While I know that many of the protestors were well-informed and had solutions, it's that other mass of uniformed, reactionaries who make my blood boil. That was a good link. Thanks for posting it!
An obversation: few of those protestors will go out of their way to help the Iraqi people after the U.S. has taken action. Will they fundraise or offer humanitarian aid in Iraq? I highly doubt it. And I doubt they were protesting when the UN pulled out of Bosnia, allowing thousands of people in a "safe zone" to die. I don't condone the U.S.'s actions but there's too much hypocrisy and ignorance occurring on both sides.
After seeing student protests here in Victoria and knowing some of the people out there, I can vouch that the documentary isn't off base or biased (at least any more than Michael Moore who I also enjoy).
__________________
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Sir Winston Churchill
Good link - it does very clearly point out one of the deficiencies of the anti-war movement, that of creating debate and informed discussion.
But do not dismiss them outright for being unable to articulate an option to war: they believe that the risk to civilians is too great, and the motives of the Bush regime are suspect. I doubt many have given any thought to alternatives... which does not mean that there are none.
We oppose war to resolve this situation. Now those who are our elected (or not) leaders should go back to the drawing board and come up with another way to achieve the goal of removing Saddam, that doesn't threaten the lives of those who have suffered the most and more directly (the Iraqi people) than any of Iraq's victims... uhmmmm... who are, well, who? Apart from a few Israelis who were in the path of the dozen or so SCUDs that were launched in Gulf War I, who else is a "victim" of Saddam?
9/11? No link established yet, despite many many claims by the Bush bunch (and against the views of his own intelligence services).
Kurds? Bah, who in the Bush regime cares about the Kurds, apart from their role as an excuse for military action? I mean, the west didn't blink when Turkey offs a few Kurds here and there.
Hopefully the peace movement organizers will see the video, and make some effort to educate those who come out to support the marches.
BTW, I wonder what responses the filmmaker would have received, had he spoken with march organizers rather than 'joe citizen'?
To quote one of macdoc's favorite expressions,,,"a little knowledge can be a dangerous thing"
At least these people had the conviction to take the time to display their feelings, even if not fully educated. It's called democracy, right? And they didn't use extreme or offensive behaviour to get accross their point of view. (carryover from another thread)
CubaMark wrote: We oppose war to resolve this situation. Now those who are our elected (or not) leaders should go back to the drawing board and come up with another way to achieve the goal of removing Saddam....
Why should Bush go back to the drawing board? Just because there's a vocal minority that opposes the war?
Vocal minority? The latest poll indicates 66% of Canadians do not support a US led invasion of Iraq. While many people want to see Saddam Hussein overthrown, I've not seen any evidence outside of the White House that war is the best way to achieve that. Even Bush seems to have noted his bullish and belligerant stance has not helped his case.
Sure, some people are "professional protesters", just like some people are professional lobbyists (the former don't get paid). To dismiss last weekends worldwide protests as being staged and manipulated is ridiculous. The fact is that most people know that war leads to massive death of innocents and to unpredictable consequences. The US has amply demonstrated how surgically inaccurate it can be because humans are involved and we are not precision instruments that always do what we are meant to do (especially under the pressures of war).
I can only speak for myself. I am absolutely opposed to invasion of Iraq. I don't want to see innocent Iraqi's die. Furthermore, I don't believe that invading Iraq will make the world a safer place. Quite the opposite.
<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by jfpoole: CubaMark wrote: We oppose war to resolve this situation. Now those who are our elected (or not) leaders should go back to the drawing board and come up with another way to achieve the goal of removing Saddam....
Why should Bush go back to the drawing board? Just because there's a vocal minority that opposes the war?<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Yeah just like they removed Fidel Castro... ehh CubaMark (let's rile CubaMark)...
I like these people that think protests and petitions work (especially those laughable internet petitions).
Kosh, do you really think that protest is futile? That politicians don't listen to voters? That politicians only talk among themselves? An excellent example of that not being true is the Federal Budget. Last weekends protest did make a mark on politicians. Bush commented upon the demonstrations. Blair is under increasing pressure from his own party and the UK parliament.
Protest may not achieve immediate results but even if it gives people pause to think, its worthwhile and its a fundamental right in a democratic society.
The mini-film was provacative but also patronizing ("I could make friends of some of these people"). Michael Moore is like that too. The question about why the US didn't keep the oil in '91 was irrelevant. The US didn't invade Iraq in '91. It invaded Kuwait. Why didn't the US drive into Bagdad in '91? Who knows? Ask George senior. I don't think this is about oil. I think its Bush's paranoia and his inability to do anything about the true terrorist threat to the US. He is a frustrated guy. Splashing Hussein is something he can try to do (but not by creating a much worse mess in doing so).
What right has the US (or any other country) got to invade the sovereignty of another country? Invasion would not be a pre-emptive strike because there is no evidence of imminent threat from Iraq. Iraq has not threatened any other country except in case of it being attacked. Hussein is a freakin despot who has previously shown utter contempt for his neighbours and for the world. Does that mean we should lower ourselves to his level?
I don't know what the solution to Iraq is but I have a good idea what it isn't.
Linear Mode
