"I have opinions of my own -- strong opinions -- but I don't always agree with them." -George W. Bush
The Power of Protest
Yesterday was the fifth anniversary of U.S. combat operations in Iraq. Protesters gathered in Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. to voice their opposition.
By Tanya Paperny
March 20, 2008
Tanya Paperny is an Outreach and Organizing Associate Manager at Campus Progress.
The folks at DC SDS did a fantastic job at organizing this, their third “Funk The War” event. I hear that video and photos were taken, which will probably be up on their website soon
I’ve seen alot of people hold up signs like “War is not the answer”, well it depends on what the question is. If the question is “How are we going to prevent terrorists who will do anything to kill everyone of us?” Then WAR IS!!!!! the answer!!!!
Get a clue and quit being so ignorant andget back into the real world.
is there an article on this, or just a photo essay?
nate, how is your war going so far? you think killing people who are ready and willing to die is going to prevent future violence? you think killing innocent people is going to bring about peace and justice? most would agree with you that “war is not the answer” is a bit simplistic, but where we disagree is on the possible benefits of large scale destruction. there are very few. the occupation of a country creates more people willing to utilize terrorism as a means to strike out against the perceived and real enemy that is the US. there are over a million widows in Iraq. imagine that feeling man. everybody over there knows someone who has been killed and/or abused by US forces. this will prevent peace, not future violence. you must remember that terrorism is a means, a vehicle, it is not an identity. people can change, and therefore we must engage the war of ideas. calling others ignorant and claiming some intellectual superiority is not the way to go about it bro.
i still love you tho. and that will always be more powerful. but you can keep hatin.
Amazing shots, Tan. As always, you capture the subtle, quiet individual expressions that are just as powerful—if not more so— than that of the broader mobilization.
War against “terrorists” is definitely NOT the answer. It’s not the answer because you make war on countries and if we make war on every country that harbors terrorists, our country will be made weak by futile efforts.
Iraq was a lie. Plain and simple….from beginning to end. Our invasion of it was illegal and our occupation is immoral. We have killed 100 times more innocent Iraqis than Americans who died on 9/11 and neither Saddam nor Iraq had ANYTHING to do with the terrorists. Nor did Saddam have WMD’s but if he did, WE gave them to him back in the 80’s when he was our buddy….the guy who helped us go after Iran by substitution.
No, terrorism is a cancer and it can’t be cut out, it has to be cut off. The Clinton administration was working on that and on better ways to protect America from further attack when Bush took office (and I do mean TOOK).
He, according to sources who were close to him at the beginning of his administration, wanted to go after Iraq before 9/11 happened. He directed our people to get something he could use and lo and behold, “the terrorists” gave him exactly what he wanted…an excuse to stomp all over Iraq.
And by the way, it was about the oil. Not getting it because nobody’s getting it now that we have effectively shut down the oil fields. No the oil moguls behind the throne got what they wanted to….they wanted the oil coming out of Iraq shut off because without it, there would be an oil shortage and they could raise the price per barrel to well, where it is now, over $100 dollars. And as proof of that “theory”, look at the record profits of OUR oil companies.
Our soldiers are dying and being maimed and dismembered and psychologically damaged so that Mr. Bush can help his friends in the oil business and also his friends in the MIC. That’s what THIS war is about that is WHY it is not the answer, never will be the answer and why we should STOP IT NOW.
By the way Gravel, Kucinich, Edwards and Obama are ALL against THIS war, you saw what has happened to all but one of them!
REMEMBER:
“Terrorism is the war of the poor.
War is the terrorism of the rich.”
— Leon Uris
By the way look for the documentary “Body of War”!
The highly anticipated war protests turned out to be an enormous dud. Even the organizers are expressing dismay and disapointment at how little support these demonstrations garnered. In many cities, demonstraters expressing support for the troops and the war effort far outnumbered protestors.
