Support Your Local Anarchist

Lawrence, you are quite correct about the BOregonian's reporting. If you would like to learn more about the corporate owners who really run the show, then click on these links.

 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/06/290982.shtml

 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/06/291434.shtml

 http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2004/07/291912.shtml

The next target date for some hard core demonstrations is May Day. Looking forward to it.

See ya in the streets!

To all my radical friends:
I have been struggling too, with the "support the troops" thing.
It seemed like some sort of disingeneous political BS. Somehow not really taking a firm stand. Somehow like not really giving your all to stopping the war. Lip service. And how could I support the instrument of death???!!!

Then I saw the movie: "Sir, No Sir".
It is about the AMAZING anti-war movement WITHIN the military during Vietnam. Honestly, they were protesting and subverting from at least 1965. Hundreds of thousands of them!
They published and distributed many different newspapers and went to jail for it. They had so many protests and so many went away for LONG prison terms. They were Idealists...like most of us. They stood for their principles and took action. They were refusing and escaping and running for the borders like fleas jumping off a dog just after a fresh flea powder sprinkling!

Yes, they HAD been baby killers. But they had come to their senses and became leaders of the anti-war movement. In fact, so many refused to fight while they were on the ground in Vietnam, that the Brass couldn't field combat teams. Even more amazing, they killed their officers who wanted to direct them in the killing of more innocents! They had to end the war because no one would fight it anymore.
That is a key bit of information...right?

This is a truely amazing and forgotten story (forgotten on purpose by the warmongers who re-write history).

I urge you ALL to please see this film. You can get it online at netflix, at the library, etc. Or buy your own at: www.sirnosir.com.

Yes, what the soldiers do is bad and it must be stopped. But the amazing thing is, the soldiers already know this and are finding ways even now to stop. Perhaps 10's of thousands have already desserted. Many many more that number are working up to finding a way out. A way to stop.
Like anything else one tries to stop, "support" is crucial.

If ending the war is truely our main focuse, then we have to hear the story of the troops...and make up our own mind.

When you go to www.sirnosir.com, there is a bit of a blog full of military folks talking out against the war. Their struggles with brainwashing, struggling with coming to terms of supporting their fellow soldiers, reconciling their patriotism and just not wanting to kill anymore.
The blogoshere is full of dissident military talk.

I hope this information is helpful to some of my dear, passionate, principled, take action, sacrifice your bodies for a just cause...friends.
Xman

I imagine that had I been there, I wouldn't have been into it, yet I have to agree with the poster who said if so many right-wingers are bent out of shape about it, it was a good thing. Hate to admit I listen to Dr. Stupid Laura--I learn how the other 75% think--but she went on about the effigy burning. It really shook people.

On the individual level, I don't fault all soldiers--if I did, I would have to hate most people because I am vegan. But we can't escape the fact that if more refused to go, like lots more, there would be less war and less pressure on people like Watada. Power is in numbers.

Let's be real about what war is--if we have the upper hand it's because we're slaughtering every living thing in our wake. We need a no war culture--even from our standing (defensive) army.

On reflection, burning the effigy was a powerful statement.

I also agree with "---" and just wanted to add something that struck me. I think it really serves to show how judgmental and opinionated this country is that everyone must rush to condone or condemn the actions of others. This is not an action I would have taken part in. But that doesn't mean I have to condemn it. Let people express themselves as they see fit, that's what having the protections of the first amendment allows people. If you don't like what people are saying or how they're saying it get out there and and express yourself.

"Or maybe you're ready for our Americans in uniform to start bombing Tehran too?"

Indeed, anything that could have an effect on stopping an attack on Iran and hence setting off WW3 is a really good thing.

None of us has done enough to end statism and corporatism, the primary enemies of democracy in our time. We are all guilty. We all continue to benefit from the spoils of slavery, genocide and militarism.

We need to continue to thrash out these matters of tactics. This is time well used, even if many of the same arguments keep coming up. Each time more people become convinced.

When I was 18 years old, in 1964, I went to my local Navy recruiter because I was poor and because I heard that the Navy would pay for my education before training me to become an officer. For whatever reason, the recruiter told me that I would be sent to Viet Nam if I enlisted. I was lucky, in the right place at the right time.

I was not a fascist; I was a working class kid who believed that what he had been told by those in authority was true. I believed that the US was only interested in spreading democracy and human rights.

