The NATO Summit

I’m secretly not so secretly excited for the NATO summit.  In the two weeks I have been home, I have heard more about this summit than anything else, and after taking a course that focused on the creation of NATO and various other international organizations my interest piqued even more.  Having read a few articles about the impending summit, I thought I’d share some fun facts and info with the readers of this blog.  (All of this information was obtained from Sunday’s Edition of the Chicago Tribune, because I read the Trib on Sundays with my cup of coffee.  Actually, two cups of coffee.)

1.      Apparently the G-8 summit and NATO summits were supposed to take place simultaneously in Chicago.  However, the G-8 summit was moved to Camp David. The leaders from the G-8 will join the NATO summit when it begins.  Why the change of plans?  The number of protesters expected for both was unprecedented.  Got to love democracy. 

2.      The Chicago Tribune reported 2,000-10,000 protesters.  Occupy is trying to round up 50,000.  Now, don’t get me wrong-I support Occupy.  I’m a member of the 99% and support exercising our constitutional rights! Let’s tell the government what we want!  Stick it to the man!  However, I also believe Occupy has no clear focus right now and is somewhat disorganized for what aims to be an organized movement.  So 50,000?  Really Occupy?

3.      The Trib also reported that a Catholic nun in Chicago is trying to organize a “family friendly” march on May 20^th.  My response to this-a family friendly march?  Really?  In Chicago?  During the NATO summit weekend?  Family-friendly protest? 

4.      Lawyers and law students will be wearing neon green hats this weekend (maybe I made that up-they might just be green) and will offer legal advice to protesters on the spot.  I love it. 

5.      The Tribune also took the time to define the term anarchist for its readers.  Thank you Chicago Tribune. 

6.      The Magnolia Bakery that opened on State Street is selling NATO cupcakes for three dollars apiece.  What constitutes a NATO cupcake?  See for yourselves:

 

Capitalizing on the NATO summit…genius.  I’m upset that I didn’t think of it first. 

Will I actually make it down there this weekend?  I’m not so sure.  It depends on whether I want to brave the 53A bus, the orange line, and then the Red line.  In the meantime, I’m going to enjoy the hype and continue to comment on the coverage-the good and the bad.

Until next time.

Sara