If it wasn't for MoveOn, Code Pink & Sheehan, America wouldn't know there IS an anti-war movement.

[Hissyspit]

What a shallow, shallow country we've become. In this current U.S. cultural milieu, protesters have always been "damned if you do, damned if you don't" in anything they do. Which is, in part, how the criminal Bush administration has gotten away with their slaughter, pretenders to the role of protectors of accepted convention.

With much to correct, much for which to be on guard, and much for which to atone, let us Americans just sit around and nit-pick about propriety.

[Warren Stupidity]

1. No you have it all wrong.

If we just sit quietly with our hands on our laps and don't fidget and wait patiently and close our eyes tight shut real had and wish with all of our might....

[Hissyspit]

4. I wonder if Rev. Yearwood's arrest and mistreatment will even register on 99%

of Americans' radar?

[warren pease]

23. Exactly the appropriate response in these perilous times...

Remember this one?

Federal Agents Searching People at Indianapolis Bus Stops: Air Marshals Patting Civilians Down

<snip>
On August 2, 2007 over two dozen agents of the TSA setup two checkpoints at bus stops in Indianapolis Indiana and searched passengers who wanted to ride on city buses. Federal agents, including Air Marshals were present and patted people down, looked in bags, and performed "behavior" tests for the stated purpose of finding weapons and people who were a threat to public safety.
</snip>


A poster on dailykos asked:

"Anybody know what's going on? There are TSA stations with about 20 agents each set up in at least two spots in downtown Indy, 1 is near Capitol and Market, the other is near the federal building. They're stopping and searching people getting on and off city buses and traveling on the street. This is going a little too far. Where exactly did this authority come from?"


Turns out they're the new Visual Intermodal Prevention Response specialists from the TSA. According to an official quoted in the Indianapolis Star, "We have plainclothes inspectors, blue-gloved uniformed security officers who are checking baggage, the behavior detection officers, and federal air marshals, which are the law enforcement arm of TSA."

Full story here: http://tinyurl.com/2qw3x7


So, the message is clear:

Just take your anti-depressants and always remain perky and upbeat, even when waiting an hour for a bus that's supposed to show up at 10 minute intervals. Maybe engage a stranger in conversation about something innocuous, like the weather or sports. Since there's a good chance that the stranger will be a snitch, you want to leave the best possible, non-threatening impression.

Be careful not to express impatience about the tardiness of the bus; that could be construed as a negative comment on our infrastructure, which is a particularly sore subject these days. So no toe-tapping or finger-drumming. Try to maintain a neutral expression, and smile when it's appropriate.

When those blue-gloved strangers stick their fingers into your purse or pockets, don't become annoyed because that's exactly the kind of reaction the behavior detection officers are trained to spot.

Again, remain perky and upbeat and, above all, cooperative. The authorities don't like it when you become assertive; best to remain meek and compliant, even when they feel you up in the name of defending the homeland. Smile a lot.


My country, right or wrong...

wp

[VP505]

2. That needed to

be said, thanks for the post!

[Robbien]

3. True.

Protesters penned up in free speech zones are just ignored.

We need the ones who rabble rouse otherwise there is no attention paid at all.

[Kagemusha]

5. That the old, there is no such thing as bad publicity, rule?

I'm not sure message board banter belongs as a full page NY Times ad, personally, but certainly it got attention.

[Robbien]

9. Well, millions in the streets to protest before invading Afghanistan and Iraq

have been completely forgotten as the pundits today say the public supported the wars and Bush was a popular president.

[nam78_two]

29. You are quite right and it is infuriating-they count on the short memory of the public

to sell this BS. It isn't just about the war either.

Even many of my liberal friends are starting to forget how many many lies and how much disinformation there was on climate change science. And nowadays some people swallow the "Oh it is too late to do anything about it/ it will be too costly to do anything" lines from the same people (Bjorn Lomborg/Andrew Sullivan etc.) who were denying that we are even changing our environment 2-3 years ago. The fact that so many of these so-called pundits who should have NO credibility (given how wrong they have been about so many things) are still respected, is a testament to the short memory of the public.

[pocoloco]

7. What more could you want from Code Pink??

[libnnc]

6. And the fact that you have to post that statement at all

makes me furious. You're absolutely right. We're about as deep as a puddle of piss on hot Carolina asphalt.

