Yesterday I very briefly stopped by the anti-escalation in protest in Times Square. I was greeted a speaker on a megaphone declaring, "Obama wants to talk about terrorism? How about talking about the world's biggest purveyor of terrorism, the United States of America?!" I don't know who obtains the permits that allow voters to occupy small strips of sidewalk and bike lane space in the city's most congested part of town, but to be effective, the anti-war movement cannot continue to function with this type of, or lack of, leadership. The event yesterday was supposed to involve Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Against the War, Code Pink and Brooklyn Peace, all organizations I have a lot of respect for. But when I left, the speaker was railing about Henry Kissinger.
Folks, it's not the fall of 2001 anymore. A majority of Americans want this war to end, and most Americans have some reservations about it. Now's not the time to call for Rumsfeld to be indicted for war crimes, it's time to convince a lot of moderate Americans (and some liberals!) why a troop escalation is not in the best interest of the United States. And it's not a boring pitch either- just give me the mic. It is absolutely detrimental to the anti-war movement, however, to have the crazies running the megaphones if we really have any interest in turning more people against the war.
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Yes, I know what you mean. There were in fact two demonstrations in Times Square that evening, the one with Iraq Veterans Against the War, Code Pink, and Brooklyn for Peace was in front of the recruiting station, but without a sound system or even a megaphone, so you probobly did not hear it. The bunch of people on 7th Ave below 42nd caged in as a captive audience for ampliphied rants was organised by the International Action Centre. Unfortunately the two groups do not seem able to work together, and there seemed to be a confusion in front of the recruiting station as to whether it was a silent candlelight vigil without candles, or a demonstration without speakers or megaphones.
ReplyDeleteAt least the turn out of a couple of hundred at each demo (plus more with the War Resister's League earlier in Union Square) hints at the potential for a democratically planned, proportional, united anti war action.
I agree that now is the time to convince moderate/liberal Americans that the troop escalation is not in our best interest, but there still needs to be room in that for a sane argument for withdrawl, and a look into the causes and reasons for war.