March for Peace!

[QueenAdrock]

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3468

Anyone going? D_Raay, maybe? I'm thinking about going, but I'm not sure yet. It depends if I can get some friends to go, and they're mighty lazy/afraid of DC. Damn suburbanites. :mad:

[Documad]

I know that my attitude sucks, but it feels like it's several years too late to go to an anti-war rally.

Whenever I go to an event that's massive in scale, I feel so hopeless. I start to think that we're all a bunch of losers just doing something to feel good about ourselves instead of doing something that could actually have impact. Writing three letters to your actual elected federal representatives would have greater impact. Letters, not emails. Maybe we should all have a bunch of friends over and make our friends write letters on grown up stationary.

[drizl]

it never hurts to get out and support a cause that is worthwile. marching for peace is a very good thing, in any time, in any situation. the hopelessness of american politics is all the more reason to do something to find hope, be surrounded by others who believe, who get off their asses and speak their minds.

[drizl]

it never hurts to get out and support a cause that is worthwile. marching for peace is a very good thing, in any time, in any situation. the hopelessness of american politics is all the more reason to do something to find hope, be surrounded by others who believe, who get off their asses and speak their minds.

[Documad]

I know. For years I thought that maybe it was okay if concerts just raised awareness and didn't actually accomplish anything. But the older I get, the more I want action instead of songs and speeches. And I know that we should welcome everyone to the big peace tent, but I'm still pissed at all the people who watched CNN and were transfixed by the invastion.

I don't mean to be a downer at all, but it always comes across that way. I've got friends who've been protesting on a regular basis since before the war. Single american women in their late 20s and early 30s are the most apathetic group of people so whatever you can do to get them off their collective asses, for whatever reason, is cause for major congratulations.

[ToucanSpam]

If I lived close to it I would go, it's never 'too late' for an anti-war rally.

[DroppinScience]

I know. For years I thought that maybe it was okay if concerts just raised awareness and didn't actually accomplish anything. But the older I get, the more I want action instead of songs and speeches. And I know that we should welcome everyone to the big peace tent, but I'm still pissed at all the people who watched CNN and were transfixed by the invastion.

I don't mean to be a downer at all, but it always comes across that way. I've got friends who've been protesting on a regular basis since before the war. Single american women in their late 20s and early 30s are the most apathetic group of people so whatever you can do to get them off their collective asses, for whatever reason, is cause for major congratulations.

I know where you're coming from because I was against the Iraq War since the beginning (well, BEFORE the beginning rather), but I think there comes a time where you need to put it behind you. So they were more interested in fiery explosions on the news than questioning the war? Well, if they've turned around now, they've turned around. I just wish people would learn their lessons easier and sooner.

[drizl]

man, i still cant believe how big of balls george bush has. and cunnilingus rice.....shes gots some serious cahones too. bunch of compulsive liars maybe...does that mean their ball-less?

[QueenAdrock]

I don't mean to be a downer at all, but it always comes across that way. I've got friends who've been protesting on a regular basis since before the war. Single american women in their late 20s and early 30s are the most apathetic group of people so whatever you can do to get them off their collective asses, for whatever reason, is cause for major congratulations.

(y)

I know what you mean, but I do other things to make my voice heard. I write letters when I get pissed, I also helped volunteer for the Democrats this past election so we could kick the Republicans to the curb and take over Congress and possibly make a difference. There's not much you can do as one person, but I feel every little bit you can do will help. So going to this march wouldn't be the *only* thing I'd have done, just one of many things.

I know I'm going to ask my 20-something female friends to go and I'm gonna get one definite yes from a friend who also isn't apathetic, and then 10 "Yeah maybe, depends what the weather's like and what we're doing" from the others. (n)

[Documad]

Well, QA, maybe if you can get those gals to attend just once, at least one of them will get inspired to do more and you could really get something started.

I have a friend who bugged me for years. She was all talk about her politics and never did a thing. She didn't even let the people around her know how she feels, which is the first step. If you just let the people you work with and go to church with know that there is a competing viewpoint, that's something. And you never know who you're going to affect. Anyhow, long story, but my friend did a few minor things two years ago for the 2004 election (it started with her putting a bumper sticker on her car) and then she really got going this year. Now, she's even taking classes on how to be an advocate and she's shaming me. :p

I need to get off my ass. I was so exhausted after this last election that I couldn't face anything political for a while.

