I was a war protester in the 2000s. Here are some pictures of actual signs we were carrying. I carried three of the above and other signs at different protests. I would stand out in front of the courthouse with my local anti-war group. They knew I didn't agree with all their political stances but I was against Bush's wars as much as they were.
We did pay some prices in the community. My husband and I even worried that his Republican pro-Bush boss found out about us having interaction with this group. We had our pictures taken by a guy with a large camera hanging out of a green van. A few would drive by and yell out of their cars and call us "hippies" and other names, in my conservative then small town. The church I attended asked me why I was hanging out with hippies and "pagans" and rebuked me for it. I told them I was standing against Bush's wars via my own conscience. There was a few other libertarians and others of alternative views and Christians protesting along with me.
This town I live in now doesn't even have an anti-war group or if they do I haven't found out about them. Back then much of the nation was outraged by Bush's wars. Other people were protesting nation wide. Later more of the lies would come to fruition. Halliburton would become a known name. Many would realize the wars were a bad idea and have actually added to turmoil in the world and bankrupted America. Now that perpetual wars a la 1984 are in vogue, there's no more war protesters anymore! What happened?
I am disappointed that people are not as vocal as they were in the 1960s and if people are protesting, the mainstream media has been ignoring them. For the past two years, millions of people marched against Monsanto but media ignored them. When young women in my college protested against the new draft laws for women, media ignored them. When voters were angry that Hilary and her friends suppressed votes and gave fake ballot to voters who supported Sanders, media ignored angry people in media. I stopped depending on news and media for sources of news all over the world. Everything is bought and sold. Hope there will be a revolution someday. Media might ignore them but people will go on and speak up.
ReplyDeleteI want to tell you one things I noticed from reading books and interviews, several activists of the 1960s missed those days were people could be vocal. They were disappointed when they saw passive protesters against Bush's Wars in the early 2000s rather than very active, communal protesters are those in the 1960s. I was a baby to a preschooler at that time so I missed out on their fun.
Some protesters of the 1960s became conservative while some chose to turn themselves in, spent time in jail, and got settled down. They are still liberal enough to protest again. Several tried to protest in the early 2000s only to see that younger people were passive. I think some people were punished severely in the 1960s or early 1970s that they chose not to engage in violent, disruptive student protests. Some people became traitors who chose to be conservative after they got their job and income. I miss the 1960s.
I am disappointed too. I point out negatives and positives of the 60s but speaking out was one of the positives. People have become so silenced, I've noticed a change even in 10 years. I agree the mainstream media ignores protesters and others. Some only have the internet to speak out. I have heard of Monsanto marches where they totally have banned those from the news. I should put caveat maybe there are still anti-war marches but they are being banned from the news.
DeleteI am very happy to hear that some women at your college protested the new draft laws. It seemed weird to me women would be sitting down, and accepting that even knowing they could be put into combat.
Its true much of the Sanders campaign was ignored and people KNEW even mainstream people not conspiracy people that Hillary was cooking the books big time and with her manipulative use of "super delegates" I and another friend will go to foreign newspapers to try and get "REAL NEWS" and I go alternative places online. It's hard sometimes getting the news now is piecing the puzzle pieces together. We can't depend on our media anymore. Things have become corrupt and I agree bought and sold. I left that church over their. America is in a precarious place. People are realizing the elections are a scam, it's not just the "tin-hatter" set.
I have met old activitists who missed those days. When I was war protesting above, with one old 60s guy, he was the real deal who hadn't deviated. I even know some of their new protests in my old town have moved into prison and justice issues. I protest the for profit prison system on online and FB. It is true many were disappointed by the war protests of the 2000s. I am sure some who are alive today have feelings of sadness that now perpetual wars are supported by the USA. Even as far as antiglobalism goes I remember the protests against that too where protesters in Seattle and other places were shut down.
I think some became conservative, or some went quiet, or had been in prison and burned out. Some of the protests went wrong too going into violence or disruption. Many wanted peace after the turbulent 60s and 70s. I do hope millennials speak out, maybe some are but its not in the news. I know the Occupy Wall Street movement had some roots of protest in it but got co-opted by Soros and pals and it petered out fast and nothing changed.
Ah the memories ...hey hey LBJ how many kids did you kill today. Once they figured out how to turn a profit like in prisons the common man is doomed.
ReplyDeleteYes I remember that saying too. I was born in 68 so did not see most of the 60s for myself. I do think the for profit prison system is a great evil. The industrial prison complex is out of control, so yes the common man is doomed on that one alone.
DeleteYou can say what you want about Nixon, in my house Peace with honor translated to me keeping my ass attached to the rest of my body.
ReplyDeleteUnderstand fully!
DeleteI have a comic written by a Vietnam vet, and it is mind boggling...talked to Vietnam vet neighbor, I have read and heard a lot about what that was like.