[thechat] No lies about the dead! (was: What about the economy?)

Kevin Stevens kjs at ratking.co.uk
Sun Aug 19 10:02:32 CDT 2001


> What doesn't change is the fact that
> anyone who goes someplace to "protest" knowing that there is a very high
> likelihood of serious violence, whether started by the cops or by thugs in
> the crowd, is still a lunatic.

So what should people do then Ron? Sit at home, do nothing and hope that all
the nasty things go away? Protests and boycotts are one of the few ways that
the public has of expressing their disapproval to the powers that be. I've
been on several protest marches, a couple of which have ended in violence,
because I wanted to show support for the cause and/or how much I disagree
with certain policies.
OK, I'm not brave enough to run off and join the Zapatistas or lay down in
front of a tank like the students in Tianamen square, but there is strength
in numbers and it just needs a few thousand people like me to make their
feelings felt publicly for the government to at least register that there is
something wrong. And what happens if nobody makes an effort to do this? Here
is a quote from Pastor Martin Niemoeller who spent over 8 years in a
concentration camp...

First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out, because I was
not a Communist.
Then they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out, because I was
not a Socialist.
Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out, because I
was not a trade unionist.
Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out, because I was not a
Jew.
Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak out for me.

And I'm sure that is as true today in some areas of the world as it was
then. So, I'm a "lunatic" for wanting to demonstrate against anything I find
abhorrently wrong? Well, just disregard this e-mail then because I'm
obviously raving and not of sound mind.

Kev
kjs at ratking.co.uk





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