Harley Sorensen writes on SFGate today that in his opinion, peace marches are a big old waste of time, and that peace activists could learn a great deal from, of all people, anti-abortion activists. Yikes!
As disturbing as this column is, he raises some good points. So much of the arguments I've seen and heard seem to 1) preach to the converted, 2) over-simplify, or 3) come across as arrogant. If this is driving people away from the peace camp... well, what's the point?
I'll still march again, though. I just need to remember not to stop there and think I've done everything I need to do.
And why the heck don't more people vote in this country!?!? If more of us had been paying attention, and made a more informed choice at the ballot box... we wouldn't have this present lovely situation.
See relevant quotes below.
--> March Madness: Protests Don't Work: www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi? file=/gate/archive/2003/03/10/hsorensen.DTL
The anti-war activists, Republican as well as Democrat, should start putting as much support as possible behind anti-war candidates, and withdraw their support from pro-war candidates.
Like Dianne Feinstein. Feinstein talks out of both sides of her mouth on the war issue, but her votes have been pro-war. The next time she files for office, the Democrats should find an anti-war person to replace her.
I recognize that political action two years from now, or four years from now, or six years from now, won't have any effect on one man's decision to plunge the world into war now, but neither will protest demonstrations.
If anything, demonstrations just harden the resolve of people like George W. Bush, who proudly boasts of his stubbornness.
I know better than to believe I can convince anybody of anything, so I'm sure the demonstrations and work stoppages will proceed apace. Since that's the case, I have two bits of advice for the activists:
One, treat the anti-war leaders with the same distrust you have for our political leaders. Question their motives, look for their hidden agendas. The fact that they're against the war and you're against the war doesn't mean you should follow them blindly.
Two, beware of infiltrators urging violence. During the Vietnam War, the police sometimes slipped some of their own into the anti-war movement, and, as it turned out, these agents provocateurs were often the loudest voices for violence.
There is no reason to believe today's government will not have its own bag of dirty tricks to use against demonstrators.
