Washblog

Most of the performers do bellydance or Raks Sharki, Middle Eastern folkdance and "American Tribal" dance, a improvisational troupe technique with ethnic melange costuming. We also have dancers doing East Indian, Flamenco, "Gypsy" and various fusion and novelty dance forms that combine these.I love this event. It's democratic - anyone who submits a form is given a few minutes in the limelight and the spots are chosen by random drawing.Some performers are accomplished pros and instructors; some are first-timers with their knees almost audibly knocking. Some are Seattleites, others from all over the Pacific Northwest, or even Alaska, Hawaii, and Montana.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Most people I asked to sign the public campaigns support petition were very willing, although a little surprised to see a political statement at MedFest. I easily filled the three petition forms I'd brought, but could've filled more.

One was someone I knew from the Dean campaign, so obviously a political activist. Another said she had helped get signatures for the public smoking ban.

Of the rest who signed, quite a few were cynics who made a point of saying it probably wouldn't do any good, since politics was hopelessly corrupt. I mentioned that this system had been passed and was working in Maine, Arizona, and some other places as well. One said she knew people in Arizona and they thought the system was just as screwed up as ever, maybe more. She couldn't give me any details about that, though. Maybe they are Republicans who liked it better before, who knows.

Of the three who declined to sign, one said she wasn't a voter because she was a Jehovah's witness and it's against their religion. One said she was still a Canadian citizen.

The third one, a young man, said: "No, I won't sign because I'm a libertarian. Giving money is a form of free speech and I don't believe in limiting that."

I said: "Really. What if that freedom squashes other people's liberties?"

He said, "Well, some results of Libertarianism are kinda negative, but--" he gave a shrug. it wasn't the shrug that bugged me, but the smirk on his face during this exchange.

I could've continued, getting him to confirm that it didn't bother him if legislators were for sale to the highest bidder, or that the rich should have so much more "free speech" than other citizens, but I moved on. The smirk told me he was quite pleased with his political philosophy, which meant that he didn't have to bother doing anything to promote equality, democracy, or justice, while congratulating himself for being so awesomely freedom-loving.

Or am I being unfair? Please let me know what you think.