We had heard of the downtown demonstrations tomorrow and Monday, but not about “655,000 Steps for Peace” till we checked the WSNPJ site. Looks like the walkers will be passing through WS from the south tomorrow morning, scheduled to reach Harbor Ave, heading for downtown, by 2 pm.
I’m glad it got nice out and I had to mow my lawn. If these jerkies blocked by way while I was out, I would be peaching on them.
Peace on you.
I saw a lone person with the big sign at 10am, walking north on Delridge and then turning to go west up Sylvan. Saw him (or another guy with the same sign) at the Junction around noon with the other war protesters. Kinda sad that only one person was walking, but at least it won’t muck up traffic like tomorrow’s protest downtown.
When are people going to realize that protests in general do not accomplish anything (especially these types)? It is a waste of time.
yup, rosa parks/mlk jr, gandhi, lech walesa, susan b anthony … protesters never accomplish anything … and no, it’s not just lefty causes. prohibitionists, abortion opponents … too tired to look up more. personally we salute anyone who gives enough of a **** about something to speak up about it, be it through a blog post, a protest sign, or a sit-in.
‘When are people going to realize that protests in general do not accomplish anything”
This from a guy who mows grass?
Wow. Where do I start? First of all, MLK, Ghandi, Lech Walesa, Susan B. Anthony and Rosa Parks were all ACTIVISTS, not simply protesters. Granted, they might have been involved in certain protests at times, but they were generally devoted to their causes by actually standing up and DEFYING the “force” that held them back. By my defenition, Lt. Ehren Watada would signify an ACTIVIST for this particular cause. He was assigned to serve our country, but opted to defy his orders.
Second, 99.9% of the idiots (yes, idiots) that march in these so-called protests go back to their same old lives without becoming ACTIVISTS. The only thing that it might accomplish is swaying public opinion, which in the current climate will not change a thing.
Third, the individuals you list above were shackled by civil rights violations, not a war. I personally did not agree with us going to war several years ago, however, I realize that we have an elected Commander In Chief that for good reasons or bad reasons sent us to war. We must now deal with the situation the best way possible and a complete withdrawl would be devestating to MANY countries. I trust the military leaders that are serving this country…you really do not have a choice at this moment.
Fourth, This is going to be difficult for most of you out there since you’re so hyped up on being ANTI-BUSH….Think back to Sept and October of 2001 and how you felt as an American. If our Commander In Chief had not taken some sort of large scale action against terrorism, wouldn’t you have been equally as upset then as you are today that he didn’t do anything? Our CIC was in a damned if you do, damned if you don’t position.
“rosa parks/mlk jr, gandhi, lech walesa, susan b anthony”
not even close to the same…. not even close.
People don’t like the war for a variety of reasons. There are those that are opposed to war in general at all costs – I disagree with them, but I respect their opinion and their right to feel that way.
Then there are the loonies that seem to think the whole war was for oil, Bush & Co, Haliburton, etc. Purely political – which is a shame.
Then there are those who think Iraq should take care of themselves (these are usually the same folks that think we should go to Dafur and kick butt there and of course provide Americans with every social service under the sun). I have a hard time with this arguement – Iraqis should stand up, but lazy welfare-staters and people in Africa need American government intervention.
March away – if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t change a dang thing.
“This from a guy who mows grass? ”
Really, what did YOU accomplish this weekend?
“Think back to Sept and October of 2001 and how you felt as an American. If our Commander In Chief had not taken some sort of large scale action against terrorism, wouldn’t you have been equally as upset then as you are today that he didn’t do anything?”
Actually no, even back then I did not agree with this action. And this comes from someone who spent 9/11 in Manhattan, watching all the events unfold with my own eyes, not someone like most of these protesters who lived thousands of miles away, watching it all on TV, and pretending to even begin to know what it was like to live in a terrorist attack and the constant, continued threat of another one.
Eric,
Mow away- if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t change a dang thing.
“Mow away- if it makes you feel better. It doesn’t change a dang thing. ”
Actually, it does! My grass is much nicer now! Protesting in the streets of Seattle doesn’t accomplish much either except infringing on my right to get to and from work unimpeded.
Seattle City Council resolutions opposing the war (like the one passed today) do nothing and take away time that should be spent figuring out how to address the viaduct and Seattle’s school problems – you know, things that local governments can actually control and are responsible for.
