Friday, January 26, 2007

If wondering whether to march ...


in a protest organized by some strange faction who you suspect might not represent your views, consider these suggestions from hilzoy:

My presence at a march is not normally a sign that I endorse the people who are organizing it; it's a sign that I endorse whatever people are marching for. This has limits: I would not, for instance, participate in a march put on by the KKK or the American Nazi Party. On the other hand, since I do not normally spend huge amounts of time researching the sponsors of marches, it's perfectly possible that I might turn up at some march sponsored by an organization that's dreadful, but that I'm not familiar with. In this particular case, the American Friends' Service Committee is a member of UFPJ, and they're good enough for me.

I suspect that if I were to read through the list of member organizations (I started, but gave up; it's too long), I would probably find some that I really dislike among the many that I admire. But I'm not going to bother. I dislike the idea that before I can engage in any form of public political action, I have to investigate all the people involved in it for ideological purity; and besides, life is short.

My emphasis. If you can be in D.C. tomorrow, be there or be square.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Your blog is good.
geat pics of the peace marches too.
id also like to add, your comments about former prez carters book too.

I orderd it on amazon because i think carter has alot to say and is worth a listen, or reading in this case.

thanks dude. keep up the good blogging.

regards,,

Friar Tuck

from over at america blog, commentor.

Eric Mar said...

thanks for posting this. i share your reluctance often and myself decided to go to a community event instead of the march today.
we showed the film 'the ground truth' and welcomed carolyn ho, mom of lt. ehren watada as a community showing of resistance to the war. tomorrow we are holding several events in chinatown as well. your photos though are wonderful of today's sf march and rally.