Protest marches have outlived their usefulness

[MindPilot]

After today, I have pretty much resigned myself to that unpleasant realization. It's kind of like Mr Burns trying to beat someone up, not only ineffective, but also a self-parody. The numbers will be reported, images will be shown, and business will continue as usual.

I don't pretend to have the magic solution formula, but I do think it is time to admit this one isn't going to work.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. And your alternative idea

would be . . . ??

[MindPilot]

6. I just told you , I don't have one

But it feels like we should stop beating our heads against this particular wall. This one went seriously sour from the media POV. Maybe the MSM will pull it out for us, but I ain't holding my breath.

[proud2BlibKansan]

9. And I say we should be more pro-active

and create solutions.

[WePurrsevere]

16. So we need to *be* the media.The Internet & Computers are Powerful tools..

so is word of mouth.

If the media won't go to the mountain the mountain will go PAST the media and straight to the people.

IMO this protest will ripple out... as someone else already stated they'll all go home energized, they'll make connections and networks will be strengthened. Heck I'm not even there and I feel that way just reading threads here and watching the traffic cam and seeing all the people making a stand.

WE THE PEOPLE do have the power.... and if Corp media doesn't want work with us we'll either constantly barrage them with reminders that they are NOTHING without their viewers and pushes for them to report the reality of the NEWS or we'll just run right over them. It may take a bit of time but we must never give up... never surrender. We MUST fight with TRUE information and we must continue to fight with Truth and I know in time we WILL persevere.

I BELIEVE.

[pretzel4gore]

25. go after pigmedia

they'd freak, truly freak, and the cops would say 'fukk you' under their breath to their bosses telling them to attack anti bushmedia protestors.....everybody hates them lying bastards, everybody (and for those concerned about the free press, it MIGHT emerge from shadows when the white noise of pigmedia is forced to stfu)

[azndndude]

2. So what do we do? Just sit on our asses?

not me! going to march in PHX today 4pm

[Henny Penny]

3. Yeah... give up before you start!

:sarcasm:


Surely you don't expect instant results! You've got to fight for what you believe in... not just pick it up down the convenience store!

[skooooo]

4. These things are not measurable...

...in the immediate aftermath. The people taht attended the rally will go home energized. People will make connections, and the movement will continue to grow.

Personally, I'm starting to think that the only way to get media attention is by civil disobedience. What if 200,000+ people were arrested?

[halobeam]

11. BINGO!!!!

This admin. wants civil disobedience... and that's what I'm believing will be necessary and inevitable. They won't cover this until it happens, and Americans are being left with no choice.

What if a half million people just lay down in the streets of NYC? Would be interesting, now wouldn't it?

[hardrainfallin]

18. I have to agree: look at the massive, massive protests pre-Iraq war

did nothing but discourage people.

They had absolutely no effect.

Sit here every day wracking my brain over how to get enough people behind massive forms of civil disobedience (yeah, like shutting down traffic by lying down in the streets; even if we could just get a massive general STRIKE, or get enough people to be SERIOUS and consequential about a one day moratorium on spending money.

Problem with things like that is with the huge population in this country, you need SO MANY people to be involved in order for it to work, and with the current state of apathy and fear, it's hard to get those kinds of numbers.

But the protests, seriously, ineffective--the only kinds of actions that will be effective are those that hit the pocketbooks.

[lildreamer316]

23. ...which is a short hop to..

less-than-civil disobedience. Not a slam on your idea, I just think you are pointing out something that is very true--it is becoming clear that they will only understand something of that nature. A bit scary if you follow the logic. Ah, well.......

[Missy M]

5. I don't agree with you. That is the way the people show their....

dissatisfaction with the government and their policies. The problem is with the media refusing to cover the marches. If we don't exercise our right to assemble then we have no democracy and this country is doomed.

[The2ndWheel]

7. Agreed

Anything change after that protest during the RNC? No?

If all you're going to do is walk down a street, with big signs, chanting some little sentence, and the people in power will only use those protests as proof that they're right for doing what they did(ex. "All we want to do is give the Iraqi people a chance at democracy, the way you're seeing it in action in this country", Bill Kristol said today), what's the point?

Oh yeah, to get Congress to impeach Bush. Yeah, that old chestnut.

[salvorhardin]

8. I think...

I think that protest were proportionately more effective when the country was much more homogeneous. 40 years ago the idea that someone would so actively raise their voice against the system was shocking. When thousands did it all together it was news and people took notice. It stuck with them for a long time. Today, not so much. We expect a diversity of opinion and so even a quarter million people coming together does not make as much of an impact as it should. After all, what are 250,000 out of 265,000,000? When you add in a yellow tailed media, the right-wing spin machine and this curious national memory deficiency it just doesn't make that big of a dent.

Wish I knew how to capture the collective imagination of the nation these days.

[The2ndWheel]

13. Women in bikini's

Throw in a beer, a football, a cell phone with a bookie on the other end, and now you've got something. If we could just organize a march on Washington involving that, you'd win every election.

Then again, football is the most militaristic of the sports, so that probably wouldn't work.

The women still might though. The media loves to show porn while they strick a blow against it, so it would at least get on TV.

And as beer commercials tell us, beer is what America believes in. The mountains always win.

So a porn and beer protest should do it. Get crackin'.

[bluedog]

10. marches are useful if. and thats a big IF

there are not an hours or so worth of speechs...I believe 1 or 2 are enough.

/these have to be strong talking people....speak about the"cause" of the march......and only the cause......

its like going to a movie and waiting.....but the theater shows the wrong film.....

