14 People Who Hated Their Government and Did Something
Teabaggers, pundits and bloggers, oh my! We Americans just love to sit around and gripe about how much better things would be if we ran the show. But how many of us actually get up off our ever-expanding tushes and DO something about it? Not many, that’s how many. Oh, we’ve got lots of excuses. “My scooter’s in the shop.” “I have a Botox appointment.” Or the ever popular, “It would violate the terms of my parole.” We firmly believe that each of us has something unique to bring to the table, but we won’t use those gifts to “speak truth to power” often enough. You may not be a booby trap expert, or be able to rig a simple Russett potato to do extraordinary things – like the rogue musician-turned-survivalist Jonas Hawkinus of the hilariously absurd KoldCast TV series, Mountain Man – but perhaps some of us could take a cue from one of the following individuals, whose acts of defiance, whether they be courageous or simply bizarre, show us that no deed, if heartfelt enough, is inconsequential. Come, citizens! Rally up!
Mountain Man, Episode 1: Food
1. JANE FONDA
You might know her as the libidinous space heroine Barbarella. You might know her as that lady in the foxy pastel-leotarded ‘80s aerobics videos. You might not know her at all. (Seriously? You don’t?) But to many people angered by her anti-war activities, Henry’s daughter is still best known as “Hanoi Jane.” Starting in the late 1960s, Jane Fonda began speaking out against the US’s activities in Vietnam. She toured with an anti-war road show, raised funds and spoke on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and helped fund the Indochina Peace Campaign. But the bulk of the controversy (and the vitriolic hate still targeted at her today) stems from a 1972 trip Fonda made to Hanoi, during which she spoke out against U.S. military tactics, and was photographed sitting atop a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft battery (in addition to meeting with POW’s and bringing home messages to their families). She later stated that she was manipulated into taking the photograph, and that she didn’t realize until much later what the implications might have been, but the damage was done. Upon her return, she faced a backlash that continues to this day. We still love you, Janie. You’ll always be our little orgasm-machine defeater.
2. TANK MAN
Nobody knows for sure how many people were killed when Chinese forces cracked down on protestors congregating around Tienamen Square in 1989. Reports range from 500 to as many as 3,000. But some things are certain: it was swift, it was bloody, and it was scary. This unknown activist, who stepped quietly in front of a line of tanks, occasionally speaking with the soldiers inside, was eventually led away by two men wearing blue uniforms. His identity remains a mystery though many believe he was among the scores of protesters executed following the riots. What do you think? Is he the bravest peace activist of his generation, or just some guy carrying two bags of oranges who just wanted to get across the damn street?
3. HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Abolitionist. Poet. Naturalist. Essayist. Surveyor. Historian. Philosopher. Tax Evader Resistor. Makes your resume look kinda lame now, doesn’t it? America’s darling hermit transcendentalist (just Google it, dude), Henry D. Thoreau was known for his anarchist ideals, ecological sensitivities, and fantastic home-made pesto. Well, we’re not sure about that last one. But with all that solitary cabin living out on Walden Pond, he must’ve concocted some manner of plant-based sauces to put on his pastas, mustn’t he? Anyway, Thoreau, through lectures and essays such as the chart-topping “Civil Disobedience,” advocated resisting tax payment as a non-violent form of government protest. His first attempt at this form of social action was less than glamorous however. He spent only one night in jail before being released when his aunt paid his back taxes for him.
4. MARLON BRANDO
He isn’t just the Godfather or that sweaty dude yelling over the streetcar. He’s freakin’ BRANDO, jerks. Since his earliest days as an actor, Brando was intimately involved in a variety of issues, including the civil rights movement, support of an Israeli state, smuggling of Holocaust victims, fair housing initiatives, and Native American rights. Most of these efforts were unknown to the general public, however, until the Academy Awards show of 1973 when Brando was announced as the winner.
