Anti-war Protest Actions
Nemesis_Zero
Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
Old European Join Date: 2002-01-25 Member: 75Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">Direct your bashings in here, please.</div> I'm opening this thread to give everyone an untainted place to discuss the benefits and problems of the current anti-war protest actions, as well as the opinions expressed by the protestors.
Expect posts about this topic in other threads to be deleted.
Before we start, I'd however like to make one point clear: Millions are currently going on the street. This means that no TV image, no snapshot, no single quote, will be able to sum the whole of the protesters opinions and practices up, be it in the positive or negative sense.
Treat the subject with the differentiation necessary and mention the specific group you're adressing.
Expect posts about this topic in other threads to be deleted.
Before we start, I'd however like to make one point clear: Millions are currently going on the street. This means that no TV image, no snapshot, no single quote, will be able to sum the whole of the protesters opinions and practices up, be it in the positive or negative sense.
Treat the subject with the differentiation necessary and mention the specific group you're adressing.
This discussion has been closed.
Comments
the TRUTH about ANSWER
<a href='http://authoritarianopportunistswhocozyuptogenocidaldictators-forpeace.org/' target='_blank'>http://authoritarianopportunistswhocozyupt...s-forpeace.org/</a>
Proof of Radicals
<a href='http://www.brain-terminal.com/video/nyc-2003-02-15/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.brain-terminal.com/video/nyc-20...2-15/index.html</a>
<a href='http://www.brain-terminal.com/video/sf-2003-03-15/index.html' target='_blank'>http://www.brain-terminal.com/video/sf-200...3-15/index.html</a>
just so everyone knows, this is a contradiction (in most people's books).
Also ANSWER and WWP are hardly radicals, they have put themselves in the same place that NPAC (SWP coalition) occupied during the sixties radicalization. Not to mention that they give uncritical support to the deformed workers states and even... Saddam Hussein! I think Iraq should be defended, but to uncritically support the nationalist, anti-working class regime of Hussein? These guys are a joke; flaming communist on paper, and the vilest reformists in action.
My problem with the antiwar movement is that the leadership is trying to pressure the capitalist rulers to change their ways. Even the subjectively radical youth of the breakaways and Black Blocs are ultimately appealing to a wing of the ruling class. What these protesters need to realize is that the fight against war is analagous to the fight against capitalism.
1. Violence. If someone is going to protest for peace, war, free pizza, etc; don't become violent. There's no need to attack police, destroy stores, loot, firebomb cars, etc. It make them look like stupid hypocritical radicals, especially if they're peace protesters. 'NO WAR,' then 20 protesters throw firebombs at police.
2. Inteligence. Ok, I think I spelled inteligence wrong, please forgive me English isn't my first language. If someone is going to protest something, do it inteligently. Don't burn flags, or euffigies (sp?) of people, and don't hold stupid signs. Try to promote your opinon in a decent, civilized manner. Hand out flyers with information, or hold discussions/speechs. Also, try to get your facts from several unbais sources. Example: Don't hold a rally against Israeli actions/policies with the Palestinians if your information comes from www.ihatejewsandwantthemalldead.com; and no, I don't hate Jews, 'twas an example.
3. Priorities. It annoys me when people protest some 'insignificant' thing when there's genocide, oppresion, and famine in the world. You hear- 'Hey lets protest against America.' But you don't hear 'Hey, lets protest against oppression and genocide in the Sudan.'
4. Flag burning. When I see any flag from any nation being burned I lose all respect/sympathy for those doing it. Even if I agree with what they're saying, I'll stop supporting their cause, or at least them. It angers me so much. Sometimes I wish I was back in Russia or South America, where you can properly deal with flag burners.
If I ever see a socialist anarchist 1)I should hope he's anti american and 2)I'll wonder why his head hasn't exploded yet, because HE CANNOT EXIST.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->1. Violence. If someone is going to protest for peace, war, free pizza, etc; don't become violent. There's no need to attack police, destroy stores, loot, firebomb cars, etc. It make them look like stupid hypocritical radicals, especially if they're peace protesters. 'NO WAR,' then 20 protesters throw firebombs at police.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
There has been suprisingly little violence in these particular anti-war demonstrations.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Don't burn flags, or euffigies (sp?) of people, and don't hold stupid signs. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Sorry to burst your bubble, but these are basically the only way to get the point across nowadays. You think people listen to the speaches, or read the pamphlets? And what's wrong with signs?
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->3. Priorities. It annoys me when people protest some 'insignificant' thing when there's genocide, oppresion, and famine in the world. You hear- 'Hey lets protest against America.' But you don't hear 'Hey, lets protest against oppression and genocide in the Sudan.'<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
In America we protest against America. Let them protest about Sudan in Sudan.
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->4. Flag burning. When I see any flag from any nation being burned I lose all respect/sympathy for those doing it. Even if I agree with what they're saying, I'll stop supporting their cause, or at least them. It angers me so much. Sometimes I wish I was back in Russia or South America, where you can properly deal with flag burners. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Flag burning is an very legitimate protest method. If you dislike what a specific country is doing, what shorter, faster, and more effective way to display that dislike than by burning that countrie's symbol?
As for the burning of flags and effigies, I agree with you that they do get attention and can show one's opinion. Though I try to act respectfully and civilized (most of the time) and it just seems rude to do such things. I belive that flag burning is making a blanket statement about a country and its populace, and it probably drives possible supports of one's cause to back away if they see their nations flag burned.
As for signs, many make me laugh, but some are just soooooooooooooo stupid and have a blackhole of logic that they bore a hole of through my head.
Call me old fashioned, but I like to attend lectures. I have gone to three concerning the current situation with Iraq. One for the war, one against, and unbais, which was ultimatly for the war. They were all by college professors and were very interesting. If you can, I recommend you attend lectures at your local college or where ever they might be held.
In some places in the world, people can't protest. In Sudan if you go protesting against the 'action' taken against the Christains in the south, you will be promptley beaten/tortured/raped/killed.
I agree, the fact is anti war protesters have NO say in what happens and I hope they know this, they are just waisting their time, and annoying the everyday americans they would want to side with, ex. when protesters last week stoped traffic in washington and newyork. Why stop traffic....thats just **** people off.
Learn to use adjectives:
It's not 'protesters are idiot hippies', it's 'many protesters are idiot hippies'.
It's not 'America is bad', it's 'The American government is bad'.
It's not 'all posts in this forum are slanted and pointless', it' s 'most posts in this forum are slanted and pointless'.
See how easy that is? Locked. Try again.