# Did the Demonstrations in London "Fail?" **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 23, 2003, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828 "2003-11-23T08:18:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![ExecutiveJesus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a6a055/32.png) [@ExecutiveJesus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ExecutiveJesus)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2003, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/41 "2003-11-24T23:25:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*\*Did the Demonstrations in London “Fail?” \*\* No. The only reason that the protest became was: a) to feel good about one’s self as a participant. b) to be fashionable. Both were accomplished. Congratulations, morons. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Iskander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/db5fbb/32.png) [@New\_Iskander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Iskander)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/42 "2003-11-25T00:11:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by elucidator \* > \*\*Let me see if I got this right,… **The protesters** were seeking to demonstrate that Bush and Blair were Stalinist-type monsters, eager to grind their political enemies under thier tank treads, and smear Trafalgar Square with bloody body parts. The fact that this did not occur means that they failed. > > Have I got that about right? \*\* No, you got that about totally wrong, **Luci**. There is not a single instance of “the protestors” in my post. I said, “_protests_ “failed” to demonstrate…”, kind of like “sunny weather failed to demonstrate the accuracy of rain forecast”. To make it real simple, the fact that many thousand people assembled lawfully in London and freely expressed their opinions, fails to demonstrate that Blair and Bush are morally equivalent to any vile human monster, as some people here like to insist. Stop making up stuff. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/43 "2003-11-25T00:33:25Z")
Stunning. ---
**Author:** ![capacitor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e47774/32.png) [@capacitor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/capacitor)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/44 "2003-11-25T01:43:09Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Airman Doors, USAF \* > \*\*So, when have protests ever really changed the world? The March on Washington? Protesting doesn’t work unless it is accompanied by action, either at the ballot box or on the battlefield. I don’t see any revolutions formenting, so all that’s left is Election 2004. Then we’ll see how effective the protests have been. \*\* Roumania protesters successfully ousted their prime minister, with little military help. And Lech Walesa got his teeth braving the water cannons in Gdansk. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/45 "2003-11-25T02:12:11Z")
Cory Aquino ---
**Author:** ![Brutus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@Brutus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Brutus)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/46 "2003-11-25T02:18:39Z")
Some people need to learn the difference between ‘protests’ and ‘insurrections’. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 2:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/47 "2003-11-25T02:43:45Z")
While I think protests in general can have some good effect, the problem with \*these protests is that they are so heavily populated by idiots who make the rest look bad. A calm, dignified protest can be effective, but when you show up waving giant puppets holding signs that say “Bush is Hitler”, serious people don’t listen. And the antics of the crazy few cause many people to just write off the entire protest. In the end, you wind up with a giant-scale version of the Iraq threads on this board - two sides treating each other with contempt, with minds shut on either side. And in the meantime, the independents and fence sitters who you are really trying to convince are really, really turned off by the notion of taking sides with the “radical cheerleaders” and the guys in fuzzy fright-wigs shouting that America is the most evil nation on the planet. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/48 "2003-11-25T04:09:06Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > A calm, dignified protest can be effective, but when you show up waving giant puppets holding signs that say “Bush is Hitler”, serious people don’t listen. The message was Bush = Saddam. Hence the statue toppling event. Sheesh, **Sam** , you conservatives are always twisting the truth.🙂 I didn’t see if there was a shoe slapping ceremony once the statue was down. If not, the protestors missed another golden opportunity to turn people off to their cause. ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/49 "2003-11-25T05:20:34Z")
Nah, at least one moron had a “Bush = Hitler” sign. Saw it on the news. ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 5:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/50 "2003-11-25T05:53:20Z")