5. ST. PATRICK’S BATTALION
In the midst of the Mexican-American War, things weren’t looking so hot for Mexico. In what can only be described as a genius PR move, Mexico offered tempting incentives to foreigners who would make a run for the border… not to get late-nite chalupas, but to join the Mexican army and fight against the U.S. To even Mexico’s surprise, a bunch of lads took them up on the offer. The defectors included Germans, Canadians, French, Italians… but mostly Irish. Angered by the lousy treatment they received in the U.S. Army, the red-headed strangers, who became known to the locals as the San Patricios, came in large numbers to fight for Mexico. And fight bravely they did. The situation didn’t end well, though. After the war, most of the soldiers were tried and hanged as deserters or traitors, though a few did remain in Mexico through the land grants promised to them by the Mexican government. In spite of their tragic end, the men of Saint Patrick’s Battalion are considered heroes throughout Mexico. The only recognition they got from north of the border? A reaaallly crappy movie starring Tom Berenger.
6. GUY FAWKES
People have been trying to blow up their government buildings for as long as people have known how to blow things up. But only one guy has his very own holiday because of it – with fireworks and blazing puppets, to boot! Guy Fawkes was a member of a group determined to restore a Catholic to the throne, so they planned to give Parliament the ol’ kaboom, killing King James and replacing him with his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Since the ragtag group didn’t have many resources or wealthy benefactors, they stole a bunch of gunpowder and squirreled it away in a hidden room under the House of Lords. But somebody got nervous and squawked, the cellars beneath Westminster Palace were searched, and Fawkes, who was unlucky sap on duty that night, was captured. Following his trial and conviction, he dramatically leapt from the gallows, breaking his own neck, to spare himself the torture of being hanged. And now, every fifth of November folks in England celebrate with fireworks, bonfires, eating baked potatoes, and burning paper likenesses of Fawkes in his memory. Effigies: They’re Not Just For Popes Anymore!
7. LEYMAH GBOWEE & THE WOMEN OF LIBERIA
Remember “Lysistrata”? It’s the only one of the Greek plays you probably paid any mind to because it’s all about sex. The women of Ancient Greece, fed up with the constant war-loving tendencies of their men, decided to hold out on the sexy times until their husbands wised up and stopped all the killing. So simple, so effective. So effective, in fact, that it was resurrected and put into use a couple of thousand years later by the women of Liberia, led by activist Leymah Gbowee and her organizations, the Women in Peacebuilding Network and the Women’s Christian Initiative. Frustrated and distraught by 15 years of civil war caused by battling warlords attempting to overthrow dictator Charles Taylor, these women took a stand under the most dangerous of circumstances. During a time when simply walking outside could have gotten them beaten, arrested, raped, or killed, the women banded together. They took to the streets in large numbers wearing white t-shirts, taunted soldiers, pled for peace, and demanded that President Taylor attend peace talks. Most bold of all, however, they declared their homes nookie-free zones until the fighting stopped. The eventual result? Taylor was ousted, peace talks moved forward, and Africa’s first female head of state was installed. Listen closely, because you’ll never hear me say it again: ABSTINENCE WINS!
8. AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Though her actions have been completely non-violent in nature, Aung San Suu Kyi’s influence is so feared by her current military junta government that she’s been quite literally trapped in her home for twenty years. In 1988, the Burmese (now Myanmar) government was in the midst of upheaval due to the oppressive tactics of an autocratic leader. Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of an assassinated independence fighter, had returned from her studies in London to her home country to tend to her ailing mother. After giving a speech to a crowd of thousands, it became clear that the opposition had found its new leader. Never ones to waste an opportunity to squelch democracy, the junta promptly placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, where she has remained, with only brief reprieves, for the past two decades. While sequestered in her home, she has helped her party win the majority of parliamentary seats (which, of course, weren’t recognized by the junta), published an acclaimed book, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. When’s the last time you got so much done just sitting around the house?
9. MR. ROGERS
Okay, so maybe he didn’t “hate” the government, exactly. (Could Mr. Rogers really hate anything? I doubt it.) But there came a time in 1969 when everybody’s favorite neighbor saw an issue that need fixing and got to fixing it. When Congress was threatening to severely cut funding to PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Presbyterian minister and sweater aficionado marched himself down to the capitol and got all “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” on the Senate Subcommittee. Was he successful? You be your sweet McFeely he was. Not only was PBS spared the cuts, its budget was actually increased by more than 50%. If you’ve got any heart left in your dark, jaded, shell of a soul, you should thank Mr. Rogers.
