SpoogeThunderbolt missile in your cheeriosJoin Date: 2002-01-25Member: 67Members
edited March 2003
I've been hearing rumblings that the <a href='http://www.earthliberationfront.com/main.shtml' target='_blank'>ELF</a> has considered using some protests as stages for their domestic acts of terror. I haven't been able to find any documentation (fortunately) backing that up but it's definately a scary thought. You won't find me out there protesting against the war, but I won't stop anyone from voicing their opinion. That is, as long as they do it with civil constraint. It's clear that the fringe groups (I'm certain they are a minority-even without personally questioning every protestor) are starting to cast a dark cloud over the everyday chap who just wants to utilize his right to speak.
However, there is a catch to that. We have the right to speak our minds (excluding extremes) and expect to not be imprisoned for doing so. The Constitution specifically outlines that human right. But, we DO NOT have the right to be HEARD. I do not have to listen to what you have to say. You can say it, but I can choose to plug my ears and whistle Dixie. It's this OTHER human right that seems to be starting a frenzy. <a href='http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2003/03/20/heaving.DTL' target='_blank'>Example.</a>
I don't agree with the protestors, but I don't want to see the peaceful and lawful arguments of common citizens mangled by wackos with planet sized chips on their shoulders.
If your gonna protest the war ok. Just when you protest you usually dont do things you do anyways. Like people forcing themselves to throwup in CA. Wow! Dosent that happen everyday anyways? Its as rediculous as the protest by masterbating cite which im not sure if I can post though because there are some nakid people on it.
Raise the fist went on to say that when protests no longer work we need to take further action by "Attacking U.S financial centers which regulate and assist the functioning of U.S. economy.by using covert techniques, depending on the situation, such as physical occupation of buildings would help weaken the U.S economic backbone used to finance war."
"Attack the media centers of the country."
Anyway, it is obvious that protesting makes absolutely no impact on our government at all. "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable." <b>-JFK</b> What happens in a democracy, where the officials the public elect no longer do what the public wants them to do? Is this freedom?
protesting is stupid. It will have little impact on political thinking. Unless it is a problem that really affects the people.
Most of the time a protester is going to get hurt and then get on t.v and have a big cry about the <insert problem> and get national creditation for bravery for throwing rocks in a violent pursuit for political dimnance.
It depends on time, place, and the amount and attitude of protestors.
Take for example the demonstration I'm just coming back: About a hundred protestors, about thirty of them younger than my little sister, running through a city screaming stuff they don't understand in a country that opposes the war either way. This'll accomplish - nothing -. I held out for five full minutes before fleeing the political masturbation this action was.
On the other hand, big protest actions on the spot that matters can have incredible effects - take Martin Luther Kings march for Washington or the demonstrations in Leipzig shortly before the German reunition.
Demonstrations are in a way PR - they're supposed to <i>demonstrate</i> the protestors opinion to the world and, if possible, convince of the necessity of a change. Like any PR, it can work or fail.
<!--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--><!--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-->Seriously though, a number of 2000 is just ridiculous. Even the protest actions in Genua, which can be considered the largest escalating demonstration in recent history, didn't feature that much nonconforming protestors. Either the number has been inflated by the media (I also heard 1000), or this is something to be seriously concerned of. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the 2 MILLION people who protested in London recently? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was talking about the amount of arrested protestors, not about the complete numbers.
The conventional 'protest' is a waste of time. These people will just get a bit of media recognition and everybody else will blow them off as nutballs. Really, what is accomplished? These rallies just attract a bunch of weirdos that carry confusing signs and like to spout idiotic rhetoric. These are the people that end up on television and get all the attention. This is not a way to get your point across.
If you are against the war, do something else - write a letter to your editor. Write about it on a website. Do anything but encourage this giant, neverending circus known as the protest.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for the war. But if I wasn't for it, I sure wouldn't be seen at these rallies.
My point was that there are dozens of safer, more productive ways to go about doing it. Really, I'm don't care if people do it or not - I just think it's a waste of time.
Comments
However, there is a catch to that. We have the right to speak our minds (excluding extremes) and expect to not be imprisoned for doing so. The Constitution specifically outlines that human right. But, we DO NOT have the right to be HEARD. I do not have to listen to what you have to say. You can say it, but I can choose to plug my ears and whistle Dixie. It's this OTHER human right that seems to be starting a frenzy. <a href='http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/gate/archive/2003/03/20/heaving.DTL' target='_blank'>Example.</a>
I don't agree with the protestors, but I don't want to see the peaceful and lawful arguments of common citizens mangled by wackos with planet sized chips on their shoulders.
"Attack the media centers of the country."
Anyway, it is obvious that protesting makes absolutely no impact on our government at all. "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible make violent revolution inevitable." <b>-JFK</b> What happens in a democracy, where the officials the public elect no longer do what the public wants them to do? Is this freedom?
<b><i><u>GOD BLESS AMERICA!</b></i></u>
Most of the time a protester is going to get hurt and then get on t.v and have a big cry about the <insert problem> and get national creditation for bravery for throwing rocks in a violent pursuit for political dimnance.
Some of that probably makes no sense.
Take for example the demonstration I'm just coming back: About a hundred protestors, about thirty of them younger than my little sister, running through a city screaming stuff they don't understand in a country that opposes the war either way. This'll accomplish - nothing -. I held out for five full minutes before fleeing the political masturbation this action was.
On the other hand, big protest actions on the spot that matters can have incredible effects - take Martin Luther Kings march for Washington or the demonstrations in Leipzig shortly before the German reunition.
Demonstrations are in a way PR - they're supposed to <i>demonstrate</i> the protestors opinion to the world and, if possible, convince of the necessity of a change. Like any PR, it can work or fail.
<!--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--><!--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-->Seriously though, a number of 2000 is just ridiculous. Even the protest actions in Genua, which can be considered the largest escalating demonstration in recent history, didn't feature that much nonconforming protestors. Either the number has been inflated by the media (I also heard 1000), or this is something to be seriously concerned of. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
What about the 2 MILLION people who protested in London recently? <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I was talking about the amount of arrested protestors, not about the complete numbers.
If you are against the war, do something else - write a letter to your editor. Write about it on a website. Do anything but encourage this giant, neverending circus known as the protest.
Don't get me wrong - I'm all for the war. But if I wasn't for it, I sure wouldn't be seen at these rallies.