Say Anything Blog

Excellent observations Seth.  We listened to some coverage of the rally on the radio while we were traveling to Reno today.  Now I know that opposition to the war in Iraq is not neccessarily a fringe political belief, but the people and groups represented at this rally are on the margins.  As you noted, they’re socialists.  They’re agenda is not so much an end to the war in Iraq for the sake of peace but an end to the war in Iraq for the sake of making our country look foolish and weak. 

All the more easier, then, to bring about a red revolution.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

What was intended to be a protest against the Iraq War somehow turned into a condemnation of Israel (I’m not sure how you missed that part of their message, Seth; they were very vocal in their support of Palestine [or at least in the parts I heard]) and opposition to free-market capitalism. Were they trying to offend as many supporters of their cause as possible?

Part of the problem is that people who object to the war for legitmate reasons are also smart enough to understand that protests and hippy circles won’t accomplish anything. So, of course all you’re left with is some nutjobs with bullhorns.

Dave: actually, I didn’t miss the anti-semetic part, I just missed posting about it! I got so involved in googling the groups attending that I sort of lost focus and couldn’t think clearly about what I had set out to originally say. It’s really mind-numbing reading all that Cultural Marxist crap.

The best part of the covereage was towards the end. Each time a speaker was wrapping up they would pan over to a crowd shot. After every speaker the crowd got smaller, and smaller, and smaller. When people left they stuck their signs in the ground where they had been standing. By the last speaker there was only about 10 or so guys milling around (that I could see) and dozens of signs stuck in the ground. Pure comedy, you can’t make this stuff up.

My wife came over to watch some of it with me, and she wanted to know what the people were so angry about (since English is her 2nd language, it’s hard for her to tease out the meaning of stuff on TV sometimes, it’s too fast, new vocabulary, etc); I tried to explain to her that they were angry at the government, but she really couldn’t process that, coming from a place where you do NOT criticize the government.

But when these protests are covered in the dino-press they make it look like a very mainstream group.

You’d think that every protester was a retired couple that voted for Bush the first time.

If the Dino-Press wanted to discredit this movement it’d be easy to focus on their speakers.  Give them the microphone.  But they don’t do that, they very carefully pick an unrepresentative face for their news story.

Must be because they identify with the freaks.

I didn’t watch this protest, but I have watched c-span coverage of other protests.

What was intended to be a protest against the Iraq War somehow turned into a condemnation of Israel (I’m not sure how you missed that part of their message, Seth; they were very vocal in their support of Palestine [or at least in the parts I heard]) and opposition to free-market capitalism. Were they trying to offend as many supporters of their cause as possible?

Actually, I’ve been watching the protests around here for years - I’m a DC local - and they’ve never been “Peace Rallies” or “War Protests”.  Every single one… whether it’s International ANSWER (a front group for the World Workers’ Party) or an abortion-rights group or any of the anti-World Bank groups does the exact same things.

They show up, blame the US for all their problems, and then march.  At the Roe V. Wade “celebration” this year, one of the speakers went on a five minute diatribe about how Haliburton was stealing her rights to an abortion.

This led my office to blame everything on Haliburton whether it was the war in Iraq, the printer being out of paper, or a light bulb going out.  It drove our lefties crazy.

So a couple years ago I was in DC (ok Alexandria) for a wedding.  There was a big G-8 protest going on.  It was news on the local news and the W Post. 

What I found amazing is that none of the news people covered what these protesters wanted.  Since then I’ve always watched and protesters never have a solution, just a “bitch.”

Don, actually, I’ve been to the protests and talked to some of the protestors… you are all lockstep on one idea:

All the problems of the world - whether real or imagined - are the fault of the US.

It’s true---since we don’t march in lockstep like y’all, we liberals can get pretty disorganized. It’s one of the main drawbacks of thinking for ourselves.

It’s the fault of the Jews et al doesn’t sound much like thinking for yourself.

Then I believe it’s only fair to point out that it happens on both sides.

Then do that instead of throwing around some sarcasm.  Most of us would agree with you.  I know I do.

I just believe all protestors are idiots, because only idiots believe that protesting can accomplish anything.

Except that they do accomplish things.  When Americans see people protesting they take note.  For better or worse it influences their decisions, which is why the media’s portrayl of the protestors is so important.  Unfortunately, our media has decided to sanitize the image of these people to the detriment of observing Americans.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

I guess I don’t understand the anti-globalization crowd either. 

I mean what do they want?  No imports? 

I think this is the crowd I was referring to in Washington DC.

You may have “talked to [or at] some of the protestors,” casey, but I doubt very much you listened to them.

Listening doesn’t seem like much of a neocon virtue.

Apparently it was a pretty good time.  A bunch of my liberal friends went there and said they had a blast.  I was going to go just for the hell of it but decided not to at the last minute.  A few of them have some pretty good pictures of some of the more ridiculus protesters that I’ll try and post at some point.

speaking of that I was attending a viking’s game years ago....1987 maybe and outside there were some guys promoting Tom Harkin’s run for the Democratic Nomination.