10. LADY GODIVA
Here’s a story of a woman whose anti-government pursuits brings us everything modern tales of grassroots activism are missing: marital discord, elaborate hairdos, and boobs. According to legend, the people of medieval Coventry, England were suffering under the oppressive taxation placed upon them by their greedy Lord. (At this point, it really helps the story if you picture him as The Count from Sesame Street, only dressed like Hamlet.) His wife, the luxuriously-tressed Lady Godiva, pitied the peasants, and relentlessly pled with her husband to lift the taxes. Finally, exhausted by her nagging heartfelt insistence, he said, essentially, “Fine, Little Miss Empathy. I’ll do it. If you, my dear, strip down to your birthday suit and march your noble tuchas through the damn town.” Then he probably kicked a dog, smacked a stable boy, and stomped off to bed. But lovely Lady Godiva, no shrinking violet, (and, who are we kidding, probably kind of an exhibitionist anyway), went and did just that. She saddled up her trusty steed, wrapped her long locks about her person, and down the road she went. In the end, that mean old Lord Greedypants had no choice but to lift the taxes. And voila! A bloodless, naked, one-woman revolt. (Oh, sure, there was that one poor peasant, later called “Peeping Tom”, who was struck blind as punishment for sneaking a peek at the fair lady on her jaunt. Let’s just say he took one for the team.)
11. ALCATRAZ ISLAND OCCUPIERS
If you’ve been to Alcatraz and heard the creepy voices on the audio tour, you’ll find this one hard to believe, but believe it you shall: There was a time when people actually fought to LIVE on that gosh-forsaken heckhole of an island. In 1969, a group of Native Americans from an organization called the Indians of All Tribes boated out to Alcatraz on a rented yacht, hopped off, and set up shop amongst the decrepit prison ruins. Their purpose, other than to scare the pants off their children, was to claim the island for all Indian peoples, as they believe Alcatraz qualified for Native reclamation following its decommission as a federal penitentiary. They intended to establish a museum, educational, and spiritual center, among other things. The group remained on the island for an unbelievable 19 months, during which they received a good deal of public support, especially from celebrities. (Oh, celebs. Is there anything you won’t support?) Finally, in 1971, with water, power, and phone service cut off and the number of original supporters dwindling, the occupation ended. The final straw? Infiltration by hippies. Perhaps General Petraeus should take note…
12. RAINBOW WARRIOR
This one’s not really a person, but since we call boats “she,” I think it counts. This brave little boat has been chugging away in the name of eco-awareness (in one incarnation or another) since 1977. She’s Greenpeace’s most loveable mascot, and the only thing that keeps us donating to their causes despite the ridiculous crunchy items in their catalog. She evacuated islanders from polluted waters, faced off against illegal whalers, and confronted baddies at nuclear test sites. And what thanks does she get for her efforts? Blown up by French commandos! But not to worry, she’s a dive wreck and artificial reef now, covered by beautiful waving sea anemones… just the way she would’ve wanted it.
13. TEAPARTIERS: THE REAL ONES
Can we just forget for a minute about the people who have so definitively co-opted the Tea Party name? Can we forget about the racist effigies, the abhorrently misspelled signs, and the unadulterated abuse of powdered wigs? Can we, please? Let’s, for a moment, get back to our frumpy colonial roots, and remember the dudes who did something really awesome: they were being taken advantage of, their rights were being abused, and they put their butts (actually, their lives), on the line to do something about it. It sounds so silly now, dressing up as Indians and dumping a bunch of tea into the harbor. Did it work? Yes. Enter The First Continental Congress! Organized colonial resistance! Revolution! The U. S. of A., my friends! So put that in your whiney little pipe and smoke it, Mr. “I Hate the Idea of Government-Run Health Care Programs Even Though I Totally Want My MediCare When I’m Too Old To Hold This Sign.”
