Wha? . . . God, who let the English majors in?
I'll begin by saying I'm all for civil disobedience. I'm even more in favor of passive civil disobedience, because there's less of a chance that it will kill me. Further, civil disobedience aimed at the current war in Iraq is agreeable to me because A) I'm also ideologically disinclined to like that particular war and B) if the protest is successful, my chances of premature death fall even more.
Having said that, are . . . you . . . serious?
This is why I hate things and why I never participate.
What's that, you're protesting the war? What are your plans? Chaining yourself to something? Linking arms across a street?
"We are going to be out there dressed in white, to stand out and be dramatic," said Ed Hedemann, an organizer of the War Resisters League, which describes itself as a secular, pacifist organization. "Probably by the end of our incarceration we will be grubby."Hmmm. Interesting. May I retort? No one cares if you get grubby. If people cared about that, my life between bi-monthy wash cycles would get more press than the Civil Rights Movement.
There is no room for symbolism in activism. Gandhi didn't refuse seasoning at restaurants, he starved himself. Why? Because starving actually means something, it means you die. It means you have conviction. Suffering means you're serious. If each of these "activists" will provide me with proof that they suffer from OCD, then maybe I'll give them some credit.
At least they're secular, so I can't openly dispise any one group in particular.
Symbolism is only forceful in certain, rare situations--situations like college. This protest will never be studied in a graduate level Literature or Film class, thus it will die a quiet death.
posted by Luke @ 3:14 PM
8 comments
8 Comments:
Ghandi, civil disobedience, this reminds me of an onion article from 'Our Dumb Century.' In this article, the British discussed their new 'ultra-violent' protest-breaking techniques to counter the Indian technique of 'non-violence.' Good stuff.
--Mike Sheffler
I disagree. WHat they want is publicity. And you have to admit they got it. Even you're talking about them.
Grammarian,
true enough, living by the no publicity is bad publicity dictum . . .
Does this mean I played right into their hands?
you only played into their hands if your hands got them grubby. :)
'Fraid so. And now, for penance, you have to go out into the street and symbolize something.
I gave that up years ago
You're right of course LAUREN ADAMS, that's an atrocious word (as is my spelling, just wait).
Here's what you're going to want to do: Offer your services as human thesaurus to every soccer mom and nascar dad activism group in America. Help them boost their public image.
It would be a service to them and me.
"Does your vocabulary make you sound like you have no life outside your children's various grass stains? I can help."
That one is free, the next'll cost you.
Here's a little peak into the mind of a NYC protester: "Hmm...how can i get the cop to hit me so it leaves a mark but hurts as little as possible...hmmm...". Admittedly that's more what the character from my racism blog would be thinking, but you know they cherish those bruises when they get them.
An additional word on protesters: The best one i ever saw was a lesbian wearing tie die clothes and carrying a sign with a pretty-damn-good rendering of Galdalf at the bridge of Khazad-dum. In big letters it said, "BUSH! GO BACK TO THE SHADOW!" i looked at that and thought, "hippie lesbian, there probably isn't very much we agree on, but that is the fucking best protest sign i've ever seen."
Also, if you're still not liking the title of your blog, may i suggest "This is why I hate things" as an alternative?
-ben
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