I went to Northeastern Univ in Boston in the late 60s. Didn't really know
which way I was turning politically, was open to ideas. There was the SDS,
and there was - well everything else.
Anyway, one week all of a sudden Big SDS Protest planned against the
horrible disgusting fascist from California, SI Hayakawa. WHo the hell was
he I thought? I read a little, didn't see him as Hitler, but went to the
'protest' just to see.
Was there any substantive reason for the protest? Not that I could see. What
happened? A few SDSers used a Mr microphone to disparage SI, the USA and
God, then the crowd began to throw rocks at anything breakable. So this is
political dissent? As soon as the mayhem started, I hightailed it out of
there. As I left the quad, running across Huntington Ave toward my car, I
met a cop coming the other way -towards the melee. As we passed, he swung
his nightstick at me. I ducked and took a glancing blow on my shoulder. At
first I was pissed but then I realized the meaning of guilt-by-association.
As I approached my car, I encountered several more crowds of thugs, taking
advantage of the situation, trashing cars and anything they could find.
Although I did pretty much lean to the left at the time, I wrote SDS off as
just a bunch of argumentative anarchists with only complaints, no solutions,
who would protest their own mothers if they thought it would be a lark. I
think todays war 'protesters' are pretty much the same ilk. Except they do
have one collective thought - get the Republican out of the white house.
After all, **where were they** when Bill Clinton was bombing Yugolslavia
back into the Stone Age, killing thousands of civilians, women and children?
Ha, they were watching on TV and repeating a mantra inspired by Animal Farm:
"Democrat bombs good, Republican bombs bad."
George
> -----Original Message-----
> From: owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of chris@xxxxxxxxx
> Sent: Friday, February 07, 2003 8:56 AM
> To: olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [OM] RE: [OT] Protestors
>
>
> On 7 Feb 2003 at 8:40, George M. Anderson wrote:
>
> > If today's protesters were to try to establish their own country, that
> > would be quite a sight. A government of, by and for the anarchists!
> > With no military! Quite a future there!
>
> As a former radical (SDS, etc.), I can say this and get away with it...
>
> Most protesters are focused on what's wrong, not necessarily on
> how to fix it. They protest like the dickens because what they're
> protesting about is "wrong," but they really haven't a clue how to
> realistically fix it.
>
> That's NOT to say that protestors (and protesting) is bad! Without
> dissent, we'd all surely be subjugated by those in power even more
> so than we are now. It's just to say that protestors don't necessarily
> always have the best solutions, and protesting isn't necessarily
> directly related to finding the best solution.
>
> Btw, all of the above applies to opposition parties, too. Everything's
> WRONG while you're in opposition, but not a damn thing changes
> if/when you get in power.
>
> Peace, everyone!
>
> Regards,
>
> Chris
> -------------------------------------------------
> Chris O'Neill (chris@xxxxxxxxx)
> Joinco Enterprises Inc., Edmonton, AB Canada
> Web: http://www.joinco.ca
>
>
>
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