14. THIS GUY
I don’t know who this guy is, but he hates his government, and he aims to do something about it. And by “doing something about it,” he means, attending a World Trade Organization protest, dressing up like a teenage anime sailor girl and standing near camouflaged security officers in order to make them extremely uncomfortable. Maybe he’s pissed about our treatment of sea turtles. Maybe he wants free Spongebob Squarepants DVDs for all illegal immigrants. Or maybe he’s all worked up over the recent proposed reforms to the EU’s Economic and Monetary Union and Labour Market. (God, who isn’t?) But whatever his issue du jour may be, this is not a man who sits idly by. Move over, Elie Weisel. There’s a new protester in town, and her boots are made for… well, for someone with fairly large and hairy calves.
Mountain Man, Episode 2: Security
Mountain Man, Episode 3: Invasion, Part 1
Annie Cooper is a writer, armchair public transportation advocate, and aspiring taco critic. She has written columns and specialized training materials related to children with special needs, parenting issues, and early childhood development. Her writings are geared toward therapists, social workers, and teachers of young children with complex medical and developmental issues. She recently left her job in social services in an effort to become part of the problem, rather than the solution. Annie lives in Los Angeles, but she’s not from there – nobody’s from there.
If they were victims of the holocaust they would be dead, why was he smuggling dead bodies ?
Candice
Great humor and wonderful examples. More, please.
carlos
cant believe you left castro out!!!
Mrbadexample
You missed the Berrigans, especially Phil and his wife Liz McAllister. Phil was part of the Catonsville 9 group that finally made it acceptable for Catholic Laity to come out against the Vietnam War. But his heroism came out in his trumped up treason trial (put on by Hoover). It was the first trial J Edgar ever lost, and it did a lot to destroy the FBI’s credibility going forward.
And oh, Phil was arrested hundreds of times for peace actions.
GJPinks
“…that solitary cabin living out on Walden Pond,” That solitary cabin was about 2 modern blocks from the then city limits. He was about as solitary as a spoiled kid who runs off to his tree house.
Ron meets a brilliant playwright who endeavors to bring his words to the people. However, the line between genius and insanity has never been too razor-thin.
Now Playing
UnRestricted - Floating Village
Traveling in his wheelchair, filmmaker Mitch St. Pierre and friends Skot and Shawn set out on a journey in search of Cambodia's legendary Bamboo Express, an alleged train made out of bamboo. As the team treks into the unknown they encounter ancient ruins, floating villages and many more unusual scenarios and awe-inspiring moments.
'The Syndicate' centers on a family of serial killers fostered as 'troubled' children. One of these children, Nathan, now a well adjusted adult, lives in London where, until recently, he had killed in partnership with his biological brother Jamie. However, when Jamie is killed in a car accident, Nathan cannot adjust to working alone, feeling the loss of his brother greatly. Then he meets Rhys. Young, inexperienced and eager to learn the business, Rhys evokes the big brother in Nathan and when Nathan agrees to take Rhys under his wing, it seems the family is once more complete. But will the family accept Rhys? And how will his arrival affect 'The Syndicate'?
14 People Who Hated Their Government and Did Something5
By Annie Cooper, Jul 28, 2010 in Pop Culture, Show News
14 People Who Hated Their Government and Did Something
Teabaggers, pundits and bloggers, oh my! We Americans just love to sit around and gripe about how much better things would be if we ran the show. But how many of us actually get up off our ever-expanding tushes and DO something about it? Not many, that’s how many. Oh, we’ve got lots of excuses. “My scooter’s in the shop.” “I have a Botox appointment.” Or the ever popular, “It would violate the terms of my parole.” We firmly believe that each of us has something unique to bring to the table, but we won’t use those gifts to “speak truth to power” often enough. You may not be a booby trap expert, or be able to rig a simple Russett potato to do extraordinary things – like the rogue musician-turned-survivalist Jonas Hawkinus of the hilariously absurd KoldCast TV series, Mountain Man – but perhaps some of us could take a cue from one of the following individuals, whose acts of defiance, whether they be courageous or simply bizarre, show us that no deed, if heartfelt enough, is inconsequential. Come, citizens! Rally up!
