Constant Protests Sights?

[Flabbergasted]

I've debated why the American left is so apathetic and fearful right now. In this I mean there is so little public dissension?

On the other hand I wondered why we can't get anything going? I thought that Cindy Sheehan was the spark we needed. But Alas.

I thought that a way that may work is to grab a collection of people in major cities. Then these people could take turns standing at a major intersection with a sign such as Investigate NSA spying, or something else that indicates an out of control administration.

The benefits being a constant advertisement of our cause and also something that the media would occasionally report especially as it grows.

Any Comments?

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. There are demonstrations all the time all over the country

Two a week in my city.

What is missing is media coverage.

[Flabbergasted]

3. The media is not covering it however...

I'm asking what we could do to enlarge the demonstraition.

I'm talking about creating a campaign that create a consitant message reaching the public directly. Its better than media.

Simplify the message and make it constant. Advertising only works when you show something consistantly that is appealing.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. I have been trying to do that here for about 5 years now

and I haven't had very good luck. I don't know what to tell you.

[formernaderite]

17. true...but you have to admit

they're very small. What's different, is that most of those who do protest are middle aged. Todays youth has checked out. My sons and dauther who are at University's up and down the east coast complain that the only students interested in protest, are really on the "fringe". That said, my sons are kind of REI types and my daughter looks a bit goth at the moment.
They feel like middle of the roaders mixing with the fringe protestors on campus. Alot of the demonstrators they meet are less up on the issues than one expects, some are there as support but are really protesting unrelated issues, and alot of them are there for the party. They've grown up with our stories of protest...and probably have some purist ideas about what the movement should be about. So perhaps what's left is us middle aged hippies.

[sweetm2475]

2. Great idea, but....

Since everyone has to have like 3 jobs just to get by nowadays, it might be hard to find people to do it. I think this killing the middle class/working poor thing that the Bush Cabal works so hard to facilitate really is the TRIFECTA for them.

[Flabbergasted]

4. You're over complicating it...

It could possably be done by two very committed people. I bet you could have a sign up list and an alternate in case that person didn't show up. There are thousands of people who have a couple extra hours a day.

[sweetm2475]

5. good point.

i do tend to overcomplicate things. :blush: sorry.

[proud2BlibKansan]

7. Who is going to pay attention to TWO people?

The anti-war demonstrations in my city have maybe 3 or 4 people there every week and they look pretty foolish.

[Flabbergasted]

8. Hypothetically...

The way advertising works is you get people to constantly notice a symbol in most cases a product.

By having only sporadic protests you only guaranteeing the peole that notice you at the time of the protest are going to be aware of your point. One time and likely not again. However imagine the busiest corner of your town. If you set up a sign at the corner granted it was very visibly. In a one month time perhaps 25% of the population may see this sign. And perhaps 25% of these people will see the sign multiple times. In theory a product needs to be shown to people six times before they become aware of it.

This will have two effects it will stimulate both awareness and debate. In turn these will create participation. Hopefully more people at one time will be willing to stand at this corner or better yet other major intersetions thereby advertising to a wider audience. Now set 100's of these up across the nation with a name like the league of Contest Protesting or something. This in turn will be marketed on the media.

Its a tremendous about of work though to get it going

[Flabbergasted]

9. Sorry several mispellings in the above

[madeline_con]

10. "to constantly notice a symbol"

I've thought for some time that there should be a unifying icon of some sort. Something that can be put on blogs and sites, bumper stickers, shirts, whatever. The peace sign was the icon during Vietnam...

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. There has been a dedicated but very small group standing on a corner

in my community every week for over a year protesting the war. I think the people driving by just ignore them.

Some of us shun and avoid advertising, you know. One reason I love my TIVO is that I get to zap through those commercials. :)

[rman]

12. the point is the message, not so much the people

You probably realize there are many more people opposed to * and the war, then there are messages saying as as much. I suppose you are opposed, but you're not protesting - one can only guess how many more such people there are.
Because there are relatively few messages of opposition (both in the mainstream media and in the form of protests), many people who are opposed do feel like they are in a minority - which they probably are not. Every single message of opposition, no matter how small, helps dis-spell the illusion of belonging to a minority. It does encourage others to also show dissent.

[proud2BlibKansan]

16. True but I still say if we want their attention,

a LARGE group of protesters is better than a few.

[rman]

18. Sure, but in absence of large groups,

a small group (or a freeway blog, bumper sticker...) might be a viable alternative.

[rman]

11. permanent signs, no need to stand there - freeway blogging:

http://www.freewayblogger.com/

[Hekate]

13. Come to my town on any Sunday (link) and most Friday afternoons

The Santa Barbara Chapter of Veterans for Peace co-founded Arlington West, with a named cross for every service member killed in Iraq. It's erected at the public beach every Sunday morning (unless it's raining) in the sand next to a very busy tourist walkway. Explore the link below, click on Arlington. This has been going on since there were "only" 450 crosses, and believe me, it is visible and it gets noticed.

Cindy Sheehan heard about us and drove all the way from Vacaville with her family; they found Casey's cross and laid flowers there. That was the day she swore her tears would no more be shed for Casey alone, but for all the dead. The rest is history now.

http://www.vfpsb.org/index.html

Most Friday evenings a group with protest signs gathers on a busy street by the Post Office to catch the homeward traffic.

Various VFP members are working on counter-recruitment efforts with the colleges and high schools. It's especially important to try to penetrate the high schools, because most parents don't know their kids' names are being sent to the DOD.

I went to Washington in September. I marched with half a million people. It didn't sound like nearly that many when I read the newspapers and watched the tv news later on, but we were there just the same.

Many people are active and involved. We can't help it if the MSM fails to report what we do.

Get out in your own community and join the activists there. Start something of your own. Write letters. Phone your congressmembers. Get a move on.

Hekate

[unhappycamper]

14. Chapter 9 of the Veterans for Peace also freeway blogs weekly

in the Boston area.

We make ourselves visable.

[Earth_First]

19. Took to the streets for two hours this morning...

Walked the downtown Rochester, New York streets with my * mask and adorning sign: "Are you being monitored?" for two hours this morning.

An overall success with LOTS of support, LOTS of smiles and thumbs up, and several honks of the horn!

ZERO heckling or confrontation.

Look for me or join me most mornings from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m.

SEE YOU IN THE STREETS!