Protesting... Just to protest?

[DeToxRox]

Before I go further, let me tell you my stance: 100% pro war.

Now..

Do you feel people are protesting just for the sake of protesting? I mean, I see them saying anti war, but I think a lot of it is BS. Some of hese people are just trying to be martyrs. It's like, they're at a rave and the dialouge is basically..

"Hey man! Wanna' go get some food?"
"Well.. I'm a vegan.."
"Hey, me too! Let's go protest instead!"
"Okay!"

Now, I'm not saying all vegans protest, but there are quite a few at my high school, and all protest the war, but anyways.

Protesting, to me anyways, is not the cool thing to do. It's a slap in the face to the Government, it causes uneeded headaches, and it's almost in a sense hypocritical.

Case in point, people protesting poverty.. There I beg the question, don't you have a job to be at?

Alright, I'm done, but I am interested to hear what everyone elses opinions are.

[sabotai]

I'm not sure if most of them protest for the sake of protesting. Some do, some use it as an excuse to get out of class or work.

I think the "ringleaders" of the protest are protesting because they do hate the idea of war. What they're naive about is that sometime evil people cause the need for war. So I wouldn't say they protest for the sake of protesting, they protest because they're naive.

As for vegens, they are hippies. Hippies are commies, and commies suck.

[Havok]

your right... i'd say about 50% (if not more) of the protesters, protest the war just to protest. Half of them are Anarcists and extreme left wingers. You can tell that by reading some of there signs. Half the freaking signs there holding up have nothing to do with the war. Its sad really.... and that's why noone takes them seriously.

It amazes me that so many protesters are so "concerned" with civilan deaths in Iraq because fo the war yet there all pro-choice (Even late term abortion) which is more or less killing a baby.

I've tryed to figure these people out, but i just cant.


P.S. im not attacking all protesters just the extreme anarcist/vagen/anti-american/anti-capitalism/anti-everything crowd.

[Craptacular]

I live in a city full of professional hippiecrits ... and no, I'm not just talking about the gov't since I'm in the state capitol. I'll be interested to see what happens now that spring break is ending and more of the hippiecrits come back to town. If nothing else, it's at least a consistent source of amusement for me.

[stkelly52]

In my experiance, most protestors are young, around college age. Frequently people that age are very idealistic. They are still hoping to find that magical Utopia, and they have not yet come to grips with the fact that it is not going to happen. So no I don't think that they are protesting just for the sake of protesting, but that they are (mostly) ignorent and overly idealistic.

[John Galt]

I think you all need to actually go to the war protests and stop guessing. Here in NYC, I think the crowd was very informed and very anti-war. For most everyone I met, it was their first protest.

[User #2735]

I think all the guys that are at protests are only there because they think they can hook up with all those hippie chicks with the unshaven pits.

[EagleFan]

New York, that's where they pulled that cop off the horse and beat the crap out of him in their 'peace protest'. Yeah, they're really informed protestors up there.

[Lathum]

The interesting is this... People have the RIGHT to protest because of the country we live in and the governing system. These people that are protesting don't ever stop and think that the war we are fighting is to keep there freedom of speec rights alive and to allow others freedom of speech.

[sabotai]

Well...I wouldn't say this war is about keeping our rights...

But what they don't have a right to do is stop traffic, beat up on cops, deface buildings, block people from getting into buildings, etc.

[RendeR]

I'm all for protesting soemthing that you feel is wrong.

If you break the law during your protest, you broke the law and you should go to jail

don't BE that protester......

[GoldenEagle]

I tend to agree. I think some protestors are portesting just for the sake of it. I do, however, believe that some are portesting because they are against the war for their own reasoning.

I am 100% pro-war, but I can see the other side of the argument, and dont mind as long as they protest peacefully and they stay out of the way of everyday life.

[ice4277]

Protesting seems to be the 'trendy' thing to do these days. A lot of people think its the cool thing to do and are doing it because other people they know are doing it.

[Craptacular]

CNN just interviewed one of these idiots ... "the police came and shoved one of us down and sprayed stuff in my eyes ... we were just dancing and singing" ... "the police are in the pockets of the administration."

Yeah, I'm sure you did absolutely nothing wrong ... policemen and women are just looking for opportunities to beat you down.

[GoldenEagle]

I saw on CNN where some protestors wanted soldiers to come home and become teachers. Hello? Who is going to protect your right to protest?

[AgPete]

Why is it that the peace faction is only protesting for the hell of it or to be trendy but the war supporters always have a valid reason? It may be hopelessly naive and idealistic but I've always thought the desire for world peace was a pretty good message. I agree that there probably are some people in those crowds that are liberal for the sake of being liberal and will protest anything but it seems to me that unless you're one of the troops risking your ass in the desert or have a close friend or family member flying bombing missions or assaulting Iraq on the ground, the protestors have a lot more balls and conviction than people who support the war because the majority does. These people risk getting arrested for their cause. In every city but San Francisco, you risk alienation for speaking out against the war.

