People speaking out for peace came peacefully together yesterday–Dave Winer’s pix show the scene in Harvard Yard. Elsewhere, war protestors trying to shut down “business as usual” riled commuters and scared police trying to control them.
That was yesterday, this is today. Demonstrators, encouraged by their success, will be going for bigger effects. Police around the country will be getting out their mace, tear gas, and stun guns. And, as my friend Manny Krasner once pointed out, those little black objects on their belts can propel lead pellets over large distances.
An orderly protest shows support for peace. A mob makes your cause look ugly–and mobs are dangerous. When police are angry and scared, bad things can happen. Being arrested by an angry cop, in company with a lot of other people who are excited and scared, is much more scary than exciting. OTOH, nasty as it is, it is more fun than being crushed or trampled by a mob running away from tear gas. If you go to a protest, stay far from the “center” of action.
Better yet, stay home and sign up to work for Howard Dean. That would bring us closer to sane government than we are now.
Democratic candidate round-up
Pro-war: John Edwards, Joe Lieberman, Dick Gephardt
Voted last fall to authorize Bush but says he’s against *this* war: John Kerry
Anti-war: Howard Dean, Dennis Kucinich, Al Sharpton, Carol Mosely Braun
American Prospect on California convention:
“HOWARD DEAN….Delivering the most tumultuously received speech in several years at a California convention, Dean, who said he is “running to represent the Democratic wing of the Democratic Party,” repeatedly brought the delegates to their feet. Excoriating every aspect of the Bush agenda, Dean thundered to an explosive finish, denouncing the Iraq war and shouting, “I want my country back!” as the delegates screamed. Afterward, Dean’s literature table was rushed by delegates who took every one of his buttons and signs.”
DENNIS KUCINICH. The House Progressive Caucus chairman has taken to opening speeches with snippets from patriotic hymns such as “America the Beautiful” and “The Star-Spangled Banner.” This most militantly anti-war of candidates uses his singing both to startle the audience — it does — and to juxtapose his sense of patriotism with what he sees as a sinister right-wing takeover of America….What will he do when the Iraq war starts? Not what other ranking Democratic war critics say they’ll do. “I will keep on speaking out and protesting,” Kucinich said before his speech. Even with troops in harm’s way? “Yes.”
So why did I just send $100 to Dean rather than Kucinich? This AP story yesterday:
Response to Ohio Rep. Dennis Kucinich’s anti-war speech to editors of the National Newspaper Association Thursday in Washington does not bode well for his presidential aspirations. Members of the association, who represent small community newspapers, were then polled on his performance by secret electronic ballot. The moderator asked them to chose how likely Kucinich is to win the Democratic nomination, with one being very likely and five being very unlikely. “Can you vote six or seven?” an audience member yelled. Next they were asked how likely their publications are to endorse his candidacy, and the room erupted in laughter.