Thursday, August 12, 2004

McProtests R Us

By Mickey Z.

Read full article...

Posted 08/12 | Add a Comment

    Comments:

    You must register to comment.

    Login | Register

  1. Right, Mickey Z. Or should I say a Much Better Left?  What is LEFT?  Now...that all the “progressives” who bashed the “violent” protesting in Seattle have graced us with their Wisdom for NYC...led by Norman Mailer vis-a-vis the Democracy Now! interview with Amy Goodman...we can all eat that Hamburger Mush that passes for ENGLIGHTENED PROGRESSIVISM!  You see, it all really is everso rationale...this business of going about putting the “better choice” in office.  Virtually overnight...there’s only One Party; I don’t mean that from the point of Usual View, but, rather, from the Disgruntled POV.  To wit, there’s only one party to be going to from now on.  It’s the Party That --like that “war” they’re trying to sell us-- May Never End.  That’d be...the celebration of RESISTANCE!  Don’t frown too much on the use of “underground” above ground.  Same thing was done during Harriet Tubman’s time...to great advantage, and...can be done again today.  Must be.  Don’t let it be, L’Ox and the Bay Gulls

    Posted by L'Ox from  on  08/12  at  07:38 PM

  2. In addition to what The Brilliant Ox said in #1 above, I just remembered what my mentor said years ago about how anti-authority types were so often the conservatives...simply turned upside down.  NYC is perfect for The Type...what with all the turnstiles.  They’re so predicatable, so unimaginative.  Yes, in great part, a failure of imagination!  Thought it was important to underscore the above since Mick’s sweet article here did put a proper spotlight on that segment of our society. Brilliantly and all aflutter, The Ox.  P.S. On an underground note, please note that there’s an interesting piece on ZNet today which suggests that things may get pretty wild in some quarters.  And...to take the article seriously...one would think that there IS the possibility that --with the “plans” for demonstrating in several places at once-- some constructive Hell may break loose after all.  In such a case...the “anarchism” might not be crazy at all.  Might get something rolling...in spite of its self-inflicted limited focus.

    Posted by L'Ox from  on  08/12  at  08:12 PM

  3. How can you be critical of people on the streets while you are leaving town? Please be reminded that the black masks are a symbol of a very successful resistance by the Zapatistas. Would the author be happier if instead of all these people protesting, they write articles about how and who to protest? This elitist attitude comes off very negative to many of us.

    Posted by Kap Fulton from  on  08/12  at  11:13 PM

  4. As a child of the sixties I can tell you that there has not been enough carnage yet for the pitch of the protests to become too unruly.  It was not the anti-war protestors of the sixties who started the unruliness, rather it was the unconcionable beatings of civil rights marchers that enrage people protesting the war to the point of anarchy and mayhem.  In 1971 when four students were murdered at Kent State University by elements of the Ohio State National Guard the rules disappeared.  It will take similar carnage to make the protests more , uh, spontaneous than we see today.  But also remember, much of the violence in the sixties and seventies was not caused by anti-war protesters, rather by cointelpro agensts merely posing as anti-war protesters.

    I expect things will get much more interesting next year when they re-instate the draft.

    Posted by Larry from  on  08/13  at  03:43 AM

  5. I’m not going to qualify the madness. I’m going to take out our entire government.

    Posted by Aftermath from  on  08/13  at  04:02 AM

  6. Another detail by Aftermath would be much appreciated. Interesting take by Larry; wondering whether or not people who have not “risen up” in SERIOUS protest regarding so much else that affects them directly already...on a personal/familial level...will be capable of mounting anything effective. The self-censorship coupled with the ever-increasing propaganda and general decrease/degradation of those elements in life which make protest possible...make the citizenry fairly tame for the immediate future.  I think it’s going to be, perhaps, more on the shoulders of the individuals who have been working on how to pull a Kent State “in reverse” (for a long time now)...that’ll spark greater numbers to act. THAT The Powers won’t be able to so easily control.  Growing dissatisfaction with the draft, I believe, will help, but --in general-- is very controllable vis-a-vis switch and bait, red herrings, etc.

    Posted by Afterox from  on  08/13  at  09:02 AM

  7. 1. Please elaborate, Kap. How is me being in or out of NYC relevant to the quality (or lack thereof) of my analysis?

    2. My point is that the black mask, for many, has become just the latest hip “uniform” and has precious little to do with the armed insurgence (or even the basic spirit) in Chiapas.

    3. Where do I suggest that everyone should write articles? I’m questioning the efficacy of asking permission to protest, supporting a Democrat, and not rebelling when the Democrats attempt to disown you.

    4. Elitist?

    5. Negative to many of us? Who is “us”?

    Posted by Mickey Z. from  on  08/13  at  03:58 PM

  8. Right.  The Democratic Convention deserved protest as much as the Republicans’.

    Posted by Tracy McLellan from  on  08/13  at  05:06 PM

  9. Anyone wanting to understand the above from yet another angle might want to tune into a Dissident Voice article that came out this weekend.