I believe it is the duty of all Americans who are of age (18-38) to serve their country (Active Duty or Reserves) at some point; especially when we are at War (ie, Honor, Duty, Country). Although I am already 35 (thirty-five) yrs old and work full-time and am a College-Grad (B.S. in Chemical Engineering),I finally chose to join the Armed Forces in the US Navy Reserves in October 2007-I leave for boot-camp this June. If I had been around in the 60’s and 70’s , I feel that I would have proudly served in Vietnam and definitely supported the just War against the Communists (as I do today-nevermind what the treasonous Leftist Mainstream Media or what nihilist college punks say). If I would’ve been of legal age in the 60’s and 70’s I would have also voted for Nixon (being that I proudly voted for Bush twice) and proudly donned Pro-Nixon gear such as bumper-stickers on my car (just as I have Pro-Bush stickers and t-shirts today) as well stood up firmly to all the America-hating anti-war student protestors who chastised our troops and would’ve expressed my hatred towards all the Jane Fonda-type Leftist traitors; by going onto college campuses and duking it out with these Commie scum (while donning the Flag and other Patriotic gear and chanting ‘hooray for Nixon!’). I have a feeling that I may have to do this in the not too distant future as well; this time chanting ’hooray for Bush’ instead and donning Pro-Bush gear! It is for reasons like this that I support the Draft; to make young spoiled punks (nihilistic America-hating college anti-war protestors mostly) like this pay America their proper dues (and their share of the burden) to the cause of maintaining our freedom. As the saying goes; “Freedom is not Free”. In other words, to maintain prolonged freedom (as we have for over 230 years – dating back to 1776), a nation must occasionally fight their enemies (ie. go to war). After learning of how badly our heroic returning troops were treated when they returned from serving in Vietnam (this makes my blood boil quite frankly), I vowed to myself that I would not allow this to happen in MYtime. As a result, I have and will continue to support the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere proudly and defend them vigorously whenever they are attacked by the Left and the Mainstream(Lib)Media (ie. Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, etc.); these critics are the same scum who attacked our heroic Vietnam vets in the 70’s. Our troops are doing a great job and making great progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, I believe (nevermind what the hate-America Left says). I also vowed to myself when I was still in grade school, that if we (America) were ever attacked (as we were on 9/11) that I would definitely enlist to serve and help to bring down our enemies. I have a good memory and thus being that I am a man of my word, that is why I finally chose to join the Armed Forces in the Reserves in October 2007 and my boot- camp starts in June 2008-I will be an MA (Master At Arms) . Also, I feel it is my duty to serve being that I am Pro-War and support the just Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, the War on Terror and our great Commander in Chief, President Bush.
About this Video
Added: April 06, 2008
Hillary Clinton: Mad As Hell – Media Bias and Sexism Against Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton Voter Protest Event!
Join us in New York City at West 48th and Rockefeller Plaza at 8:00am to protest the media bias and voter suppression!
Stand up for your rights! Don’t let the media tell you who to vote for! Protest against the suppression of millions of votes and the gender bias and discrimination against Hillary Clinton by the National News Networks! (less)
Added: April 06, 2008
!
The folks at DC SDS did a fantastic job at organizing this, their third “Funk The War” event. I hear that video and photos were taken, which will probably be up on their website soon
— For Student Power - Mar 20, 05:29 PM - #I’ve seen alot of people hold up signs like “War is not the answer”, well it depends on what the question is. If the question is “How are we going to prevent terrorists who will do anything to kill everyone of us?” Then WAR IS!!!!! the answer!!!!
Get a clue and quit being so ignorant andget back into the real world.
— Nate - Mar 20, 05:32 PM - #is there an article on this, or just a photo essay?
nate, how is your war going so far? you think killing people who are ready and willing to die is going to prevent future violence? you think killing innocent people is going to bring about peace and justice? most would agree with you that “war is not the answer” is a bit simplistic, but where we disagree is on the possible benefits of large scale destruction. there are very few. the occupation of a country creates more people willing to utilize terrorism as a means to strike out against the perceived and real enemy that is the US. there are over a million widows in Iraq. imagine that feeling man. everybody over there knows someone who has been killed and/or abused by US forces. this will prevent peace, not future violence. you must remember that terrorism is a means, a vehicle, it is not an identity. people can change, and therefore we must engage the war of ideas. calling others ignorant and claiming some intellectual superiority is not the way to go about it bro.
i still love you tho. and that will always be more powerful. but you can keep hatin.
— J. Brody - Mar 20, 06:10 PM - #Amazing shots, Tan. As always, you capture the subtle, quiet individual expressions that are just as powerful—if not more so— than that of the broader mobilization.
— Heather - Mar 20, 11:27 PM - #It seems like Mike Gravel was the only candidate to protest against the Iraq War?
— Hooman - Mar 21, 12:31 AM - #War against “terrorists” is definitely NOT the answer. It’s not the answer because you make war on countries and if we make war on every country that harbors terrorists, our country will be made weak by futile efforts.
Iraq was a lie. Plain and simple….from beginning to end. Our invasion of it was illegal and our occupation is immoral. We have killed 100 times more innocent Iraqis than Americans who died on 9/11 and neither Saddam nor Iraq had ANYTHING to do with the terrorists. Nor did Saddam have WMD’s but if he did, WE gave them to him back in the 80’s when he was our buddy….the guy who helped us go after Iran by substitution.
No, terrorism is a cancer and it can’t be cut out, it has to be cut off. The Clinton administration was working on that and on better ways to protect America from further attack when Bush took office (and I do mean TOOK).
He, according to sources who were close to him at the beginning of his administration, wanted to go after Iraq before 9/11 happened. He directed our people to get something he could use and lo and behold, “the terrorists” gave him exactly what he wanted…an excuse to stomp all over Iraq.
