(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

Dilemma of the day.

As peace marches become more contentious, more and more the focus of anger and latent (or real) violence, how can one who genuinely supports peace participate in them, without feeling as though one is contributing to the fractiousness of society?

Dee and Tim went to the peace march Friday and said that hecklers have become more vocal and more virulent, one saying that all participants deserved to be shot.

I feel the need to signal my opposition to war, but I do not think it is productive to make myself a target of hate and vindictiveness in the process. In the absense of alternative options, is not participating in marches or other civil disobedience tantamount to complicity? Will have to ponder this.

Comments

[secret-willow.livejournal.com]

One has to decide what there limits are. For me, right now it's important to stand and be counted. As for things that will get me arested, I try not to go there. As for violent comments, I will deal with that too. I do not know that I could continue to do peaceful demonstrations in the middle of physical violence. Decide your limits and figure out what you can do. Perhaps finding candle vigils in your area will find you more peaceful peace expression. Perhaps you can do more writting, calling and magick. Magick by itself without action may not be the way to go but find a happy medium.. then strech yourself to go to some rallys anyway.. maybe.

[alobar.livejournal.com]

I, for one, write letters to my senators, congress guy, and the prez. I try to write at least 10 letters a week. I send them essays about the war from respected journals along with my own comments. I am not so much trying to influence them with words, but to overburden their mail system.

The other day I received a form-letter reply to a letter I had written in mid February. I take this to mean that they are very backed-up. Which means they are unable to answer letters from other constiuents in a timely fashion -- which is gonna piss them off & maybe cost the politicos votes.

I do think marches & other public presences are also important. I am on the c3 list & it has been suggested that those who desire some insulation from the anti-protestors march in the middle of the column while those who are feel they are willing to dealing with angry people march on the edges.