    Posted by Angler Ox from  on  08/14  at  07:52 PM

  10. Regardless of whether or not you agree with the tactics of all the protestors, with such a large group of like minded people gathering I would think this would be a golden opportunity for you grab a megaphone and gain an audience. We’re all Googling for a new Che Guevara; what we need is a man on the streets.

    I can’t imagine Crazy Horse telling his people: “I must leave town for a few days...I dislike those other tribes coming in to help.”

    Posted by Kap Fulton from  on  08/15  at  07:11 AM

  11. “Like-minded”? The vast majority of those protesters, I submit, will be ecstatic to have Bush voted out and Kerry voted in...and many of them will sit out the next four years with a Democrat in power. I feel no kinship with that state of mind and they have no interest in hearing me on a megaphone. I’m a traitor in their eyes.

    Kap, this has nothing to do with Che or Crazy Horse or even “tactics.” The foundation of the protest is built upon is the dangerous belief that Bush is somehow an anomaly and everything with be better once he is gone. As a result, it’s not me who is acting inappropriately, it’s the radicals who endorse Kerry and the demonstrators who submit to strict rules for protest.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from  on  08/15  at  09:02 AM

  12. I’m totally with Mick in his response. I’m curious, however, Kap, if you can put in a sentence...why you invoked Che and Crazy Horse. Is it that you think we need leaders?

    Posted by Questioning Ox from  on  08/15  at  09:47 AM

  13. Cogent comments Mickey.  Bush is not an anomaly.  He is over-demonized as Alexander Cockburn pointed out in his Counterpunch column Friday Aug 13.  Clinton presided over hundreds of thousands more political murders under the US sanctions than Bush I was responsible for before him in Panama, Gulf War I, and his part of the Iraqi sanctions.  Bush II is probably the worst president this country has ever seen, but so far his record is no worse than his predecessors.

    Posted by Tracy McLellan from  on  08/15  at  08:51 PM

  14. As far as the santions go...yes, under Clinton’s 8 year watch, the deaths we massive - so YES this is evidence that the Democrats are every bit as capable of upholding a policy of mass murder as the Republicans are. But as far as this being an arguement for the Democrats being inherently worse - it is not. The sanctions of course started under under Bush I and would have surely continued if he had defeated Clinton in 1992 or had Dole defeated Clinton in ‘96. But since these are all ficticious scenario’s focusing on them is time wasted. My only point being that the need to quantify evils (which I think Cockburn does from time - a bit smuggly - calling Bush II merely a piker or a louse) at this point is failry useless...suffice to say they are both very bad.

    Posted by RzG from  on  08/15  at  09:23 PM

  15. Great leaders will speak for their people. I’m just wondering who MZ speaks for? The .01% of the American population who sees through the lies? The vegans?

    To respond to Ox, I have been very disappointed with any type of leadership inside the U.S. I was at a meeting for a biotech protest in San Francisco during June, and I was so uninspired by the speakers that I almost felt like donating money to Monsanto and eating only genetically engineered tomatoes.

    Where’s the passion?

    Posted by Kap Fulton from  on  08/15  at  10:53 PM

  16. Thanks, Kap. The passion is in you. Just like in any other situation.... College students often complain about this or that professor...when their education is up to them, yes?  Just so, many, many “followers” of Che and Crazy Horse were not just sittin’ around waiting to the guy who was going to be chosen by some academic...to be recorded as the leader of such and such event. Rather, a lot of unknown people --as you know-- worked long and hard...focused on the same thing, essentially, that the “leader” emerged to highlight...as per the local newspaper, etc. I understand the frustration --we all do, I’m sure-- but this undermining of the likes of Monsanto will go on --with or without the passion of politicians et. al. at the podium-- because they are in violation of Life. Mickey, I promise you, has the heart of the hunter you seek, but he’s too wise to put his head on the chopping block without cause, and he’s too perceptive of his audience...to run down the avenue --holding the revolutionary banner-- without taking a glance behind...to see whether or not people wearing Nikes are running the other way...as he said...in so many words. The leadership he’s shown, by the way, with the Vegan Thing...is out of this world, but very much a part of the world you want to change. By personal example (w Michele)...and by making other efforts...he’s been, arguably, the biggest influence on my turning Vegan.  And THAT is quite an accomplishment.  I am with you, Kap, on the passion you feel and the passion we must demand of others...but we also need to --from time to time-- redefine leadership.  Loving regards in solidarity, Ox P.S. I really do understand the frustration; perhaps you’d like to join hands with me on my passionate plea for the public to close down the Tonight Show...for starters.  Or haven’t you heard about that?

    Posted by The Passionate Ox from  on  08/16  at  08:59 AM

  17. Quick reply (I’m on a public computer): Thanks for the kind words, Ox.

    As for Kap, I’m wondering what is provoking you to personalize your critique like this. Regardless, I never, ever called my a “great leader” or claimed to speak for anyone but myself.

    Posted by Mickey Z. from  on  08/16  at  09:44 AM

    18. Next entry: The Illegality of Pot Is Criminal

    Previous entry: Electoral Pains and Movement Gains: Why the 2004 Election Pretty Much Sucks

    [ads]

    Support Press Action