I believe this is what most who watch are seeing...

the "wrong" message.........its alright to make posters for other causes.

but we should stay focused on the message..with little speech time.....

its all in presenting and packaging the the "cause" and should be backed by facts.....

[salvorhardin]

12. That's an interesting point

Sort of gets at my prior post. Protest marches should be about creating a manufactured sense of homogeneity?

[Guava Jelly]

14. People just need to learn that sometimes less is more

only invite those who are for your cause.
no other agenda.If so dont give them air time only pick a few speakers who pervay the exact goal of the march and no slidelines..

the repukes will spin anything.
Thet will find the most outragously dressed protester and viola they run with it.

[MindPilot]

15. People, I never said *anything* about giving up,

I said this ain't working, and I don't have a magic solution to replace it with. Today ANSWER gave the mighty Wurlitzer the opportunity to pull the pins out and throw the grenades back at us.

If it turns violent we're anarchists, if it's peaceful, we're aging hippies. Big marches don't have the shock and awe they did 40 years ago and we are totally at the mercy of the media POV.

There are lots of other solutions...but that was not my point.

[Lars39]

17. National strikes should be next.Here's how the Danes do it:

http://www.american-pictures.com/english/racism/articles/welfare.htm

[hardrainfallin]

19. I think that's more likely to be effective, if we can get the necessary

mobilization.

Even something like "A Day without Black People" (esp in the aftermath of Katrina), along the lines of the movie "A Day without Mexicans"....

Imagine if all the Black people in this country just went on strike for ONE day.

Among the poor, of course, we'd have to arrange for them to be compensated for the loss of income (I'd sure be willing to pay someone's lost wages for that), but then, with no protective labor laws in this country, they'd probably also risk losing their jobs altogether....

oh the vicious circle...

[The2ndWheel]

20. They'll just move your job then, nt

[Lars39]

21. They're moving them anyway, or have already moved them.

And that's a classic union-busting talking point, btw.

[The2ndWheel]

24. So what would a strike do then?

If the jobs are gone, what power would a striker have?

Well, they've been busting the unions for decades now with the expansion of the global economy, so I'm not to worried about saying what they did, are doing, and will do as time goes on.

Talking point or not, workers have been losing their power for a long time. That won't stop as long as power can divide people so easily by gender, age, class, race, country, even height probably.

[Lars39]

27. It will probably be the only power we have, short of violence.

[Totally Committed]

22. The problem here was there was no discipline or restraint

on the part of the other protesters. If "Peace" was the message, then only "Peace" groups should have protested and marched. If other groups wanted coverage for their periferal causes, they should have marched under their banners, but not spoken.

The problem with this march is the message was muddied up and watered down by the PC notion that everyone should have free speech. Sometimes, commonality of cause can mean allowing others to have a day of their own for their "say". It's one thing to "support", and another thing entirely to take over.

There was a feeling of loss of mutuality, and lack of respect for Cindy's message by giving the Right the chance to attach it to things like Pro-Palestinian speakers and such. What happened today, will be forever attached to her "message" and will give further credence to the Rights's assertion that she "hates America", and is a "radical". What would have been most effective today would have been a march of Anti-War FAMILIES... mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, all marching under a VISIBLE AMERICAN FLAG. The Right could never have fought that.

What I saw earlier to day was a RW wet dream. I hope the likes of Cindy Sheehan and Joan Baez in person can salvage the vibe and the message, but I fear today was not the success we all had hoped it would be.

TC

[nosmokes]

26. we must remain visible, our voices must be heard.

true, a protest march never stopped a war. a protest march never brought abought equality. or the vote for women. but the protest movements did, and marches are part and parcel of a movement. look at the number of people who travelled from all over the country to crawford texas, and now to DC. look at all of the local rallies going on. the shrubco WH can afford to ignore that turn out maybe, but you can bet your ass every politician running for representative or local office is paying attention.

[Jamison]

28. Bigger numbers of us would help.

I think the powers that be would really take notice if there would have been 5 million in DC protesting instead of a few hundred thousand. As people become more disenfranchised this may happen in the future.

[Disturbed]

29. The $$$$!

As long as Dems keep funding the US Occupation of Iraq it will continue.
No amount of protest marches or rallies will stop the funding. Perhaps two or three Repubs are not enthusiastic about the continued Occupation but they will grudgingly keep voting for more funds to keep the Occupation going. There will be no pressure to stop the funding until the time draws near for the '06 Elections. When enough Amerikans are sick and tired of the US Occupation and it appears that vast numbers will not support Congress Millionaires, who keep supporting the Bush admin. that may spur the with holding of more $$$ for the Occupation.

[PaulaFarrell]

30. A simultaneous march in every town and city in the country

Face it, most sympathizers don't have the time, money or commitment to go to DC. But if there was a demonstration in every single town, no matter how small - now that might scare a few politicians

[Sparkly]

31. Their usefulness isn't only about making one statement one day

and expecting that to change policies immediately. It's about building a movement, bringing people together, solidifying a sort of constituency, if you will.

I must confess I didn't attend the protest today, but from attending others I know people come away with a sense of the "rally" -- the spirit of optimism, of being fired up, of renewed commitment, of wanting to tell others about it. It's also a place to learn about various organizations, get new information, etc.

When people rally, they find how alone they aren't, find even more courage, and bring it all home. I think that's how movements are built.

[win_in_06]

32. I think in this case the timing was unfortunate

with the focus on Rita.