The problem with trying to get a great peace movement going now is that no one feels that they are personally affected. In the 60s, there was a draft, and people were scared to death that they were going to have to go to war. They were personally affected, so they fought back. The US has learned from that mistake and now won't have a draft, even though its military "needs it" to help "bring democracy to Iraq." With everyone being unaffected directly by the situation now, they will not get angry enough to fight it. Well... the slight majority, anyway. Because a lot of us really ARE pissed off and ready to do something. But yeah, I think that's why we aren't able to get together a peace movement. ~Nova
I agree, it's probably going to have to take something that affects us all personally. Whatever it is - bring it on!
Your last line is the answer. The conversation has to start before the action follows. The only thing I would like to see on these boards is a lot more discussion of the serious issues going on of the day; the war, the plan for perpetual warfare using the bogeyman of terrorism, the governments willingness to torture, the governments willingness to spy. Educate yourself on what's going on. The same old faces are out there in protest, but we are looked on as relics of a bygone age. Our cause died with the end of the Vietnam War. A lot of our generation has moved on or died. All we can do is advise the cause. This world always has, always will belong to the young. What is done with the knowledge is up to the young lions and lionesses. There are leaders amongst you, they just have to emerge.
I died a long time ago....it just happens that i haven't interiorized that yet, so I keep moving on............
I hear ya. I'm kinda looking forward to the other side. Maybe meet up with some old friends. Until then, I have some kickin' and screamin' to do before they throw the dirt on. Hopefully go out the same way I came in.
Don't forget the govenment using depleated uranium for the military...that in no way is good for humanity of the envorinment. Sorry to chime in so late..just got back from vacation. I love to see this board started, and I really do hope it starts some other threads regarding current issues....maybe they could actually lead to organization then possibly action. You have all been very motivational in your posts...they really make me want to get out there and do something. Tomarrow maybe I will go with my friends and start a protest infront of city hall....they have the gun ban comming up on July 4th and no one is voicing support for the issue...maybe we will let them hear the side promoting peace...and get away from the Red Necks shouting protect our second amendment. I am all for freedom and rights...I just don't understand why people have to own rifles/handguns. Remember to get our and support the bill....it will lead to much less shootings/violence in our country. Peace to all and thank you for the motivation, Al
Gee, I know that folks are going to take this wrong and I promise I am not trying to pick a fight...but the gun / vs / volence thing is kind of like what J.Evertt Coop said about the "Abortion Problem" in this country. "Its not that we have an abortion problem...we have an unwanted pregnancy problem." I am NOT a gunner but really the problem is the folks that pick them up the gun and shoot other folks with them. We have to educated, indoctrinate, and somehow mold people to where they do not look to violence as an ends to a means. Afterall, your just as dead if you were beat to death by a golf club as you would be if you had your brains blown out. After that, it is easier to get rid of the guns. Many people hang on to them now with a vice like death grip falsly believing that the gun somehow makes them safer. safer from what I do not know...
.........with a bit of luck, your hatred will increase so much that you will choke....................
Darkside - I made a suggestion on another thread about armbands. They could have war or something written on it to show our displeasure. Their purpose would be to engage in conversations. We educate ourselves on both sides of the argument regarding the war, we can bring about good discussions. I listen to Rush Limbaugh as often as I can. Not because I am a closet conservative, but because I want to know what the otherside has to say about people like me. Plus it's good for a laugh and I like to argue with my car radio. I digress. You're right, discussion is the first step. Let's start getting conversations started with people. It might not make a visible impact, but it will certainly get people thinking. From there, we must figure out where to go. Organize protests? Perhaps. Or, we could get groups together in the community to get a forum started. Have members of the community come together to talk. I tend to avoid the idea of actual protests because you might try to have it be peaceful - and then you have that one or two losers that have to spoil it - which ruins your whole point. I need to read up on my King and Gandhi to see how they resolved these issues, and then we can look to that option. I don't want the message to be lost behind the headlines "3 protesters arrested due to police violence." King was arrested once, but he still did it under peaceful pretenses. Back to the armbands though, I figured out how I would make them and what we could do with them. We make them and sell them at a certain price. Then take the profits and send it to an Iraqi charity, or create one. Help the people the way they should have originally been helped. This way we are making an impact on people's lives, for the positive. How about that? Spooner -
Not bad, not bad. The nature of the protests has to be determined by the people driving the protest. Protestors are never of one mind. There are always the peaceful, passive element and there is also the angry, take it to the streets element. The best take it to the streets type of protest was not pick up a rock and throw, but think of intelligent ways to provoke an overreaction by the opposing side. Violence for violence’s sake accomplishes absolutely nothing. Issues like confining protesters to small, out of the way areas, removing people wearing anti-Bush clothing from the audience when Bush speaks, are all things that can provide opportunities for more confrontational protesting. Numbers and intelligent planning always accomplishes a lot. What form or nature the protests would take, I can’t say. Gandhi was about passive resistance, but it was resistance nonetheless. Hopefully you can keep things rolling by getting more of the younger people brainstorming. Ignore the naysayers, they will always be there. “full of sound and fury, signifying nothing” – Shakespeare I put no more weight on my ideas than those of others; but what the hell, here I go: The internet is an extremely powerful force that is not being utilized to it’s full extent. The Howard Dean campaign touched on the tip of what can be accomplished. Here is an article describing what the internet accomplished for Dean: http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=howard+dean+internet+campaign&prssweb=Search&ei=UTF-8&fr=sbc-web&x=wrt Dean used it, terrorist organizations use it. It provides great organizational powers that didn’t exist previously. By all means, the local organizations are important, but if all anti-war organizations use the internet to organize under one-umbrella, they can coordinate protests and events to maximum effect. I’m sure there are probably already people out there attempting it, but I see no national profile yet. All it would take a visionary with leadership and organizational abilities or a group of people committed enough to see it through. Strength in numbers; always strength in numbers. An organization with numbers will always be listened to. That power is always kowtowed to by politicians. Identify your leaders and put your support behind them. Paul Hackett is an Iraqi war veteran that ran as a Democrat for a congressional seat in Ohio in a heavily Republican district and lost by a small margin. I’m not saying he is the answer (not radical enough for my taste), but he does embody the thoughts of the anti-war movement. He might not be the answer, but he is the type that must be sought out and have support thrown behind. I am one person. I am an insignificant person. I am not one of the shining lights of the previous generation. But I did embrace the ideals of those people that drove and led our movement back in the day. I don’t have all the answers; no one person has all the answers. Everyone together will bring you awful close though. Hopefully there are enough like-minded people like you willing to push forward.
You would think that if people were well informed they would be so outraged that they would be compelled to act. I think we live in the "me" era though, where people are more interested in personal gain and even personal comfort than in human rights and government agenda. "No ones invading my country, no ones killing my innocent family, no ones raping me of my dignity and freedom, why should I care?" It's very sad
Sila - You are right. It IS all about personal gain. If it benefits someone for Bush to be in power, they aren't going to oppose it. For the longest time I had a hard time understanding why ANYone would support Bush. Sure, you have those lemmings who can't think for themself - but what about the intelligent people? Because they either a) monetarily gain from it, or b) believe that supporting him will make God happy. After all, the Liberals are godless heathens. But everyone forgets...God could give a crap about either sides.