[enree erzweglle]

I have no faith that wars will be stopped by public protests. Maybe wars are prevented or delayed by demonstrations like this--maybe the chemistry of a war is affected by protests. Public opinion influences media coverage and certainly influences the spin that politicians put on the whole effort. But a war in progress is likely going to continue regardless of protests and that's true for too many reasons, very few of which are even remotely noble.

That said, I still participate in protests, not just marches but protests of different flavors. For me, doing that is right and is about the only thing that I can do. Even if the logical results don't come about from the protests and even if my personal power is rendered ineffective and my voice is stifled by politics, I still feel compelled to do something, to be a body or a voice that stands up for what's right.

I just learned that my son will be deployed to Iraq or Afghanistan in the coming weeks or by November. He'll be in the infantry serving on active combat duty. Marches like this have outrageous, enormous personal value to me. Even if it's just so that I can sit with other like-minded people, so that in the future I can look back and remember the faces and voices and energy of a group of people who had a focus that might get lost in the history of this war. It's important for me to remember that even in the worst times, there are pockets of people who show compassion and have the drive it takes to do the right thing. I expect that in years to come, I'll need to look back on these past few years and the coming weeks and months and know that I did what I could do to stand up against a horrific, wrong thing.

[drizl]

i hope your son returns home soon, safely.


i think protesting can help though. if there is one thing politicians fear, it would have to be (well besides assassination) large mobs of people really angry, really united, telling them they are wrong. when it gets to a critical mass...then everyone starts talking, then the government mutates so that it wont lose power.
if enough people lose respect for the system, then it wont work anymore. well, i wish that was true....the more i thin about it, the more i see how invested people are in the system. in the old days people could take care of themselves...now, people dont even know how to grow their own food, or survive independently of central air, their cars, etc... fuck thats bleak.

[Documad]

Enree: I have thought of your son so many times in the past couple of months. I have co-workers whose husbands have been recalled to duty after leaving the service. I can't believe the president can get away with this "surge" when everyone knows it's pointless.

I know that a very very small percentage of all the hundreds of thousands of people we've sent over there have been injured. So I'm sure your son will be fine. But my heart goes out to you for all the worrying you're going to do.

[SobaViolence]

it's not an escalation, it's an augmentation.

:confused:




marches are useless.

[Documad]

Yes, I agree that marches have a zero chance at changing policy. But if it makes moms like enree feel better, then I see the value. I seriously need to look outside my own life experience more often. :o

[SobaViolence]

the only thing that really changes government is bloody armed revolution or time.

[drizl]

protests scare politicians. if you scare them, they reconsider their position to change their politics.

[abcdefz]

April, June, and November are for peace, too.


Not so much July. I think Mars has something to do with that. :(

[QueenAdrock]

That was terrible, A-Z. :mad:

[little j]

so do you just show up on the designated spot on the mall on the 27th at 11am??

i might come....i'd like to.

[yeahwho]

By all means go if you can. Symbolism is a very effective tool, every politician uses it to a degree, some more than others. Without a "face on a cause" many issues go ignored. I have been to 3 anti-war demostrations in the NW and the first one was a mess, actually as many pro-war people there as anti-war. They actually were more of the support the troops sort....which all of us are.

Nobody wants to see somebody die for an unjust cause anymore....politicians are influenced by numbers.

I still think the USA can be great if we just get out and be involved in the process of our freedom.

[D_Raay]

http://www.unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=3468

Anyone going? D_Raay, maybe? I'm thinking about going, but I'm not sure yet. It depends if I can get some friends to go, and they're mighty lazy/afraid of DC. Damn suburbanites. :mad:
This is the first I have heard of this, I have been a bit off or jaded or something lately, so I missed this.

I'll have to see if I can change some plans ,but I wouldn't want to miss it.

[JobDDT]

Have a good time if you're going. Just avoid the tazers!