Albert
Beyond Bush and his ilk predictably trying to use calamity to propel their
reactionary agendas on every front they can, from repressive legislation about
eavesdropping, to military expansion, and even to tax policy — it is certainly
also true and must be faced that many citizens are in a violent mood, suggesting
all kinds of anti-civilian acts. So many that it feels overwhelming.
But
how many U.S. citizens who are advocating bombings realize that the people of
Afghanistan already live in a horrendously war-torn country, made virtually
rubble from its war with Russia? How many understand that hunger and the danger
of starvation for Afghanistan is so great that a misstep at this juncture – for
example, cutting off all outside food aid, even without bombs – could cause not
thousands but literally millions of innocent deaths by starvation? Not many of
our citizens, is my guess. When such information is conveyed, how many will hold
to the vengeful stance? When it becomes evident that vengeance by assault on
civilians is precisely terrorism, that assault on civilians for political
purposes is precisely terrorism, how many will want to hold to warring
indiscriminately, to being a terrorist? One wonders how many of those working at
Ground Zero in NYC would wish military devastation on innocent civilians in
another country. Not many, if any, is my guess.
But
what is even more promising, is that even in a moment of great pain and
mourning, even at a time of national rallying, even when all public pressures
cry for war, even before there has been opportunity to counter media madness and
government manipulation with valid argument and evidence, even now many and
probably most people are already wondering at least somewhat about the wisdom of
Bush’s stance, and are even contemplating such unspeakable conclusions as that
the cure for terrorism is not more and even greater terrorism, and that the cure
for fanaticism is not to dispense with civil liberties.
I
think there may be a tendency afoot among many activists, totally
understandable, to see the great outpourings of nationalism and to be
pessimistic beyond what evidence warrants. Yes, the events have been horrible in
their immediate impact, of course. And yes the hypocritical willingness of Bush
and others to try to parlay pain into more suffering in different forms, and
even into more terror, has been stunning and terrifying. But there are good
signs too – not solely in the humanity of the massive outpourings of sympathy,
but also in the opposition to race hatred against Arabs that has erupted as
quickly and perhaps more pervasively than the reverse, and in the almost
instantaneous emergence of both reason and activism regarding war prospects.
Thus
I want to share with you information from a communication from Portland Oregon.
The letter writer communicates that:
“Today we had an anti-war demo in Portland. Like so many of you have expressed,
I too have felt that we are heading into a very dark time for activism, no less
radical politics.
“Now,
Portland has seen a fair amount of activism lately – events large (1500+ for
this year’s May Day march, which had a permit taken out by the City Council
because organizers refused to get one and the city didn’t want to arrest
everyone) and small (40 radical activists and union brothers and sisters
shutting down the Port of Portland and delaying the offloading of an Italian
vessel in protest of the G8 police rioting, a picket line which the longshoremen
refused to cross, setting off similar actions as that ship proceeded along the
west coast).
“I
say all that for context, because I reckon things are a bit "better" here for
that sort of activism than in many other communities around the country.
“Having said that, this was the largest demonstration I’ve been to in Portland
since the Gulf War! Organizers were able to do a pretty good count as we were
walking along a narrow area, and there were at least 2600 people there to speak
against the incessant beating of the war drums.
“Nobody could believe it. Everyone (strangers I talked to, acquaintances I
talked to) had been feeling very isolated and had taken on a very bleak attitude
about the future of `the left.’
“We
marched in the streets without a permit, spanning 12 or more blocks. There were
no police anywhere to be seen. “This caused some problems, in that they *do*
tend to be helpful with traffic control. Ah, well… we did ok without ’em on
that one too, a few irate drivers notwithstanding 🙂
“Well, 2600 isn’t enough to stop the impending war, but it’s a far bigger start
than anyone expected. All is not lost! Let’s not let our gloomy perspectives of
the moment, (which are perfectly understandable as we watch the manufacture of
consent occur before our very eyes, at breakneck speed) let’s not let that gloom
turn our very rational fears into a self-fulfilling prophesy.
“Afterward, I went to a `vigil’ organized by the Christian Coalition 🙁 This
occurred in the main `public’ square in town (semi-privately owned and
operated). There were fewer people at this one, but not by much. The creepy
rhetoric of right-wing Christianity was toned down, but not by much. At least it
was toned down though. We were there mostly in case of needing to protect any
victims of the racism seething beneath the surface.
“I
stood amidst the sea of American flags, amidst the `rousing’ renditions of the
great patriotic hits, holding a `Jingoism Hurts America’ sign. I got into some
rather interesting conversations with people who wanted to know what jingoism
meant. I described it as a form of rhetoric using a chauvinistic patriotism to
justify an arrogant and belligerent foreign policy. Some nodded and walked away,
but many lingered to discuss. My friends and I were only too happy to oblige 🙂
With some sensitivity, it is possible to clue people in on the activities of the
CIA in the overthrow of democratic governments, the institution of autocratic
regimes such as the Taliban, and the creation of Osama bin Laden himself.
“I
couldn’t believe the conversations! Who knows if we did anything. Anyhow, it’s
not necessarily doom and gloom – let’s get back out there and be visible, now!
I got
the above letter without a return email address for its author. But here is my
reply…Yes, you did something. You did precisely what we all need to be doing.
You went out and worked for peace and justice, and you did it without fear and
without arrogance, and without presuppositions. And you showed, in the process,
what the potential is of such work.