So we went up to them and politely asked them why we should support Harkin.

They had no idea.

Don,

Do you have any counterpoints or are we already in the “personal attack” phase?

Thanks.

Then I believe it’s only fair to point out that it happens on both sides.

I just believe all protestors are idiots, because only idiots believe that protesting can accomplish anything.

Thus ALL Democrats have no ideas.

I like your reasoning. Read Leibniz much?

Do that, Andrew.  I’d like to see some pictures.

You also bring up a good point.  Many of these protests seem to be made up of younger kids just attending and mimicing the cries of others to “have a good time.” And maybe meet some loose hippie chicks.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

When Americans see people protesting they take note.

The biggest and best organized protests in the world happen every year are the anti-globalization protests in Seattle. (I realize you support free trade, but...) Do you really think they’ll accomplish anything besides a night in jail?

I don’t think that was his point Dave.  I think he was showing that a lot of these people, not all of them but a lot, really have no idea about why they’re our holding signs.  They’re just going along for the ride.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

The guys that they found to hold up Harkin signs had no idea of why anyone would vote for Harkin.  I think Harkin had some ideas that I wouldn’t agree with.

My point was that these guys looked to me like the same guys out on the protest lines.  Either they are getting paid or they just like holding up signs.  I have no idea.

I guess I should have been more clear.

Do you really think they’ll accomplish anything besides a night in jail?

Well, different protestors have different impact.  Each issue is differen’t.  Will PETA ever bring Burger King to its knees?  Not likely.  Do anti-war protesters, as portrayed by the media, have a big impact on the opinions of Americans who are emotionally and (in the instances of soldiers and their families) personally involved in the war in Iraq?  You betcha.  Add to that the “what have you done for me lately” mentality that is so prevelant today and you’ve got yourself a very big impact.

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.

-- Thomas Jefferson

Rob’s recently listened-to songs:

Do you have any counterpoints or are we already in the “personal attack” phase?

Well, casey---since this entire post and most of the comments were in the “neocon stereotype/kill the messenger” phase, that seemed like the way to go.

Don, it seemed like most of the comments - except for yours - had simply been pointing out that the real common thread of the protests had nothing to do with war.  They had everything to do with blaming America for everything.... whether you’re talking about Israel/Palestine, the Phillipines, gay marriage, Iraq, etc, etc.

Personally, I believe that the MSM is afraid of showing the real people who make up these protests.  They know that the general public - especially those who consider themselves in the center - would never want to associate with these people who make up a fringe.  I believe that many people who just blindly vote “D” on their ballots would start voting “R” if they knew who they were associating themselves with.

Now, if you want to start discussing the differences between the D’s and R’s, I can identify very few, but they are still there.

Don, it seemed like most of the comments - except for yours - had simply been pointing out that the real common thread of the protests had nothing to do with war.

That’s a prime example of the “neocon stereotype/kill the messenger” thing I was talking about, casey. (It’s also not true, but I’ve no illusions of opening your eyes on that regard) Thanks for helping me shore up my argument!

Don Myers kids, It’s true—since we don’t march in lockstep like y’all, we liberals can get pretty disorganized. It’s one of the main drawbacks of thinking for ourselves.

You take criticism of the most far out there people and come up with this? Hahahah! You’re unintentionally hilarious Don. Thank you for the laugh.

Listening doesn’t seem like much of a neocon virtue.

Oh please Don. You come to a blog that lets you spew your unreasoned responses and talk with to people who attempt at talk with you and still you have the gall to claim this? Yeah...okay there…

Well, casey—since this entire post and most of the comments were in the “neocon stereotype/kill the messenger” phase, that seemed like the way to go.

Wrong Don. It’s kill the message and point out the mindless hysteria of the messenger.

That’s a prime example of the “neocon stereotype/kill the messenger” thing I was talking about, casey.

Actually you were the one trying to “kill the messenger” Don. Read back to your comments. See anything constructive? I don’t.

moonbats, which in turn leads you to reading Cindy “al Queda” Sheehan comments and photos with one of America’s leading anti-Americans.  As one blogger pointed out, the protesters in D.C. weren’t anti-war, they were anti-American . And yes, I do think you can question someone’s patriotism if, during time of war, they protest against the war and undermine the soldiers and their efforts.  Global Cop has great photos of the protest, and begins with shots of counterprotestors. He

[...] You know the one I’m referring to… Yahoo! News - The Home Front: The media have pushed the idea that the demonstration this weekend at the White House was an “anti-war” gathering. What they didn’t say was who was behind it. [...]

children that we are not a warring nation, but we will embrace and practice true compassion and honor the ideals of peace and freedom. And we will not give up. Peace! Peace!” Trackback URL for this post: http://newsbusters.org/trackback/1448 The Protest from Say Anything on September 26, 2005 - 13:50 Over the weekend I had the opportunity to watch the anti-war protest in Washington, DC (courtesy of VOA and C-span). Some observations (since I’m going completely from memory, any quoted text should be