I'm sure there is just as big a faction of war supporters that believe that way because most of the people around them do and they don't want to go against the norm and stay trendy among the dominant conservative factions that control the business world, most of our media and popular political movements these days. I'm all for world peace and an end to wars but I won't protest because I know it won't do any good. I still respect people that believe enough in peace that they feel protesting actually does something and more important it's what makes America great.

[Airhog]

Originally posted by Lathum
These people that are protesting don't ever stop and think that the war we are fighting is to keep there freedom of speec rights alive and to allow others freedom of speech.

how does us attacking Iraq keep our freedom of speech rights alive?

[RonnieDobbs]

A little quote from some reformed protestors:

"A group of American anti-war demonstrators who came to Iraq with Japanese human shield volunteers made it across the border today with 14 hours of uncensored video, all shot without Iraqi government minders present. Kenneth Joseph, a young American pastor with the Assyrian Church of the East, told UPI the trip 'had shocked me back to reality.' Some of the Iraqis he interviewed on camera 'told me they would commit suicide if American bombing didn't start. They were willing to see their homes demolished to gain their freedom from Saddam's bloody tyranny. They convinced me that Saddam was a monster the likes of which the world had not seen since Stalin and Hitler. He and his sons are sick sadists. Their tales of slow torture and killing made me ill, such as people put in a huge shredder for plastic products, feet first so they could hear their screams as bodies got chewed up from foot to head.'"

http://www.upi.com/view.cfm?StoryID=20030321-023627-5923r

[AgPete]

Originally posted by Airhog
how does us attacking Iraq keep our freedom of speech rights alive?

Bush only makes it worse when he preaches about the war. Let's be honest, this isn't a war about freedom, and it's isn't about liberation because we could have done that ten years ago if we really cared about the people of Iraq.

This war is for one reason: The United States was attacked on 9/11 and suffered huge casualties. Up until that point, our political leaders didn't take intelligence reports serious and knew the American people would never back them in any full-scale eradication efforts. Now that all of has have woken up and seen what terrorists will do and that they are more than willing to cross the ocean to kill us, we have to do anything we can to keep our homeland safe. Saddam Hussein is an enemy of the United States, he has terrorist training camps in his country and he has owned or does own stockpiles of chemical and biological weapons that we fear he would one day pass on to terrorists. He also worked on a nuclear program that we ended in the first Persian Gulf War but we know he would be more than happy to start it up again if he could find the personnel and resources. We are killing Saddam Hussein because we fear he will one day supply terrorists with weapons that will make 9/11 look like a slingshot. Like Bush said, we will make no distinction between those who commit acts of terrorism and those who aid terrorists. Sorry Saddam, you fall in one of those categories, better you than me.

To me, that's what this war is about. Sure it's great to see the Iraqi people given their freedom but we had a chance to do it before and stopped. The only freedom our troops are fighting for is our freedom to do as we please in the homeland, the freedom to be free from fear and random terrorist attacks on the U.S.

[John Galt]

A couple bad protestors means all of us are just dumbasses hanging out in the street for the fun of it. When I was out, it was freezing, freakin cold, crowded, and I got tired standing. Yeah, but I wanted to be cool, so I did it anyway.

And yes, the police do overreact sometimes. In NYC they have been pretty good from what I've seen, but that isn't always the case. Of course, you probably don't believe in police brutality either, do you?

Even if you disagree with the protestors, at least try to acknowledge that they care and are fighting a cause - quit trying to dismiss them.

[NoMyths]

There are extremes at both sides of the debate.

[CamEdwards]

Originally posted by John Galt
A couple bad protestors means all of us are just dumbasses hanging out in the street for the fun of it. When I was out, it was freezing, freakin cold, crowded, and I got tired standing. Yeah, but I wanted to be cool, so I did it anyway.

And yes, the police do overreact sometimes. In NYC they have been pretty good from what I've seen, but that isn't always the case. Of course, you probably don't believe in police brutality either, do you?

Even if you disagree with the protestors, at least try to acknowledge that they care and are fighting a cause - quit trying to dismiss them.

How can you not dismiss quotes like this:

"The only soldiers I feel sympathy for is a soldier who is drafted or a soldier who actually fights for a just cause. Someone who readily enlist is saying they know they can die. So f*ck the troops. F*ck them to hell. I'll laugh my *ss off for everyone of them that comes home in a black bag. May the US and Iraqi military destroy eachother. It only saddens me that civilians have to get caught in this. F*ck the troops."

"I actually feel really bad for American soldiers in Iraq. I feel bad for their ignorance and stupidity for joining the military in the first place. They are blinded. It is not their fault that they are so brainwashed. So actually, what do I care if they all get blown up by Iraquis? It's just less jarheads in the world...less stupidity in the gene pool. Obviously I don't want anyone to die, but if anyone does die over there, I will not mourn."

Those quotes come from the Raise the Fist Website. Here are a few more collected around the internet.

"There's no point to civil disobedience. It's Saturday. Everything's closed." Mario Santos of International ANSWER.

"Money for unemployment, not war." sign outside the White House. This one cracks me up, all things considered.

and finally...

"These guys got a right to protest but I got to feed my family with what I make here. Whatever don't get sold today gets thrown away. I can't sell someone an old sandwich." -lunch truck operator Doug Wilson, speaking about the protesters in San Fransisco.