And by the way, it was about the oil. Not getting it because nobody’s getting it now that we have effectively shut down the oil fields. No the oil moguls behind the throne got what they wanted to….they wanted the oil coming out of Iraq shut off because without it, there would be an oil shortage and they could raise the price per barrel to well, where it is now, over $100 dollars. And as proof of that “theory”, look at the record profits of OUR oil companies.
Our soldiers are dying and being maimed and dismembered and psychologically damaged so that Mr. Bush can help his friends in the oil business and also his friends in the MIC. That’s what THIS war is about that is WHY it is not the answer, never will be the answer and why we should STOP IT NOW.
By the way Gravel, Kucinich, Edwards and Obama are ALL against THIS war, you saw what has happened to all but one of them!
REMEMBER:
“Terrorism is the war of the poor.
War is the terrorism of the rich.”
— Leon Uris
By the way look for the documentary “Body of War”!
— Simcha - Mar 22, 02:25 PM - #The highly anticipated war protests turned out to be an enormous dud. Even the organizers are expressing dismay and disapointment at how little support these demonstrations garnered. In many cities, demonstraters expressing support for the troops and the war effort far outnumbered protestors.
— Tyler Cruse - Mar 23, 04:18 PM - #I believe it is the duty of all Americans who are of age (18-38) to serve their country (Active Duty or Reserves) at some point; especially when we are at War (ie, Honor, Duty, Country). Although I am already 35 (thirty-five) yrs old and work full-time and am a College-Grad (B.S. in Chemical Engineering),I finally chose to join the Armed Forces in the US Navy Reserves in October 2007-I leave for boot-camp this June. If I had been around in the 60’s and 70’s , I feel that I would have proudly served in Vietnam and definitely supported the just War against the Communists (as I do today-nevermind what the treasonous Leftist Mainstream Media or what nihilist college punks say). If I would’ve been of legal age in the 60’s and 70’s I would have also voted for Nixon (being that I proudly voted for Bush twice) and proudly donned Pro-Nixon gear such as bumper-stickers on my car (just as I have Pro-Bush stickers and t-shirts today) as well stood up firmly to all the America-hating anti-war student protestors who chastised our troops and would’ve expressed my hatred towards all the Jane Fonda-type Leftist traitors; by going onto college campuses and duking it out with these Commie scum (while donning the Flag and other Patriotic gear and chanting ‘hooray for Nixon!’). I have a feeling that I may have to do this in the not too distant future as well; this time chanting ’hooray for Bush’ instead and donning Pro-Bush gear! It is for reasons like this that I support the Draft; to make young spoiled punks (nihilistic America-hating college anti-war protestors mostly) like this pay America their proper dues (and their share of the burden) to the cause of maintaining our freedom. As the saying goes; “Freedom is not Free”. In other words, to maintain prolonged freedom (as we have for over 230 years – dating back to 1776), a nation must occasionally fight their enemies (ie. go to war). After learning of how badly our heroic returning troops were treated when they returned from serving in Vietnam (this makes my blood boil quite frankly), I vowed to myself that I would not allow this to happen in MYtime. As a result, I have and will continue to support the troops in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere proudly and defend them vigorously whenever they are attacked by the Left and the Mainstream(Lib)Media (ie. Abu Ghraib, Gitmo, etc.); these critics are the same scum who attacked our heroic Vietnam vets in the 70’s. Our troops are doing a great job and making great progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic governments in Iraq and Afghanistan, I believe (nevermind what the hate-America Left says). I also vowed to myself when I was still in grade school, that if we (America) were ever attacked (as we were on 9/11) that I would definitely enlist to serve and help to bring down our enemies. I have a good memory and thus being that I am a man of my word, that is why I finally chose to join the Armed Forces in the Reserves in October 2007 and my boot- camp starts in June 2008-I will be an MA (Master At Arms) . Also, I feel it is my duty to serve being that I am Pro-War and support the just Wars in Iraq & Afghanistan, the War on Terror and our great Commander in Chief, President Bush.
— Rick - Apr 3, 09:30 PM - #“Hillary Clinton: Mad As Hell/Bxxxx”
www.youtube.com/watc…
About this Video
Added: April 06, 2008
Hillary Clinton: Mad As Hell – Media Bias and Sexism Against Hillary Clinton.
Hillary Clinton Voter Protest Event!
Join us in New York City at West 48th and Rockefeller Plaza at 8:00am to protest the media bias and voter suppression!
Stand up for your rights! Don’t let the media tell you who to vote for! Protest against the suppression of millions of votes and the gender bias and discrimination against Hillary Clinton by the National News Networks! (less)
— Sue - Apr 7, 02:57 PM - #Added: April 06, 2008