A fallacy in thinking I see here at DU...

[skooooo]

I'm sure I do this at times, too, but lately I've seen a rampant outbreak of -- "The media's not covering the war protest - it's a waste of time, it didn't accomplish anything!"

Or many many other situations where there's no OBVIOUS, IMMEDIATE result that we'd like to see will precipitate a reaction of "it didn't work..."

First of all, the things we do ARE making a difference. You can't always see the difference or the impact of your actions right away. I think that we often fall into a trap of needing immediate gratification. That's how we've been conditioned. When we don't get or see what we want, we ASSUME that it just doesn't exist.

Don't be so hard on yourself or on others who are trying to make a difference. Keep going, keep trying, and the effects WILL be seen.


On edit: Actually, I think there are some major changes going on for the better....just have to keep PUSHING.

[IChing]

1. Good point, I agree

I call for a national student strike next.

Protests against the Vietnam War went on and on with two presidents and almost 3 presidential terms.

[Pam-Moby]

2. I agree.

Anything great takes time. We will prevail. :toast:

[Erika]

6. Agreed. The protests show the country no longer has faith in W

or his war policies. One hundred thousand anti-war, 500 pro-war. Even Paul Harvey commented on it today. The word is out.

[annabanana]

3. at the VERY least...

hundreds of thousands of people (who witnessed the march with their own eyes) now KNOW FOR A FACT that the media is seriously biased..

And they will go home and tell hundreds of thousands more.. And what little credibility they have with the less informed will be further eroded..

[The Traveler]

4. Oh, no ... don't even think

the protests have made no impact. A big rock got thrown into the pond ... the ripples are spreading.

[justiceischeap]

5. I sorta said the same thing in another post about the MSM

Just because they didn't cover the protests the way we would have liked, the do seem to be coming around a bit. Even if it's one or two stories that speak badly of this administration, that's one or two more stories than we were getting a little more than a month ago.

A revolution does not happen over night, never has, never will.

[Ksec]

7. Yep. Its effective .

They only wish people werent watching .

[bonito]

8. We will hold fast ,stay the course

There will be a calm! damm it because I say so! but the storm will take its cost.

[snippy]

9. Something has been having an effect.

[eleny]

10. One very powerful thing the protests accomplish....

Is that they make participants realize that they're part of a huge group of Americans. I heard this born out on radio and the internet over and over these past few days. It's entirely empowering to the people who went to the march and it scares the bejeezus out of the administration. Especially one as paranoid and secretive as this one. It collectively shit the brick and left town.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

11. Consider the pre-Internet days of the '60s protests...

There were many, many antiwar protests, marches and rallies. Some got a lot of publicity; others did not, but most were pretty much ignored until about 1968 even though the war had been going on since 1965. The movement gathered momentum, but pretty slowly at first. Maybe because we didn't have the instant communication of the Internet, we knew it would take time -- so we just kept doing it. Eventually people started noticing and the antiwar movement really started to take off in about 1969. Give it time -- the Internet will probably speed up the process, but it WILL happen.

[jokerman93]

12. I couldn't agree more

Thanks for posting this. Every effort makes a difference and we should never relent from fighting for what's right.

[yurbud]

13. think of it like Chinese water torture--no one drip is that annoying--

but it adds up.

If protests had NO impact, why would they bother to not cover them (an easy,visual story for a slow day), and why would Karl Rove bother to mess with the trains?

[Mr_Spock]

14. I'm writing you off - you're not pessimistic and miserable enough

:rofl:

:sarcasm:

[G_j]

15. worth a nomination, I'd say..

:thumbsup:

[Rowdyboy]

16. I learned the basic lesson during Watergate (1972-1974)....The answer?

Drip...
drip...
drip...
drip...
drip............

[Just Me]

17. There is nothing, NOTHING more fulfilling and complete,...

,...than being smack in the middle of a sea of humanity taking a stand for itself.

It's ashame that the "white tower" types miss that substantive and inspiring human spirit. We MUST appeal to them,...in my view.

D.C. is a "green zone".

The next march(es) MUST surround the media that ignores our numbers and messages.

The "ruling" government isn't EVER going to respond because they hold ALL power.

On the other hand, the media is still somewhat dependent upon us. They are responsible to us. We should take FOX the FAUX NEWS broadcast down, first. Suffocate them with the next major opposition to pro-profiteering-warring policy of this regime.

Those who fail to PAY ATTENTION, are our next targets.

Goddamnit!!!! NONE of the so-called news media are reporting PNAC and the FACT that this imperialistic, power-mongering, reckless, profiteering regime are following that plan. THAT'S NOT ONLY IRRESPONSIBLE,...IT'S FRIGGIN' DESTRUCTIVE OF WHAT "DEMOCRACY" WAS LEFT FROM THE CORPORATOCRACY THAT HAS BEEN EXPLOITING HUMANITY OVER THE LAST 35+ YEARS!!!!

Is there anything left of an American conscience? Or, has our society lost its sense of humanity, compassion, sacrifice, graciousness, humility?

[JDPriestly]

18. Having grown up with a father who was a minister,

I firmly believe in preaching to the choir. It is never a waste of time. A good pastor wants the choir on his side -- and the organist -- and the deacons. It's elementary. Democrats need to talk to each other, see each other, demonstrate with each other, meet with each other more and more. The opposition will get curious if they see we support each other and listen to each other. Just keep preaching to the choir. That's how you build a strong movement. That is how every great movement started.