When I began this blog in 2001, I was appalled by President Bush's headlong rush to an illegal war (we were not in fact under attack). As time wore on and Bush began his assault on the Constitution and any people bold enough to criticize, I believed that "the republic is endangered more by actions of our own government than by those of any terrorist." With the election of a high-minded, compassionate, intelligent man like Barack Obama, my fears have ceased.
"Honor them with peace, not war"
United for Peace
Wednesday, August 18, 2004
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's idea of giving out special buttons to protesters who remain non-violent during the Republican national convention is kind of nutty. The buttons would qualify them for discounts at select lodging, meal and entertaiment providers. A combined reward for good protestor behavior and a bennie to select providers, who would get more customers.
But will it work?
I'm not familiar with protestors who act like they're at an out-of-town convention and require entertainment between sessions. More likely, they arrive early in the day, bring their own lunch, and go home at the end of the day -- and during the day, stick together and do what they came for.
But who knows, maybe I'm out of touch with the modern day political protestor. Maybe middle-class, middle aged protestors are different than a bunch of angry kids who sit on the ground and sleep on the bus.
According to the New York Times report, one problem with the button idea is that Bloomberg will not check protesters to be sure they are non-violent in their intentions before giviing out the buttons.
Anarchists are no more likely to be violent than, say, Christians, and in fact share many goals of early Christians (and some of each foresee-- possibly promote-- a violent end to the current order). Typically anarchists put more emphasis on people's peaceful, cooperative instincts than on their warlike, competitive ones. In this, they differ rather markedly from Republicans. They would note that cut-throat competitiveness is not what kept mankind from being slaughtered by saber-toothed tigers, nor kept the social unit from starvation in lean times.
Bloomberg apparently gave no thought to the most likely users of the buttons--- everyone ELSE in the city that day, who wants a discount --students, lower-income tourists, New Jerseyites, etc. I mean, how do you prove you're part of a protest group? Is it enough to wear comfortable shoes and a rumpled shirt? Or do you have to give up your name and address, what bus you came in on, and the leader of your group? Is this really a ploy to keep tabs on who's who in the protest field? To foil such a maneuver, I say, go for it, New Jerseyites! Take those buttons, Ohioans! invent a group if they ask. There IS such a thing as a free lunch!
Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
Protest buttons
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's idea of giving out special buttons to protesters who remain non-violent during the Republican national convention is kind of nutty. The buttons would qualify them for discounts at select lodging, meal and entertaiment providers. A combined reward for good protestor behavior and a bennie to select providers, who would get more customers.
But will it work?
I'm not familiar with protestors who act like they're at an out-of-town convention and require entertainment between sessions. More likely, they arrive early in the day, bring their own lunch, and go home at the end of the day -- and during the day, stick together and do what they came for.
But who knows, maybe I'm out of touch with the modern day political protestor. Maybe middle-class, middle aged protestors are different than a bunch of angry kids who sit on the ground and sleep on the bus.
According to the New York Times report, one problem with the button idea is that Bloomberg will not check protesters to be sure they are non-violent in their intentions before giviing out the buttons.
Mr. Bloomberg conceded yesterday that not everyone who wore a button would be strictly vetted for his or her peacefulness. "Unfortunately, we can't stop an anarchist from getting a button," he said, though he doubted any of them would want to wear one.
Anarchists are no more likely to be violent than, say, Christians, and in fact share many goals of early Christians (and some of each foresee-- possibly promote-- a violent end to the current order). Typically anarchists put more emphasis on people's peaceful, cooperative instincts than on their warlike, competitive ones. In this, they differ rather markedly from Republicans. They would note that cut-throat competitiveness is not what kept mankind from being slaughtered by saber-toothed tigers, nor kept the social unit from starvation in lean times.
Bloomberg apparently gave no thought to the most likely users of the buttons--- everyone ELSE in the city that day, who wants a discount --students, lower-income tourists, New Jerseyites, etc. I mean, how do you prove you're part of a protest group? Is it enough to wear comfortable shoes and a rumpled shirt? Or do you have to give up your name and address, what bus you came in on, and the leader of your group? Is this really a ploy to keep tabs on who's who in the protest field? To foil such a maneuver, I say, go for it, New Jerseyites! Take those buttons, Ohioans! invent a group if they ask. There IS such a thing as a free lunch!
Palema
5:25 AM
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Copyright © 2001-03 Pam Shorey
(except the specific sources credited in quotes)
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