Hate

[ceebeegee]

From the Washington Post LTTE page:

Some delegates at the Republican National Convention are wearing bandages with Purple Hearts on them as a way to mock Democratic nominee John F. Kerry.

This childish tactic is also an attack on all brave soldiers who were wounded in defense of this country.

These delegates should be ashamed.

My grandfather (Army Air Corps pilot during WWII, decorated numerous times although no Purple Heart--he was known for bringing his men back safely--he did however win the Croix de Guerre avec Palme) would spit on these people. How. Dare. They.

Comments

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Obviously those people feel they are doing something by protesting. You have to raise people's consciousness before you can effect action. Also, and more specifically, in a republic you have to make your representative aware of your views if you expect them to carry out your wishes. These protests are certainly an attention-getter. In addition, some people feel so disenfranchised, they feel protest is the sole option left to them.

It's a little simplistic to say that protest precludes action, as implied by the word instead.

[mysticblaze.livejournal.com]

Sometimes things can be that simple.

What better way to accomplish something than to say, "hey, here is a plan that I have drafted that addresses issue X and that will cost Y amount of dollars to implement" to present to your representative in lieu of a protest? Wouldn't that be more productive than walking around with a sign chanting slogans?

It is a great thing to complain about what you don't like in an administration, it is quite another to show that you know what you are talking about by finding an alternate/better solution to a problem that has not been addressed. Those people who spend hours preparing for a protest (or the purple hearts and bandages to mock Kerry's military service) have wasted time without achieving anything other than notoriety. Let's face it, by now, a representative should already know what the feelings of his/her constituency, since we have been barraged by them through constant media coverage.

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

Again, it's not an either/or situation.

What better way to accomplish something than to say, "hey, here is a plan that I have drafted that addresses issue X and that will cost Y amount of dollars to implement" to present to your representative in lieu of a protest?

Who's to say those very same people are not doing both? You can't deny that these protests is getting publicity. If it does nothing more than involve people in this year's election, it's proved its relevance.

Those people who spend hours preparing for a protest (or the purple hearts and bandages to mock Kerry's military service) have wasted time without achieving anything other than notoriety.

How do you know that?

How can you state no one's mind has been changed by the protests? You can't.

Let's face it, by now, a representative should already know what the feelings of his/her constituency, since we have been barraged by them through constant media coverage.

Yes, that's the point I made above--the representatives know now how some of their electors feel on some of these issues, in part because of the protests. Therefore, the protests fulfilled their purpose. If I were a representative, I wouldn't look to the media alone to inform me--that would be one factor among many. I don't see how exercising your freedom of expression is ever a bad thing, sorry.

[mysticblaze.livejournal.com]

I am not saying that exercising your freedom of expression is ever a bad thing. What I am saying is that there are times when people go overboard and do not achieve the effect that they desire, thus wasting their time.

What about all the people who have been disruptive in their protests and are now in jail? What have they accomplished? Surely now the taxpayers have to pay extra for their incarceration, which would not have been necessary if they had been peaceful protesters. It is people like those whose energy and zeal makes me wonder if they really believe in their cause or are looking to become infamous.

What does this accomplish?:


A demonstrator is handcuffed by police in Midtown New York Tuesday, Aug. 31, 2004, on the second day of the Republican National Convention.

There are appropriate and inappropriate ways to protest. Now this person wastes the time of other people by (a) getting someone to bail him out and (b) making a Court appearance for arraignment (at least) and (c) the investigation as to whether to continue to press charges. Is this really necessary?

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

See, now you're targeting extreme examples, whereas before you were criticizing "all the energy that is being spent to protest the RNC, including people showing up to planned protests, the fires, the preparation of costumes." These are not the same--one is a subset of the other.

Getting arrested is not a tactic I would try myself, but it gets publicity which may be what they wanted. It got on the news, right? We're talking about it, aren't we? Perhaps they feel the tradeoff is worth the price paid. After all, Chicago '68 was an historic manifestation of how controversial the Vietnam War was--we still talk about that convention today. And eventually the various administrations admitted you can't pursue a war without popular support.

[foulpost.livejournal.com]

Your arguement confuses me. Earlier you said that instead of protesting these people ought to be proposing solutions. Clara is right on that, how do you know they aren't already doing that? And isn't that something the elected officials who represent us get paid to do? But now you say there are appropriate and inappropriate ways to protest?

Would I WANT to be arrested? Doubtful. You're examing individual cases such as the picture you posted. This is not about individuals. Protests are organized demonstrations of grievance designed to elicite attention to the cause. It requires a mass movement. Whats happening in NYC right now is all about focusing attention on a large segement of the population who are disgusted (I choose that word deliberately because it's accurate) and fed up with this government. It is a common tool of dissent. And hey, what about just primal rage? There's something to be said about just getting out into the street and screaming in unapologetic anger for something you believe in.

It sounds to me like you have an issue with political protest in general. Not sure why.