Yep, your 100,000 people protesting in NYC sure accomplished a lot. You prevented working Americans from getting to their jobs today (oh wait, Mario Santos of ANSWER says nobody works on Saturday). You stopped people from visiting family, going to the store, being productive. And you know what?

You pissed off every one of them.

I will continue to dismiss every single anti-American, anti-Bush, anti-war protester until I hear them respond to quotes like this:

"Americans very good," Ali Khemy said. "Iraq wants to be free."

A man identifying himself only as Abdullah welcomed the arrival of the U.S. troops: "Saddam Hussein is no good. Saddam Hussein a butcher."

and

"No Saddam Hussein!" one young man in headscarf told Gurfein. "Bush!"

[John Galt]

So if I gather quotes from racist, pro-war, arab-hating sites and quote bigoted nonsense, it represents you? Come on, it is nuts to say the radical websites stand for the anti-war movement.

And Cam, how many times do I have to post that I would like to see a free Iraq - I just don't believe war is the way to achieve it.

Protest is an important part of America - it has changed history for the better more times than I count. Unfortunately, it has failed to change policy this time - hopefully, it has at least changed some minds.

[GoldenEagle]

Enlighten us on how to achieve a free Iraq through non-warfare.

[CamEdwards]

Actually John, the only the first two quotes were gathered from the radical websites. The rest were gathered from Associated Press stories.

And while you're enlightening us on how to acheive a free Iraq through non-warfare (which no doubt will lead us back to your argument about free trade), enlighten me on how blocking traffic, stopping the poor from getting to their low income jobs, and vomiting on city streets will bring about change in anyone's mind.

[tucker342]

Havoc,
How is protesting being anti-American? That is the whole point of our Democracy, if everyone went along with the government our country wouldn't be nearly as good as it is today. In fact protesting is probably being more American than just going along with what the govenment says.

It amazes me that so many protesters are so "concerned" with civilan deaths in Iraq because fo the war yet there all pro-choice (Even late term abortion) which is more or less killing a baby.

umm, what about being pro-war but anti-abortion?

[Anthony]

where were these protesters when Iraq was waging war against Kuwait back in the early 90's? where were they when Slobodan Milocovic was commiting human genocide in East Europe i nthe mid-to-late 90's?

many people have yet to come to grips that our government has moved from a "let's wait till they take down our buildings with our own airplanes" approach to our current preemptive strike stance. Hussein has the resources and the will to use those resources to endanger American lives. if Iraq had nothing to hide then the inspections would have moved more smoothly. if Hussein really cared for his own people he would have stepped down when we last gave him the chance early on this week. he didn't, so this is where we are.

[stkelly52]

John Galt,

I agree with you that most of the protesters are protesting because they really believe that it is the right thing to do. And using quotes from a few idiots to help us understand the motives fo the protesters is unfair and does not truly reflect the opinions of the group.

However, in my opinion, the protesters are misguided, I might go so far as say they are ignorant. People keep saying that we could have used diplomacy. That more time was needed. My questions to them, is how much more time should we have given? Is 12 years not enough? Should we wait 13? 15? 25? At what point should the US get involved in overseas conflicts? Should we have intervined in Kosovo? Ruwanda? For that matter what about the US's involvment in Europe during WWII? The Germans didn't do anything to the US, only the Japaneese (sp?). For all of those opposed to war, I want to know when you feel military force should be used.

[Superman=#54]

I don't mind protesting in public places as long as the protestors know what they are protesting, do not stop traffic, and listen to the police, and not become violent.

The problem with these people protesting is that half of the people there have no idea what their protesting. I admit tht some people know what they are protesting and have a right to protest. I would probaly say that half the males that are protesting are their to pick-up chicks.

The thing that really pisses me off about these protest are when they are in the middle of a busy street stopping traffic. They are stopping people who are trying to go to work or go home after a long day of work. Those people who have jobs and are being productive members of society have to wait all day long for these people to move when they chant stuff like "Arrest Bush". They have a right to do it and love this country because we have all these rights, but try to do these protest in a more orderly fashion.

There is a reason why people are starting not to like these anti-war protestors. Every time someone turns on the tv we see tham getting arrested and doing violent stuff.

Its kinda ironic the anti-war protests are more violent then the pro-war protests.

[tucker342]

I agree that when people block traffic they're not helping anyone, they're just pissing people off.

When you have large group protesting something, there is bound to be violence, no matter what they're protesting.

[CamEdwards]

"Its kinda ironic the anti-war protests are more violent then the pro-war protests. "

Where's Alanis when you need her.

[Craptacular]

Originally posted by John Galt
And yes, the police do overreact sometimes. In NYC they have been pretty good from what I've seen, but that isn't always the case. Of course, you probably don't believe in police brutality either, do you?

Yes, there are cases where police overreact. The problem is, every time there is an incident involving police, it's always the fault of the police, according to the protestors (or whatever group you want to pick). These people never do anything wrong! If you get rowdy and disobey police orders, you can (and should) be removed by force if necessary.