I spent some time today wandering around this year’s Hempfest. I’ve avoided this particular Seattle festival for the past few years I’ve been down here, mostly because of my personal opinions regarding pot. Today, though, I had nothing else planned, and figured it might be worth wandering down with my camera for some peoplewatching.
As for the event itself…well, I can’t honestly say I was very surprised by the attendant crowds. Virtually every stereotype imaginable when dealing with the hemp/pot communities was there, plus all the requisite political hangers-on. Stoners, hippies, thugs, freaks, wierdos, Democrats, Libertarians, Socialists — you name it, that subculture was represented somewhere. Not to mention the ultra-right-wing religious proselytizers.
Is it any wonder so many people have such a dim view of Christianity when these bigoted idiots are the most visible representatives of the religion most of the time? I’ll give them points for perseverance, but that’s about it.
I didn’t bother to listen to any of the speakers I passed on the various stages, and for the most part, none of the few bands that were playing when I wandered by caught my ear enough for me to stop and listen. I did manage to catch a few minutes of a bellydancing performance on one of the stages, though.
I only ended up sticking around for a couple hours, though, as — speaking of stereotypes — today’s cloudy skies finally started raining. It wasn’t enough rain to really be that much of a bother, but as I didn’t have anything along with me to protect the camera, I decided it was time enough to find my way home. Besides, walking through another thick cloud of marijuana smoke every few minutes was starting to get to be a bit much for me.
All in all, not a bad afternoon, though. Had the weather been a bit better, I probably would have stuck around a bit longer and taken a few more pictures. I’m trying to get over an ingrained resistance to taking pictures of random people, and festivals like this can be a good place to work on that. It’s not an easy thing for me to do, as I’m always at some level afraid that whoever I’m aiming the camera at will get offended, or make the assumption that I’m some sort of creepy voyeuristic freak, or some such thing, but as “still lifes” and buildings get a bit boring after a while, I’m going to keep working on it.
iTunes: “My Mind is My Enemy (20,00 Volts of Stimulation Focused)” by Khan, Praga from the album My Mind is My Enemy/Luv U Still (1998, 4:12).
CJ
Brandon
Tim Who?
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My favorite part is the “and Mormons” line. WTF does that even mean?
Joel,
Yeah, I was thinking the same thing. I know many Mormons and they are very upright, moral, religious individuals that, in my humble opinion, aid in the upliftment of society.
For them to be placed in the same category as “lewd women,” “racists” and “baby killers” is totally outrageous.
Then for them to put “false religions” on there is to proclaim they are the only religion, when there are many paths to God. Some might be quicker, but we are all made in God’s image, so we should seek to unify, rather than divide and destroy one another.
Let us love one another instead of dominate each other.
These are Bush followers and as such are “My way or the highway” people. There is no middle ground. They are right and everybody else is wrong. Just ask them, they’ll tell ya.
Ankle biters? What do they have against Ankle biters? And why not elbow biters? Why didn’t they make the list?
It’s obvious that this author has serious mental blockages about the true benefits of cannabis. This blog reads like it was written by a uneducated, straight white republican male oppressor. What a dumbass. And thank you, the cannabis community doesnt want your kind. Your too opinionated and just plain lacking in factual education about cannabis.
I’d like to think that Cannabis advocates have strong reading comprehension skills—or at least a sense of restraint when not sure—but Jonathan, you make it really tough.
I don’t know whether to just outright laugh at one of the funniest comments left on this weblog to date, or be discouraged because I’m not even able to attract a worthwhile troll. I mean, if you’re going to troll, shouldn’t you at least put some effort into it in order to do it effectively?
Michael! You’ve switched teams? And you’re playing for the other side? And now you’re a white republican male oppressor?
Michael…. you must not give in to the dark side. Fight Michael fight. You can do it. We’re here for you.
Michael….Michael…MICHAEL!!!!!!
Quick, somebody call 911. In three minutes his brain will be starved of oxygen and will cease to function and you know what happens then.
He becomes a republican for the rest of his life!
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