And that other guy, dressed up like Jimmy Carter in lesbo/Nazi drag… I thought the framing hammer was a nice touch… And the granola. ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/51 "2003-11-25T09:02:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ExecutiveJesus \* > > * * * > > No. > > The only reason that the protest became was: > > a) to feel good about one’s self as a participant. > > b) to be fashionable. > > Both were accomplished. > > Congratulations, morons. \*\* Misunderstanding - or wilfully misrepresenting - the opinions of people with whom you disagree is hardly a forward step of the fight against ignorance now, is it? ---
**Author:** ![owlstretchingtime](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/958977/32.png) [@owlstretchingtime](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/owlstretchingtime)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/52 "2003-11-25T11:36:10Z")
The protests didn’t “suceed” or for that matter “fail” as it would be impossible for any outcome whatsoever to have achieved what all the protesters want. Some are banging on about israel/palestine others about Iraq Others about green stuff others want a free tibet others just like a chance of a pagga with the old bill. And so on. If there was an identifiable common goal then it would be possible to quantify the sucess or otherwise of the demo. It did suceed in making my journey home hellish though. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/53 "2003-11-25T11:55:33Z")
I thought the point of the protests was to voice an opinion which the participants felt was being ignored when expressed by other means. Sure, the usual gang of idiots were there, the ones who would protest pretty much anything as an excuse to make noise. But those groups hardly constitute the sort of numbers that turned up on a weekday to make their displeasure known, in the same way that the million-strong march last spring included an enormous number of people who would normally, say, spend their Saturday afternoon out shopping with the kids but who felt strongly enough about the government’s actions regarding the war on Iraq to come out and march. So they protested, they got a fair amount of press coverage, and they went home again. I doubt anyone really expected Bush or Blair to say “Gosh, all these people are unhappy; maybe we should reconsider what we’re doing.” Let’s not forget, though, that it’s not just the government that keeps an eye on these things; protests can also influence fencesitters in the public (one way or the other). ---
**Author:** ![Avenger](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9de0a6/32.png) [@Avenger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Avenger)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/54 "2003-11-25T19:56:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > \*\*Nah, at least one moron had a “Bush = Hitler” sign. Saw it on the news. \*\* There was one? Well, that invalidates the protest of the rest of the 100,000 then. ---
**Author:** ![rjung](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/45deac/32.png) [@rjung](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rjung)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2003, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/55 "2003-11-25T20:39:14Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Sam Stone \* > While I think protests in general can have some good effect, the problem with \*these protests is that they are so heavily populated by idiots who make the rest look bad. Where, of course, “idiot” is defined as “anyone I don’t agree with,” right? :rolleyes: (I’m sure if there was one guy among the protesters holding up a “Bush = God” sign, you’d be singling him out as a “voice of reason among madmen”) ---
**Author:** ![Sam\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Sam\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sam_Stone)\ **Post date:** [November 26, 2003, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828/56 "2003-11-26T01:49:52Z")
> [@](#): > > Where, of course, “idiot” is defined as “anyone I don’t agree with,” right? No, I don’t agree with ANY of them, but only a small percentage were idiots. Say, the ones carrying “Bush is Hitler” or “Bush = Saddam” signs, or the ones who put up a giant statue of Bush and tore it down, thus trivializing a real moment of joy and liberation for the Iraqi people. Or [these clowns](http://www.internationalanswer.org/). Or [these people.](http://www.geocities.com/radicalcheerleaders/). Although I must admit I have a soft spot for the radical cheerleaders, because of their immense comedy potential. After all, who can forget such lilting poetry as: > [@](#): > > **Canada is Not Okay** > > T AND A all the way canada is not okay > no borders no states > we just want to masturbate > no borders no states > we just want to masterbate > T and A all the way > canada is not okay > we want anal penetration > not canadian corporations > canada sucks corprate cock > global free trade’s got to stop!!! Kind of brings a tear to your eye, doesn’t it? And who can forget this dramatic ode: > [@](#): > > **Fart in Ya Face!** > > Fart in ya face > Fart in ya face > Hey, George W. > Let me fart in ya face! > > Pregnant chads and Brother Jeb > Gotcha in the White House > Like Uncle Jed > So throw out the Beano > An’ pass the cakes > Let’s go to DC > So I can fart in ya face! > > Fart in ya face! > Fart in ya face! > Hey, Dick Cheney > Let me fart in ya face! Man, that’s beautiful. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-the-demonstrations-in-london-fail/214828.md?page=2)