Mountain Man, Episode 1: Food
1. JANE FONDA
You might know her as the libidinous space heroine Barbarella. You might know her as that lady in the foxy pastel-leotarded ‘80s aerobics videos. You might not know her at all. (Seriously? You don’t?) But to many people angered by her anti-war activities, Henry’s daughter is still best known as “Hanoi Jane.” Starting in the late 1960s, Jane Fonda began speaking out against the US’s activities in Vietnam. She toured with an anti-war road show, raised funds and spoke on behalf of Vietnam Veterans Against the War, and helped fund the Indochina Peace Campaign. But the bulk of the controversy (and the vitriolic hate still targeted at her today) stems from a 1972 trip Fonda made to Hanoi, during which she spoke out against U.S. military tactics, and was photographed sitting atop a North Vietnamese anti-aircraft battery (in addition to meeting with POW’s and bringing home messages to their families). She later stated that she was manipulated into taking the photograph, and that she didn’t realize until much later what the implications might have been, but the damage was done. Upon her return, she faced a backlash that continues to this day. We still love you, Janie. You’ll always be our little orgasm-machine defeater.
2. TANK MAN
Nobody knows for sure how many people were killed when Chinese forces cracked down on protestors congregating around Tienamen Square in 1989. Reports range from 500 to as many as 3,000. But some things are certain: it was swift, it was bloody, and it was scary. This unknown activist, who stepped quietly in front of a line of tanks, occasionally speaking with the soldiers inside, was eventually led away by two men wearing blue uniforms. His identity remains a mystery though many believe he was among the scores of protesters executed following the riots. What do you think? Is he the bravest peace activist of his generation, or just some guy carrying two bags of oranges who just wanted to get across the damn street?
3. HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Abolitionist. Poet. Naturalist. Essayist. Surveyor. Historian. Philosopher. Tax Evader Resistor. Makes your resume look kinda lame now, doesn’t it? America’s darling hermit transcendentalist (just Google it, dude), Henry D. Thoreau was known for his anarchist ideals, ecological sensitivities, and fantastic home-made pesto. Well, we’re not sure about that last one. But with all that solitary cabin living out on Walden Pond, he must’ve concocted some manner of plant-based sauces to put on his pastas, mustn’t he? Anyway, Thoreau, through lectures and essays such as the chart-topping “Civil Disobedience,” advocated resisting tax payment as a non-violent form of government protest. His first attempt at this form of social action was less than glamorous however. He spent only one night in jail before being released when his aunt paid his back taxes for him.
4. MARLON BRANDO
He isn’t just the Godfather or that sweaty dude yelling over the streetcar. He’s freakin’ BRANDO, jerks. Since his earliest days as an actor, Brando was intimately involved in a variety of issues, including the civil rights movement, support of an Israeli state, smuggling of Holocaust victims, fair housing initiatives, and Native American rights. Most of these efforts were unknown to the general public, however, until the Academy Awards show of 1973 when Brando was announced as the winner.
5. ST. PATRICK’S BATTALION
In the midst of the Mexican-American War, things weren’t looking so hot for Mexico. In what can only be described as a genius PR move, Mexico offered tempting incentives to foreigners who would make a run for the border… not to get late-nite chalupas, but to join the Mexican army and fight against the U.S. To even Mexico’s surprise, a bunch of lads took them up on the offer. The defectors included Germans, Canadians, French, Italians… but mostly Irish. Angered by the lousy treatment they received in the U.S. Army, the red-headed strangers, who became known to the locals as the San Patricios, came in large numbers to fight for Mexico. And fight bravely they did. The situation didn’t end well, though. After the war, most of the soldiers were tried and hanged as deserters or traitors, though a few did remain in Mexico through the land grants promised to them by the Mexican government. In spite of their tragic end, the men of Saint Patrick’s Battalion are considered heroes throughout Mexico. The only recognition they got from north of the border? A reaaallly crappy movie starring Tom Berenger.
