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The Freedom Cage, and The Daily Show
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Yeah, this guy just spells c-o-o-l. He knew all along.
All right, all right, another day, another cool thing on tap. Tuesday I’ll be at a live taping of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart.
But first a quick update on the Joe’s vs Pro’s battle going on in Denver. Also known as the ordinary citizens angry at society vs the ordinary cops angry at society.
I visited the “Freedom Cage” Tuesday morning around 2 a.m. The set up is an insult to our constitution, but I'll get to that in a minute.
When I arrived I saw about 30-35 people camping out in tents, on mattresses, and in sleeping bags. Some were actually sleeping. I also learned there was some action at Civic Center Park earlier Monday evening. One sleepy guy atop a blow-up mattress told me he was with the anarchist group Unconventional Denver when they tried to stage a march they deemed “Shake the Mint.” They basically just planned to surround the U.S. Mint, then march, what else, who knows? He showed me his orange bandana, which reeked of the unconventional tear gas repellant, vinegar, so I knew he was legit.
They failed miserably. Apparently the cops knew beforehand of their sinister plan to surround the mint, and actually had the citizens surrounded before they could reach their destination. The cops blocked their path. Some protesters rushed the cops. The cops unleashed their new toys on the protesters. Then they forced the law-abiding protesters against their will to sit on the ground for over two hours. The guy said everybody wearing a bandana at the time was being targeted by the police.
Why were the cops blocking their path in the first place? Because the Pro’s had to get even after the Joe's walked all around Denver Sunday afternoon. Unofficial tally: Pro's 1 - Joe's 1.
The “Freedom Cage” is a heavily blockaded, heavily guarded, very small patch of asphalt, located behind a huge white media tent. The tent obstructs the entire view of the Pepsi Center. There were megawatt light fixtures shining down on the spot, and dozens of cops stationed right outside the fences. You can’t even see the space from any public viewpoint. To get there I had to pass by at least 50 cops, – at 2 a.m. – numerous roadblocks, and travel clear across Auraria Campus from Lodo. If you want to check it out for yourself, the easiest way is to enter from Colfax and 7th St.
Isn't the official city sponsored term for the space the "Protest Zone?"Isn't that an oxymoron, like jumbo shrimp, or stoner action movie?
Speaking of stoner activities, in a few hours I’ll be waiting in line to see a live taping of the funniest television show since Saturday Night Live was still on the air. Wait, that show’s still on the air? Who knew?
I think the humor of the show is the main reason it’s so appealing to the masses. It’s the only show besides S.N.L., and to an extent South Park, that tries to be relevant and funny at the same time. The Daily Show just does it much, much better. I can watch it with any of my friends, and even if they don’t get all the political jokes, they get the rude, offensive, sophomoric ones. And that’s just fine with both of us, because even those jokes are really funny.
I enjoy The Daily Show the most when host Jon Stewart takes our government to task for its irrational, irresponsible, incomprehensible rhetoric and actions (He started this trick during the Lewisnky scandal). It’s the only show on TV that makes me think critically and analytically about the society we live in, and doesn't make me want to fall asleep.
Jon Stewart’s so successful because he’s the only host that says what people are really thinking. Not what polls show everyone is thinking, or what the TV ratings show everyone is thinking.
He's also a very underrated interviewer. When he interviews controversial public figures he wittingly dances around sensitive topics, waits for the right time, then throws a few haymakers. He brushes off uncomfortable moments with an obnoxious grin. He's like that friend of yours who could tell you something he doesn't like about you, then make you laugh about it with him.
Another great aspect of the show is how sarcastic the commentary is. The revolving door of Daily Show correspondents really channel my thoughts from watching the mainstream cable “news” programs. I always find myself thinking “You’ve got to be kidding me,” or “Are they really talking about this?” and their mock diatribes capture that feeling and blasts it out to the whole world.
My favorite guests are usually authors. I don’t know what it is, but I always want to read the books promoted on the show.
After the show I'm going to head down to City Park for the Denver Young Democrats'
Next on tap: Rage Against the Machine and Flobots at the Denver Coliseum.
