Do you feel protests could become less peacefull?

[blues90]

The way things are going so slow in the house and this push toward attacking Iran , this seems to come on stronger everyday .

There were very peaceful protests done last sat .

I can't seem to imagine what less peaceful protests would look like these days or what the result would be if this came about .

Could be martial law or other means to stop what are suspected as less than peaceful .

[Deja Q]

1. Well, that would ruin their credibility... amongst other things, to say the least!

Who knows what will happen. One thing is certain; becoming a hypocrite is not a good thing to do.

[TahitiNut]

2. Until there's non-violent civil disobedience, we'll be largely ignored.

:shrug: But that might actually make us risk something. Discomfort. Jail. Injury. Death.

The civil rights protesters didn't wait for permits to march. A lot of people had to go to jail before things changed. Same thing during Viet Nam. Same thing in Gandhi's India.

People will have to be jailed. Some people will probably have to die - maybe hundreds. Until the public gets that serious, we'll merely see a superficial change in the rate at which we lose our democracy, at best. But lose it we will. Our economy has become like a banana republic already.

[styersc]

17. As soon as the protests go violent , we lose 80% of popular

support (including mine). Violence could end the movement for two reasons. First- violence is immoral. That simple.

Second- violence will indicate to the public that hot headed immaturity is fueling the argument, not morality, right, justice and logic.

There is no up side to blowing the momentum that is slowly building to appease the impatient few.

[TahitiNut]

18. What part of "non-violent" wasn't clear?

It will obviously be met with violence. That's when it's difficult to remain non-violent. That's when the People win.

Keep looking for the "easy" way. Be sure to let me know when you find it. :shrug:

[saltpoint]

3. Just my take, but I think they will become more peaceful

proportional to the violence the Bush administration is visiting upon the Middle East.

The pairs of boots idea, in my opinion, was one of the greatest of recent times. No blood, no yelling, no rocks or fires -- just the silent representation of the fallen.

I think we're more resourceful and creative -- and peace-loving -- than the warmongers.

[JanusAscending]

7. Hi OC !!

Want to share a sleeping bag next time there's a march??? LOL!!! I've seen you on a few threads I've read today!! You mentioned peace loving and it made me think........... Oh, I'm bad today!!:evilgrin: :hi: DC

[saltpoint]

9. There was a time when your offer of a sleeping bag would have

prompted an instant consent.

These days I'm a little older than in those days, plus I'm spoken for.

If you've been out marching to end this Bush war in the Middle East, thank you for that, and more power to ya.

Very nice to see you on DU this evening.

[JanusAscending]

11. Why thank you dear Sir!!

Hey , I'm old too!! Just turned 68, and proud of it. After tonight's breaking news, I think we may be closer to another protest.( Iranians possibly responsible for the murder of the 5 soldiers this past week! One of them having been the fella that spoke to JK and Sen. Dodd) Tell your better half that we can get a bag that sleeps 3 and we'll all be warmer.!!!! I called bullshit on the story though, on another thread, and they may be coming to take me away soon. If I turn up missing, tell Tay Tay what happened to me!!

[saltpoint]

22. I love how you keep up with things. We were late getting to it but

saw a re-play of the Kerry and Dodd committee hearing when they mentioned the young man who died.

It's certainly possible that the PNAC people and the war Cabinet and Dubya and Dick all know something I don't know. But from all appearances, they have made a huge mess out of the Iraq situation and will pay for it mightily -- first in the polls in 2008 when a Democrat sweeps into the White House -- and later from History, which is not going to look favorably on this sorry bunch of warmongers.

The blood's dripping off their teeth.

If you head out to a protest or demonstration, dc, you be careful, but at the same time enjoy the company of your fellow demonstrators and let them enjoy yours. Very likely some great folks there to run into.

[JanusAscending]

4. I saw one woman on C SPAN the other day.

A Senate (or perhaps it was a House) panel was questioning "Iran Authors". At the close of the testimony she said that "this time we circled the Capitol with 500,000 marchers. If nothing is done, next time there will be 500,000 of us sitting down and spending the nights in SLEEPING BAGS!! You go girl!!!That..... I can do.....marching, not so much, unless I had a wheelchair.

[stevebreeze]

5. truth is that is not necessarily up to the peace protesters

many times the violence of the anti war movement in the 60's was not in any way due to the peace movement but the police. Most notably Kent State were the national guard opened fire on un-armed students, and the Chicago Democratic convention that was essentially a police riot.