6. GUY FAWKES
People have been trying to blow up their government buildings for as long as people have known how to blow things up. But only one guy has his very own holiday because of it – with fireworks and blazing puppets, to boot! Guy Fawkes was a member of a group determined to restore a Catholic to the throne, so they planned to give Parliament the ol’ kaboom, killing King James and replacing him with his daughter, Princess Elizabeth. Since the ragtag group didn’t have many resources or wealthy benefactors, they stole a bunch of gunpowder and squirreled it away in a hidden room under the House of Lords. But somebody got nervous and squawked, the cellars beneath Westminster Palace were searched, and Fawkes, who was unlucky sap on duty that night, was captured. Following his trial and conviction, he dramatically leapt from the gallows, breaking his own neck, to spare himself the torture of being hanged. And now, every fifth of November folks in England celebrate with fireworks, bonfires, eating baked potatoes, and burning paper likenesses of Fawkes in his memory. Effigies: They’re Not Just For Popes Anymore!
7. LEYMAH GBOWEE & THE WOMEN OF LIBERIA
Remember “Lysistrata”? It’s the only one of the Greek plays you probably paid any mind to because it’s all about sex. The women of Ancient Greece, fed up with the constant war-loving tendencies of their men, decided to hold out on the sexy times until their husbands wised up and stopped all the killing. So simple, so effective. So effective, in fact, that it was resurrected and put into use a couple of thousand years later by the women of Liberia, led by activist Leymah Gbowee and her organizations, the Women in Peacebuilding Network and the Women’s Christian Initiative. Frustrated and distraught by 15 years of civil war caused by battling warlords attempting to overthrow dictator Charles Taylor, these women took a stand under the most dangerous of circumstances. During a time when simply walking outside could have gotten them beaten, arrested, raped, or killed, the women banded together. They took to the streets in large numbers wearing white t-shirts, taunted soldiers, pled for peace, and demanded that President Taylor attend peace talks. Most bold of all, however, they declared their homes nookie-free zones until the fighting stopped. The eventual result? Taylor was ousted, peace talks moved forward, and Africa’s first female head of state was installed. Listen closely, because you’ll never hear me say it again: ABSTINENCE WINS!
8. AUNG SAN SUU KYI
Though her actions have been completely non-violent in nature, Aung San Suu Kyi’s influence is so feared by her current military junta government that she’s been quite literally trapped in her home for twenty years. In 1988, the Burmese (now Myanmar) government was in the midst of upheaval due to the oppressive tactics of an autocratic leader. Aung San Suu Kyi, the daughter of an assassinated independence fighter, had returned from her studies in London to her home country to tend to her ailing mother. After giving a speech to a crowd of thousands, it became clear that the opposition had found its new leader. Never ones to waste an opportunity to squelch democracy, the junta promptly placed Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, where she has remained, with only brief reprieves, for the past two decades. While sequestered in her home, she has helped her party win the majority of parliamentary seats (which, of course, weren’t recognized by the junta), published an acclaimed book, and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. When’s the last time you got so much done just sitting around the house?
9. MR. ROGERS
Okay, so maybe he didn’t “hate” the government, exactly. (Could Mr. Rogers really hate anything? I doubt it.) But there came a time in 1969 when everybody’s favorite neighbor saw an issue that need fixing and got to fixing it. When Congress was threatening to severely cut funding to PBS and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, the Presbyterian minister and sweater aficionado marched himself down to the capitol and got all “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington” on the Senate Subcommittee. Was he successful? You be your sweet McFeely he was. Not only was PBS spared the cuts, its budget was actually increased by more than 50%. If you’ve got any heart left in your dark, jaded, shell of a soul, you should thank Mr. Rogers.
10. LADY GODIVA
Here’s a story of a woman whose anti-government pursuits brings us everything modern tales of grassroots activism are missing: marital discord, elaborate hairdos, and boobs. According to legend, the people of medieval Coventry, England were suffering under the oppressive taxation placed upon them by their greedy Lord. (At this point, it really helps the story if you picture him as The Count from Sesame Street, only dressed like Hamlet.) His wife, the luxuriously-tressed Lady Godiva, pitied the peasants, and relentlessly pled with her husband to lift the taxes. Finally, exhausted by her nagging heartfelt insistence, he said, essentially, “Fine, Little Miss Empathy. I’ll do it. If you, my dear, strip down to your birthday suit and march your noble tuchas through the damn town.” Then he probably kicked a dog, smacked a stable boy, and stomped off to bed. But lovely Lady Godiva, no shrinking violet, (and, who are we kidding, probably kind of an exhibitionist anyway), went and did just that. She saddled up her trusty steed, wrapped her long locks about her person, and down the road she went. In the end, that mean old Lord Greedypants had no choice but to lift the taxes. And voila! A bloodless, naked, one-woman revolt. (Oh, sure, there was that one poor peasant, later called “Peeping Tom”, who was struck blind as punishment for sneaking a peek at the fair lady on her jaunt. Let’s just say he took one for the team.)
