Dave Barry wraps up the DemCon

Dave Barry wraps up the DemCon

"OBSERVATION TWO: Street protests are ineffective, by which I mean stupid.

For two weeks now, I have watched protesters shouting. They never talk; they always shout, often through bullhorns — at the police, at the media, at each other, at civilian passersby, and sometimes at nothing. I do not believe any of these protesters changed anybody's mind about anything, because — follow me closely — normal people do not like to be shouted at.

Normal people also are not inclined to listen receptively to arguments presented by anybody dressed as a giant vagina, or a giant anything else. One night in Tampa, as I was walking to my rental car, a convertible pulled up, and in the back seat, riding parade style, were two people wearing full-body furry pink pig costumes. They told me they were riding around Tampa at night dressed as pigs to persuade people to stop eating meat. As they explained their views, my reaction was not to think, 'They're right! I shall become a vegetarian!' My reaction was a combination of, 'These people are insane,' and 'I could go for some barbecue.'"