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President Obama in Small Town, Missouri

President Obama in Arnold, Missouri, photo by smalltowngirl

President Obama in Arnold, Missouri, photo by smalltowngirl

On my way to St. Louis this morning, I stopped in Arnold, Missouri, expecting to see a crowd excited that the President of the United States had chosen their community for his talk today.
President Obama's 100th Day, Fox High School, photo by smalltowngirl

President Obama's 100th Day, Fox High School, photo by smalltowngirl

What I saw were angry, agressive pro-lifers and anti-socialism protestors lined the sidewalk outside of Fox Senior High School. One of the anti-abortion protesters held a sign reading, “Obama’s policies kill 30% black babies.” I’m not even sure what that means.

News vans were parked in a flower nursery parking lot across JeffCo Boulevard from the school. A man dressed in an Uncle Sam costume and standing on stilts held a sign reading, “Govt Pork: more dangerous to America than Swine Flu.” Others held signs saying “Pray for an end to abortion,” or more simply, the word “socialism” with a red “X” through it.

Worse for American than Swine Flu, photo by smalltowngirl

Worse for American than Swine Flu, photo by smalltowngirl

This blog is not a political blog, so I’m not going to speak out on my own political opinions. I think it’s great that President Obama chose a fairly small Missouri community in which to speak on his 100th day in office, and I value our right to gather and protest in public places.

Racism is never okay with me, though, so this woman’s sign struck me as inappropriate:

Don't Tax Me Bro, photo by smalltowngirl

Don't Tax Me Bro, photo by smalltowngirl

While standing amidst the protesters I had my own “We’re not in Kansas anymore, Toto” moment, substituting “Kansas” for “Brooklyn” and “Toto” for…well…nevermind. You get my point.  President Obama’s visit to Arnold today will undoubtedly be referenced later, so in a way, I felt like I was part, however briefly, of a piece of American history.

For more of my photos from today, visit my Flickr stream.

St. Louis is..., photo by smalltowngirl

St. Louis is... photo by smalltowngirl


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