11. ALCATRAZ ISLAND OCCUPIERS
If you’ve been to Alcatraz and heard the creepy voices on the audio tour, you’ll find this one hard to believe, but believe it you shall: There was a time when people actually fought to LIVE on that gosh-forsaken heckhole of an island. In 1969, a group of Native Americans from an organization called the Indians of All Tribes boated out to Alcatraz on a rented yacht, hopped off, and set up shop amongst the decrepit prison ruins. Their purpose, other than to scare the pants off their children, was to claim the island for all Indian peoples, as they believe Alcatraz qualified for Native reclamation following its decommission as a federal penitentiary. They intended to establish a museum, educational, and spiritual center, among other things. The group remained on the island for an unbelievable 19 months, during which they received a good deal of public support, especially from celebrities. (Oh, celebs. Is there anything you won’t support?) Finally, in 1971, with water, power, and phone service cut off and the number of original supporters dwindling, the occupation ended. The final straw? Infiltration by hippies. Perhaps General Petraeus should take note…
12. RAINBOW WARRIOR
This one’s not really a person, but since we call boats “she,” I think it counts. This brave little boat has been chugging away in the name of eco-awareness (in one incarnation or another) since 1977. She’s Greenpeace’s most loveable mascot, and the only thing that keeps us donating to their causes despite the ridiculous crunchy items in their catalog. She evacuated islanders from polluted waters, faced off against illegal whalers, and confronted baddies at nuclear test sites. And what thanks does she get for her efforts? Blown up by French commandos! But not to worry, she’s a dive wreck and artificial reef now, covered by beautiful waving sea anemones… just the way she would’ve wanted it.
13. TEAPARTIERS: THE REAL ONES
Can we just forget for a minute about the people who have so definitively co-opted the Tea Party name? Can we forget about the racist effigies, the abhorrently misspelled signs, and the unadulterated abuse of powdered wigs? Can we, please? Let’s, for a moment, get back to our frumpy colonial roots, and remember the dudes who did something really awesome: they were being taken advantage of, their rights were being abused, and they put their butts (actually, their lives), on the line to do something about it. It sounds so silly now, dressing up as Indians and dumping a bunch of tea into the harbor. Did it work? Yes. Enter The First Continental Congress! Organized colonial resistance! Revolution! The U. S. of A., my friends! So put that in your whiney little pipe and smoke it, Mr. “I Hate the Idea of Government-Run Health Care Programs Even Though I Totally Want My MediCare When I’m Too Old To Hold This Sign.”
14. THIS GUY
I don’t know who this guy is, but he hates his government, and he aims to do something about it. And by “doing something about it,” he means, attending a World Trade Organization protest, dressing up like a teenage anime sailor girl and standing near camouflaged security officers in order to make them extremely uncomfortable. Maybe he’s pissed about our treatment of sea turtles. Maybe he wants free Spongebob Squarepants DVDs for all illegal immigrants. Or maybe he’s all worked up over the recent proposed reforms to the EU’s Economic and Monetary Union and Labour Market. (God, who isn’t?) But whatever his issue du jour may be, this is not a man who sits idly by. Move over, Elie Weisel. There’s a new protester in town, and her boots are made for… well, for someone with fairly large and hairy calves.
Mountain Man, Episode 2: Security
Mountain Man, Episode 3: Invasion, Part 1
Annie Cooper is a writer, armchair public transportation advocate, and aspiring taco critic. She has written columns and specialized training materials related to children with special needs, parenting issues, and early childhood development. Her writings are geared toward therapists, social workers, and teachers of young children with complex medical and developmental issues. She recently left her job in social services in an effort to become part of the problem, rather than the solution. Annie lives in Los Angeles, but she’s not from there – nobody’s from there.