Three years later, I was in the streets, an anarchist (although I didn't know that the term applied to me).

Don't give up. Do whatever seems right. All tactics should be "on the table", as the hegemonists remind us.

the difference between the vietnam war and now is that in vietnam there was a draft - people didn't have a choice, and therefore many anti-war soldiers existed in the military - and now, the army is all-volunteer. there is no draft. and at the end of the day, the person whho pulls that trigger is responsible for their actions. i know plenty of poor ass people who won't join the military, because they refuse to kill people.

maybe if the troops see that we know they are killers just as much as they know it, and it's not okay, they will start getting out more and more?

anyway, i hold people to the same standards i set for myself, one of which is not to kill other people.

id:
Wrong!
First mistake: Vietnam was not all draftees. I guess you forgot a huge number "found a home in the army"by enlisting. Additionally, huge numbers or "enlistees" also resisted.
Second mistake: Would be to judge everyone by your standards. Unless someone else climbs into your shoes with you in the morning, then you must accept everyone is at their own place on this road we call lfe.
Compassion and understanding must have a place or ones life is just a series of walls. Closing off anyone who is not just like you. I guess that is a "standard" that you don't measure up to yet, so by your definition, I shouldn't even give you the time of day.

Hating and shutting down others is easy.

crazy8 - you said:

"Unless someone else climbs into your shoes with you in the morning, then you must accept everyone is at their own place on this road we call lfe."

Then best listen to your own words and accept where id is. But you don't you see, and this is the false face of the modern compassionate position. What lies beneath it is fear. Fear of change, fear of revealing the virulent ugliness that lurks just below the surface in this society.

Another hallmark of a conditioned response is absolutism which can be seen in this statement of yours.

"Closing off anyone who is not just like you."

The person you are responding to did not close off anyone who is not just like them. What your post reveals is your own fear which pushes you to shut down the expression of others.

namely, how so many of the voices that are so absolutely horrified over the shocking "violence" of burning inanimate objects are the same voices that think burning human beings is just okey-dokey (as long as the government they shill for deems it necessary).

even the democrat party spokeswoman on faux nooz immediately started drawing comparisons to those who shoot abortion providers. as if burning something is somehow comparable to killing.

Jason,
I guess you missed my point.
I pointed out a factual error in id's comment, the dangers of his expectations for others and then gave him my own example of how easy it is to shut someone down if that is your point. It was a disussion, not a shut down. Because it offends, does not mean it isn't a discussion.
See you in the streets.

I along with a friend from England had an interesting conversation about the issue of supporting the troops. Ctray (my English buddy) had a good point about our military. CTray pointed out that we have a volunteer army who would not join or re-up unless they supported the war. We find it hard to support the troops when they constantly rape, torture, mistreat prisoners, kill children etc. I don't think that pointing this out means a lack of support but rather a dose of reality. Don't sell out by saying support the troops in light of the really cruel things they do. Don't forget that they joined this fiasco on their own free will. Just because it isn't politically expediant, doesn't mean we are not right and the bulk of the anti war movement is wrong. I will not condone or support the brutality committed by individuals or Bush. Many in the movement don't want to engage on the support of the troops. I think several people need to take a look in the mirror and say "Shame on you". Keep up the fight and don't give an inch..........POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!

I've written enough in regards to The OreGOONians' bias, incompetent "reporting". But i just wanted to remind everyone that following last yrs' demonstrations, The OreGOONian proudly published (in FULL-COLOUR) a photo of several "black-clad" anarchists burning Amerikkkan flags. Now the paper whines pathetically about THIS yrs photos going on-line & around the world, making Portland look bad?! I surely hope that others remember the same photo i saw in the paper last yr, so that The OriGOONians' hypocrisy can be well noted!

Thanks to all anarchists in Portland for having the courage to go out there and "say" something that needed to be said...an all volunteer army has all the support they need from friends and family as well as the pathetic peace movement...I will not support those who kill for money,imperialism,nationalism,patriotism,money for college,cars,drugs,a payment on a house...I will not support those that torture and rape...I will support those that refuse to be a soldier,a tool for us imperialism...I will not be guilt tripped by liberals,conservatives,vets,peaceniks,progressives into shutting up...Thank you all for the inspiration!

I posted some pictures on my blog.

workforf_ood.livejournal.com