visual juxtaposition

Well, duh. But, I don’t really see the point of the juxtaposition.

Clearly, there should be more effective and useful ways of protesting … but what are they? I think we’re all aware that it didn’t work.

I for one now feel guilty that I *didn’t* go to any candlelight vigils. I hear this from my students: “We know peaceful protests don’t work and we hate the war, so we don’t know what to do, won’t someone tell us what to do? Hey, American Idol’s on!” Though we may think that dissin’ peace marches is fine because they obviously didn’t “do anything,” the fact is that many people look at this as the only thing they know that they can do. We obviously need more concrete and useful ways of protesting, but what the hell are they?

I’d prefer making a statement that doesn’t effect any change to sitting on my ass and not making a statement which still doesn’t effect any change. Which is what I did.

–sean

I don’t really think the protests and vigiles were futile, although I did feel depressed at the turnout of the various events I went to.

Really, I just thought those two images made for a striking visual juxtaposition – not necessarily an ideological one.

Erik sent me to an article that describes pretty well what has been accomplished by the protests

The protest I went to on Thursday made me feel better……people with banners, bullhorns, my screaming until I almost lost my voice. Maybe all the people flicking us off and all the people honking in support flashing peace signs made me realize that people have opinions…..at least people are thinking about things which is encouraging.

The part that was discouraging were the countless people who avoided eye contact….the lady that rolled up her window when I made direct eye contact with her and flashed a peace sign…scary. If you don’t see the problem it’s not there. Talk about a false consciousness.

The best part was the guy who flicked us off, got stopped by the traffic light right in front of me with his window down. I shouted ‘PEACE’ at him at the top of my lungs. And then he called me a pussy(!!!) I was aghast. I wonder if there is a statistical correlation between pro-war supporters and people who find it acceptable to scream sexist epithets.

But generally, the visceral experience of shouting in unison with a hundred or so people who feel the same way you do was cathartic. So maybe protests are the false consciousness! Protests are the opiates of the masses! Next time I will bottle everything up until I feel compelled to light myself on fire on the white house lawn or something.