Shut up. Be nice. Go along. Not now. Wait a little longer. Don't be impatient.

Don't be rude to the fella slamming your face against the brick wall. You might hurt his feelings.

:nuke:

[Neshanic]

8. Nothing is more inspiring than hearing someone screaming in the halls that belong to us.

Among the grand architecture, echoing across the marble, screams of protest.

That is beautifull. It is inspiring.

[rodeodance]

10. Right on.

[bbgrunt]

11. It is a disgrace.

[Downtown Hound]

12. Here! Here!

[Breeze54]

13. You are so right!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

The state of the American cowards is disgusting! :(

K & R'd

[TankLV]

14. Beautiful...

thank you...

[robinlynne]

15. Thank-you! Time for action you complainers! Piss or get off the pot.

[KittyWampus]

16. What bullshit. There are several groups protesting here locally. I've no doubt others do

around the country as well.

We were here before Sheehan and we'll be here after her.

[Hissyspit]

24. I didn't say there were no other protesters.

I'm well aware of that. My post was about AWARENESS and I meant to post a caveat. Many Americans are aware of the anti-war sentiment through the blogosphere. The coverage of the anti-war rallies, many of which I have taken part in, was next to non-existent for the majority of Americans. See post #9.

[MazeRat7]

17. I think everyone in this thread should take a look at this page...

http://www.ccmep.org/2002_articles/Iraq/102702_pictures_of_anti.htm

And that was just on page 1 of my google query.

Just a reminder, we were demonstrating against the war BEFORE the war started. At least two of the three mentioned in the OP were not.
Lets not forget the millions around the world that have given their time/money/energy to speaking out against this war.

MZr7

[onenote]

18. uhh...no.

There was an antiwar movement before Cindy Sheehan. In fact, public support for the war was dropping below the 50 percent mark before Casey SHeehan was tragically killed and Cindy became an activist.
Don't fool yourself.

[H2O Man]

19. I appreciate

your posts very much. Thank you for what you do on DU.

[nam78_two]

28. I agree with regard to the OP as well as yourself

Thanks to both of you.

[LittleClarkie]

20. So if I bent over in front of a camera and whistled "Feel like I'm Fixin' to Die Rag" out my butt

That would be better than doing nothing, or conducting a civil protest?

Is it good to do just anything in the pursuit of peace? Is nothing damaging to the cause? Is there no such thing as bad publicity?

Do we want more people on our side? Or do we want to alienate them with our antics.

Most here care. That's why some argue that the wrong tactics used will damage the peace movement. It's because they care about that movement that they pipe up. It's not that they don't want to do anything, they just think HOW you do something matters just as much as WHAT.

[chill_wind]

21. IMHO, very few people can relate to the Code Pink performers of yesterday.

They came across as a pack of exclusive over-aged sorority sisters out for a festive afternoon of buffoonish frat pranks who didn't expect, from even the onset, to be taken seriously-- so why should they be?

Message? WHAT message? There were seven of them. What was the substance of what even one or two of them said? C-Span watchers, what were they yelling?
What coherent points did any of them make for the media or viewers to take away?

No cheating. No googling. Chances are good you can't answer, because they admit even they couldn't- and didn't-- hear each other, even though they were taking turns. Now THAT's "polite". Wouldn't want to mess up on cues or upstage another sister's solo performance...



http://codepinkalert.org/article.php?list=class&class=20

[Catherine Vincent]

22. You are right.

Although, I remember all the protests before the war from all over the world. I would like to see those same numbers protesting this war 6 years out.

[Richard Steele]

25. Damn right. K&R

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. I'd Wager They Would've. But Regardless, Now That They Know, They Get Turned Off From Taking Action

due to the completely ineffective, irrational, at times lunatical (made up word, who cares), overdramatic, narrow minded and cause-defeating ways in which code pink and cindy have gone about things, and the lack of the former's desire to be associated with such.

Getting the movement to be better known and more powerful is something I'm grateful and thankful to them for. But I will continue to condemn the ways in which they've completely ruined their momentum and credibility, due to their narrow minded perceptions and illogical actions. They are no longer serving much more of a purpose than to be the subject of mockery and catalyst for undermining a serious cause of ending the war.

[nam78_two]

27. K&R.nt