It’s no secret why we went to war.
http://www.newamericancentury.org/statementofprinciples.htm
(scroll to the bottom of the page to see it’s members)
The Project for a New American Century, a D.C.-based political think tank funded by archconservative philanthropies and founded in 1997, is the source of the Bush Administration’s imperialistic urge for the U.S. to dominate the world. Our nation should seek to achieve a “…benevolent global hegemony,” according to William Kristol, PNAC’s chairman. The group advocates the novel and startling concept of “pre-emptive war” as a means of doing so.
On January 26, 1998, the PNAC, sent a letter to President William Clinton urging the military overthrow of Saddam Hussein in Iraq. The dictator, the letter alleged, was a destabilizing force in the Middle East, and posed a mortal threat to “…the safety of American troops in the region, of our friends and allies like Israel and the moderate Arab states, and a significant portion of the world’s oil supply…” The subjugation of Iraq would be the first application of “pre-emptive war.”
House…”jerkies”? “these types”? exactly what type are those…? I’m just curious as to what you think they are…Americans all, who may disagree with you, as how I see it. We are a divided country because of the current admin. and this war. The protesters today at least are showing where they stand…whether I agree or not.We are not sheep…we do not all have to follow one philosophy to live in this country…we are allowed to disagree with each other because of where we live. Most people in this country wouldn’t know a Sunni from a Shiite if they tripped over them…which means most people inthis country have no idea why we’re in Iraq and losing some of our best and brightest.
Do not generalize about “types”…
hope the rain helps the lawn :)
If you can’t see that protests do serve a purpose and make an impact… or can only see the war protesters as blind “ANTI-BUSH” followers… I hate to break it to you, but you’re missing out on a whole lot. And it shows.
I currently work with many former Iraq war combat medics, and have had several discussions with them about their experiences. The situation is a total cluster. I don’t think the US invaded for any good reason, and I don’t think there’s a good solution to the situation.
Some notes to some of you….1) Bubba, let us know when you put together an intelligent thought. We’re axiously awaiting it. 2) Eric & Chet, thanks for the feedback….I appreciate it. 3) Flipjack, that’s going to make for some interesting reading…thank you for sharing with everyone. 4) Jan, realize that you are proving my point by saying at least they are showing where they stand. That does nothing except making them personally feel that they have been obsolved of any blame of the outcome of the war. 5) Keith, since you seem to be more enlightened about protesting please explain how marching in the streets of Seattle changes ANYTHING (I can’t wait to hear this one).
By the way, my lawn looks great! Could use some seed though.
Eric: Seattle local govt actually doesn’t control or have responsibility for Seattle school problems. And if you think protesting has no influence, other than to disturb your commute, you obviously weren’t around in the 60s.
Bill – for every bit of anecdotal “evidence” presented, I can say that I know Iraq combat vets who feel exactly the opposite.
Dis – OK, I agree, the City Council does not run the schools, but they also do not run the federal government or the military. I would argue their time would be better spent lobbying the *local* school district than the federal government. Nope – I wasn’t around in the 60’s and from what I have seen of modern protests, it is mostly a bunch of socialists, communists, and anarchists. Not a crowd I would want to defend or be a part of.
Eric, I can agree to disagree with you. The folks I work with in MedCom see the situation much differently than you. I’ve never blamed soldiers for the mess in the desert. I simply feel the “tool” that is the armed forces is being misused and mishandled. Enticing deals are being made every day to make reenlistment more attractive. Enlistment standards have been drastically lowered (from tattoo locations to vision requirements). I have been told a few times there is a “mass-exodus” out of the Army among those who have been to the desert once. FWIW, my view of the situation as a “cluster-****” is my own editorializing of the stories I’ve been told. The soldiers I’ve befriended and discussed these things with have never tainted the stories with their own political leanings. They’ve been boldly lied to by recruiters and IMO abused by the government they serve. Please don’t take my disdain for government policy decisions as disrespect for those serving in the armed forces.
House…don’t presume to know how a protestor feels once they have marched. Don’t presume that on other days of the week, they aren’t working to help end this war (which at the moment has no good outcome, as I see it) Eric…don’t presume that the marchers are merely a “bunch of socialists, communists’, and anarchists.” Grandmothers, business people, moms, military people, vietnam vets, all protesting. What you think the protestors are is your impression only, not what the truth is. These people are no less patriotic than you..they just show it in a different way than you do…
Sorry, comment time is over.
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