.
Too bad they mimicked a proud tradition through to call attention to themselves and their foolish bigotry.
They are disgraceful.
I really can’t understand what sort of pipe band would have anything to do with this sort of thing. Certainly the ones in Mass would not be interested..but oh yea we have gay marrage!! HA HA The sky has not fallen and God has not struck anyone down yet!
I’ll have to ask around to see if anyone has played at a gay marriage..I think after our last parade someone on the band bus mentioned that a couple weeks ago they did play a wedding where the people were gay. Nobody really raised any questions about the gayness but asked where it was held, how long, and what tunes they played.
Sep 21, 2008 at 7:52 am
I was born in the People’s Toilet of Berkeley, and I play the bagpipes… yet I never once had the desire to protest with them. They’re using it purely as an attention-getter and I bet the piper sucked!