--- Mark Wilde <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > I want to publicly thank the Mayor for taking a > stand for peace and justice and against war. I also
> want to get a plug-in for Paul Wellstone who > (finally) made public his opposition. Common sense > is seeming to prevail around this issue and I am > reassured to see it from the Mayor. I heard that Dean Zimmerman was also there and I'm not sure, but I think I saw Robert Lilligren walking around as well. It was definitely good to see college students, workers, couples with kids, a few vets and active duty soldiers, people with 5-gallon-pail drums, middle age folks in buisiness attire, and people from many other demographics all demonstrating together. There were people of many racial, religious, socio-economic, and political background united together for this common cause. One thing I would mention. I believe that Mr. Rybak (demonstrating as a private citizen) and many of the others were taking a stand for peace and justice, but some people there were only taking a stand for justice. I've heard activists who speak of having no issues with the use of force when it is required. This is a double edged sword. On one hand, it means that it would be possible for them to accept a military action if (and only if) it were just. On the other hand, it means they have no problem using force to oppose unjust military action (or other forms of injustice). We've seen it before in protests against economic imperialism (WTO, IMF, etc.) and I am almost positive that if our administration pushes ahead with a unilateral first-strike war, we'll see it again. - - - musings about potential local impact from this war - - - Not all these folks are going to bother heading to DC to act, some will act here. I don't know about Minneapolis during Vietnam, but I know that Madison looked like a war zone and the hippies then were a lot more peaceful than some supporters of the global justice movement are today. The hippies thought that they were on the cusp of changing the world, that society was going to "get it", they had their sex drugs and rock'n'roll, and they were pretty happy about it. Some of today's activists see a society with a lot of momentum towards a future that will be very bleak for the poorest 95% of the world. They see a very real possibility that they will be killed, injured, or jailed for speaking out (whether they're breaking the law or not). They are more desperate and more dedicated than anti-war activists in the 1960s - they bear far more in common with the labor movements around the turn of the century. I am not in any way implying that everyone who is against the war will take these actions or support those who do. I know for a fact that groups like Anti-War Committee put a great deal of effort into keeping protests from getting out of control, and I expect they will continue to do so. I wonder if a city council resolution opposing the war on Iraq would have any impact on the damage to property and burden on the police force that may come from the actions of the non-peaceful activists who feel that property has no value in comparison to human life. - Jason Goray, Sheridan, NE Investing in good homeowner's insurance. Incidently, while it is speculation, I feel that it is likely that an unprovoked attack on Iraq will increase the chance of terrorist attacks - both foreign and domestic. When they're picking targets, I wonder if they be more drawn towards cities where over ten thousand hit the streets in protest like Portland, cities who declare that they are against the aggressions like Ithaca NY, or will they target cities where the people seem willing to let the war happen (or support it). Just thinking... __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
