I believe in everyones right to protest, that is not an issue. What I don’t understand is what these people are trying to do with all the war protesting right now. Do protestors think that we will just pull out of Iraq because they play dead in Times Square? Doing stuff like that just pulls police and fireman away from important duties and wastes money. Once someone makes it known that they do not agree with the war what else is there to say? The only thing they can hope for is to vote the people out of office during the next election.
Just seems like a waste of time to me when there is virtually no chance that protestors are going to be able to “stop” the war.
The thing, for me, is that whether or not we can actually, directly stop the war somehow, the point is that the sheer number of people protesting will ensure that posterity will be unable to say we went along quietly. Something major has changed. The continuing protests are keeping up the momentum. And even though the war has started, people still disagree with it and are still going to say so.
If the protests stopped now it would send the wrong message, not just to current pro-war people but also to future politicians and historians. And anti-war protests are also anti-bush demonstrations; the goal is to sway public opinion so that Bush is voted out of office next year.
What? We’re not going to stop the war immediately? I guess we’d better just pack up, go home, and shut up. Meanwhile, in the Vatican, the Pope decides never to speak out against violence again, because hey, it’s not going to stop violence 100%, so why bother? Meanwhile, abortion protestors, after realizing that abortion is still legal, decide never to speak about it again. Meanwhile, writers of editorials in every newspaper decide not to say anything unless it immediately effects a political change.
The first amendment also altered to include, “unless they’re being loud and annoying.”
We don’t silence ourselves because we want the world to know that Americans have diverse opinions about this war–not everyone wants it. To keep silent would imply that I agreed with the decision, which I do not.
That being said, I believe in protesting in a fair, non-annoying manner. I’ll say my peace, but I won’t block Lake Shore Drive to do it.
> The first amendment also altered to include, “unless they’re > being loud and annoying.”
Aaah, who needs individual freedom anyway; it’s such a bother. It’s much easier to enjoy these fine products, and this great entertainment, and OBEY. The authorities are much more capable of taking care of us than we are.
THEY LIVE, WE SLEEP
I can understand that. But what is the point in saying it over and over and over.
Once you tell the guy sitting next to you that you don’t like K-Mart you don’t need to tell him again. He isn’t going to “know better and better” the more times you tell him. Sitting there saying "K-Mart sucks. K-Mart Sucks. K-Mart sucks. K-Mart Sucks. K-Mart sucks. K-Mart Sucks. K-Mart sucks. K-Mart Sucks. " over and over isn’t going to make K-Mart disappear.
A strong and visible anti-war movement is a good way to ensure public safety in a time of terrorism. Peace demonstrations reinforce the distinction between people and government to potential terrorists, so that they are more likely to attack symbols of power or nodes of commerce rather than people.
FBI agents expect more terrorism because of our attack on Iraq, and can not protect us from it.
well, look at the Vietnam War, for instance. At the start of the war, there were hardly any protesters. Protest grew DURING the war, not before. it’s a means of letting your government know that you don’t agree with them. To cease protesting would send out a message that you don’t care anymore, or that you agree with their policy.
Protest in Spain has actually increased. Protests in South East Asia are still going strong, too.
Protest has also another function: it’s in the public eye. There are always going to be people around who do not really care one way or another. If they see protests going on for as long as the war’s going on, maybe these’ll think twice?
I don’t think that the only option that you have a as a citizen, is protesting once, and then standing docilely aside to let them do what it is what thay want to do. Voting out is definitely an option. But people need to remember what went wrong during his presidency. If there’s no protest anymore, people might forget. Humans have VERY selective memories, and the majority of most countries’ population, suffers from political apathy.
If it were up to me, I’d make voting mandatory.
(and you’re probably thinking “well, it’s good it’s not up to you, then” )
Whether or not that’s the reason that the organizers are doing it, that’s a far cry from saying that that’s why the vast majority of participants are doing it.
)