War protesters are being arrested on vague charges (you know--stuff like "suspicion of intent to violate the fire code") and warrants have been issued authorizing police to confiscate any laptop, cell phone or camera they can find in private homes lodging protesters. (These might just be a spur-of-the-moment, precautionary response to reports of big, scary, masked anarchists--if it weren't for the fact that the warrants seem to be the result of intelligence garnered from a big, scary, months-long COINTELPRO-type infiltration program.)
Press credentials, apparently, are no deterrent to the jackboots: Some AP reporters have been detained, as were Amy Goodman and two of her producers. (On a personal note: Fuck these un-American, fascist assholes; how dare they arrest journalists trying to do their goddamn, Constitutionally-sanctioned job?!?!! OK, end of outburst.)
Now, the only reason I can think of for Republicans to instigate such abuse during their convention (apart from the fact that senseless violence has a natural appeal to Neanderthals) is to infuriate lefties in hopes of provoking a violent response. In its wake, McCain's increasingly despondent handlers can, in a desperate last-ditch attempt to avoid the humiliation of a total rout in November, try to frighten voters by characterizing Obama's "base" as a bunch of domestic terrorists.
Logically, then, wouldn't the protesters be well advised to keep their cool? Certainly they would--but not for fear of providing McCain with political ammunition. Face it: If the GOP machine wants lefty violence in the Twin Cities, the GOP machine will get lefty violence in the Twin Cities, even if it means sending in some hapless squad of brightly scrubbed Young Republicans to stage the required explosion. Unfortunately, the protesters cannot, at this point, avoid being characterized in the media as violent, anti-American radicals.
However, the upside of this it that they need not waste any time considering how their actions will be perceived. Violence is still not an option but, since the mass-media has already made up its mind, the familiar post-situationist, postmodernist strategy we learned at our mother's knee is now dead. Instead of posing for the cameras, they can now aim for maximum interpersonal impact. Shake up a lobbyist's schedule. Confuse a delegate. Bewitch a power-broker. That sort of thing.
No matter what violent media circuses the GOP may have planned, supporters of peace can still achieve their goals--as long as they remain steadfast and remember their Gandhi: "First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win." The peace protesters have finally reached that third step. If they hold fast, the next stop is victory.
(Brandon Burt)
Umm, destroying windows at Macy's? When did Macy's looting become part of the political process?
ReplyDeleteThe peace protesters would be wise to keep as much distance between themselves and the anarchists and the anti-globalists as possible. Smashing windows, starting fires, and slashing tires isn't really Gandhi-esque. Mainstream America finds it easy to dismiss the whole protest movement when they see violent images on the network news.
ReplyDeleteAnd Gandhi spent years in jail. He almost starved himself to death while imprisoned, and he ultimately freed about a half billion people. I don't think Amy Goodman has risen to the level where she deserves a juxtaposition yet.
Yes, Justin. My whole point in a nutshell is that Amy Goodman = Gandhi. Good read!
ReplyDeleteNice rebuttal. The peace movement will get no mainstream support as long as the only image Middle America sees is masked punks breaking windows. Which side is Amy Goodman on? I have listened to her off and on for years, and I don't recall hearing her ever say anything critical of the anarchists or their tactics. In fact, she seems to glorify the "Battle in Seattle" and all similar anti-globalization protests, even when they devolve into violence. She's part of the problem.
ReplyDeleteI get it now: The Republicans are forcing the protesters to act violently. It's all become so clear!
ReplyDeleteGood grief Brandon, blame on. Justin, you nailed it.
Sorry, I missed the part where Amy Goodman and the Associated Press were looting Macy's.
ReplyDeleteI am still just in absolute shock at the level of denial going on here: The GOP has "planned" violence for St. Paul? Really? It's not the crazy anti-globalization, anti-everything crowd who have promised this kind of violence?
ReplyDeleteNope. Blame the Republicans for the violence incited by these loons, because Republicans are facist assholes and they're to blame for everything.
Nobody is advocating riots. We do retain our right to peacefully assemble and protest the hypocrisy that is Palin and McCain. People that take that to a new level and start rioting or breaking windows are acting out in the extreme and you cannot blame all of us for a few peoples actions, nor can you use that extreme to detract form our message: Palin is a hypocritical lying politician. Notice how Obama has not made a strong statement against her lies yet? It's because we don't have to, the majority of intelligent people can see what a hypocrite she is.
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