[blues90]

8. That's all true

We didn't protest in a violent way , we did have a bit of out bursts but nothing to provoke being hit over the head or shot .

At the time we could get alot closer to the whitehouse and the access in DC was not so controlled as it is now .

What we do need is many more people , mostly in DC day and night for as long as it takes but many people cannot pull that off very easy .

[qwlauren35]

6. I like the idea of civil disobedience.

Something as simple as blocking traffic. A human chain too thick to break or move. People literally sitting down in the streets.

That's the irony of the "Mall" in Washington. It's made for people... and as such, it no longer commands attention. To have a million people surround the Capitol and then just sit down on the ground. Peacefully, prayerfully... holding their protest signs...

Not blocking any one person... just cars.

OH... and did I mention that it would have to include children?

[Lex]

10. Add the draft and see what happens.

I think the protests will not be so overall peaceful anymore.

[noamnety]

12. occupations to stop the occupation

My own decision-allergic Congressman, who I will out here in a national venue, David Price, is now blathering about "exit strategy" (a think tank term if ever there was one) to avoid the issue of defunding the war. But he is on the defensive, as he was when 400 of us encamped in front of his office - with others inside, refusing to leave - to (successfully) pressure him to vote against the 2002 authorization for war (which he now proudly slaps on his website's front page. (Of course, he has voted every time since then to re-fund the war... Price is deep-down DLC).

My point? We did turn him on a vote, and it was civil disobedience - a 26-hour sit-in at his Chapel Hill office in October 2002 - that did the trick.

There is something about being polite when the blood is running down the gutters that should strike us all as obscene... sinful even.

Who qualifies for Congressional office occupations? Anyone and everyone who still votes money for the war. Period. Take great big signs along that explain a very simple thing: An exit is a command, not a strategy. And take vets and military family members with you. Call us, and we'll go there so when the police show up to trespass us, you can videotape vets and military families being dragged out of Congressional offices in flex-cuffs. It's an irresistable image.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stan-goff/occupations-to-stop-the-o_b_39882.html

[EC]

13. Okay, we've already got the spitting on soldiers rap,

next will be real inciting of problems...it'll start out with just fires or rock throwing, but it'll become worse...and it won't be the protesters doing it...

[Virginia Dare]

14. That's what they're hoping for....

any excuse to impose martial law would obviously be a boon to this bunch.

[tanyev]

15. Exactly. Anyone who goes to a protest needs to suspect

that there could be infiltrators there specifically for the purpose of stirring up trouble. Everyone should have cameras and be ready to document anything that happens because the media has shown that they cannot be trusted to report the truth.

[mitchum]

16. But a good time for a revolution is when the army is somewhere else

Y'know,like...now

[Virginia Dare]

24. There's plenty of Blackwaters available for the job here...n/t

[soothsayer]

19. Pretty riots are needed, actually. Burning washington always gets

attention. Nevertheless---DO NOT BURN DC or anywhere else! Not advocating it in the least, I'm just sayin'.

[Virginia Dare]

25. The majority of the residents in D.C. are...

African American and Democrats, so no, that would not be a wise place to vent your rage.

[walldude]

20. The only time protests become violent

is when the government wants them to. National Guard, Cops whoever will start harassing someone until they stand up for themselves, then they start in with the riot gear and make up some excuse for "dispersing the crowd."

[Terri S]

21. Violence in a peace demonstration is the worst oxymoron

MLK knew it. Gandhi knew it. That's one reason they were so successful. Becoming violent you lose all legitimacy. Non-violence is not passive..it is a strength not many can stick with in the face of angry counter protesters or cops with clubs. Give in to the dark side and the cause is lost. There is a principal you are standing for, and that needs no defending. Your actions speak louder than words--and if you're smacking someone on the head with your 'give peace a chance' sign, you're as hypocritical as any politician saying one thing and doing the opposite. It's not easy sometimes. But if you really do want to change things.. you have to be that change you want to see.

[Egalitarian]

23. I do.

It wouldn't surprise me a bit. Some people are close to their breaking point with our government. If Iran happens combined with some less than peaceful protesting, then yeah, things could change pretty quickly. Martial Law? I couldn't guess. Physical altercations amongst war supporters and war protesters seems more likely to me.

[bdamomma]

26. one question would you fight for your country on your own soil

to save yourselves from an extreme regime we have now in the US? to save your own children and way of life,from a man who is ignorant and ignores the people. Dig deep into your soul and see what you come up with?