Symbolic Protests

[BL611]

I was on the train this morning and saw a postcard advocating a "event" of some sort where people in NY stand strategically around the city to make a peace sign.I'm sorry, but things like this drive me insane, what impact is such a demonstration going to have on anything? Does anyone really think a giant peace sign is going to impact anyones views on the Iraq war (or any other)? Would time not be better spent volunteering in your community or something of that nature?

[tool_of_the_people]

1. Doing anything in the name of peace...

... is at least drawing attention to the cause. How about a peace vigil? Peace march? All are symbolic, but they make a statement.
I think that if they have a big turnout, it would make an interesting image.
JMO

[BL611]

2. What positive consequence

could something like this have for peace?

[tool_of_the_people]

5. It depends on how many people show up.

A few thousand? I think that shows that there are a few thousand people that are wanting to show that they're against the war. Do you know where this is taking place? UN?

[BL611]

8. I don't

I quite honestly was not that interested in the event itself, as I do not really believe in such things. Do you not think it is already evident that there are a few thousand people(obviously a lot more) against the war?

[porphyrian]

3. To beat writers' block, it helps to write nonsense or anything, as long as you write.

Anything that mobilizes our sedentary and apathetic citizenry to do something about these fucking criminal usurpers of our government is a step in the right direction. Rather than complain, why not offer them some constructive suggestions for their next operation?

[BL611]

6. I did

Volunteer in your community, tutor a kid.If you want to engage in a political act read up on foreign policy and lobby your Representative. The point was not to complain, but to ask people who do this type of thing what they think the point is.

[tool_of_the_people]

7. Who's to say that...

... you can't do both? Volunteer in the community AND make a symbolic act?

[BL611]

10. You obviously cannot

do both at the same time. Civic service, while not a dramatic act, has obvious benefits for people, my question is what is the benefit of an act like this?

[porphyrian]

9. OK. Well, I answered you. - n/t

[BL611]

11. Do you really think you are

mobilizing the apathetic by stuff like this?

[porphyrian]

12. Uh, by definition, yes.

Everyone who participates in this could participate in something else. I didn't say it would mobilize the entire public, but its mobilizing enough people to make a big peace sign. They just need some direction, and being a curmudgeon about their efforts isn't mobilizing anyone at all.

[coalition_unwilling]

4. As one who has participated in two weekly peace vigils for

over 5 years, I think such events have a symbolic importance in demonstrating to unaware passers-by that there is an alternate narrative out there.

[peace13]

13. Everything is symbolic.

If you don't think it is a good use of time don't do it. Why knock others who are trying to get the word out. What makes your idea better than others. I agree feeding a hungry person is better than writing a poem about it in the short term, but just maybe the poem will cause 1000's of others to help with the feeding. Who knows? Peace, Kim