Just a comment about the grumbling and groaning about “other issues” “hijacking” the anti-war protests today in Washington.
First of all, the only sustained coverage I had here in Canada was via C-SPAN online. Unfortunately, our public broadcaster, CBC, is on strike or they would have covered it too. So, after checking out some blogs today, I was troubled by some of the complaints made about speakers who talked about what’s going in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict, Haiti, Cuba and whatever else came up. I listened to the crowds groan when a Palestinian approached the podium to speak, interrupted by one of the organizers who had to ask them to show some respect.
To the people in that crowd and to those who only had coverage from C-SPAN like me, read on…
- You could have walked away. No one chained you down there.
- If you’re anti-war, you’re anti-all-war and if you don’t think that what’s going on in Gaza relates to the US or is not warmongering that’s killed who knows how many people in the name of raw aggression, read this article now. You’ll see exactly what was going on there as the crowds in DC moaned and groaned about the situation being a “distraction from the REAL message”.
- All we got was all we got as far as media coverage went. Don’t blame C-SPAN. They don’t have the resources of CNN and other networks who could have and should have been there in full force.
- Whether you know it or not, the message got out today. Who knows? Maybe some in the crowd and those who watched C-SPAN learned something new about what’s happening in other parts of the world. I hope they did. I know I did.
- You talk about a fractured Democratic party in a state of confusion about its message. Take a moment and think about that: are you part of the problem or part of the solution? Do you aid in spreading the confusion or do you really want to spread a cohesive message?
Here’s the gist of this: you work with what you have and you make it work. The protests worked. If you say they didn’t, that’s the message the American people will get – loud and clear. How messed up is the Democratic party? It will continue to be as messed up as each supporter makes it.
Look at the big picture. Control the message. Don’t wait for others to do it. If the Dems stand for civil and human rights, justice and freedom – say it loud and say it with certainty. If you don’t, no one will listen.
