Microwaving Crowds

[Guest guest]

Yes, the " boys with their new toys " want to use them, and will use

them. Do mass protests accomplish anything these days? I very

seriously have my doubts. Mass protests worldwide about the Iraq war

was satisfying to participants (myself included), who went home

feeling they did something worthwhile, but clearly swayed none of our

leaders. In my city, thousands turn out for antiwar demonstrations,

with one planned quite soon in Vancouver. Yet, more troops went to

Afganistan from Canada quite recently. Considering the microwave

weapons, and police eagerness to use them, with unknown effects, we

must all consider that mass protests in the streets may well be an

unworkable strategy from the past. Protests did nothing in APEC, nor

any of the WTO meetings. We collectively need a new strategy. Fair

weather, weekend protests are one thing, but would all these people

be willing to stay home from work, leave the streets like ghost

towns? Refuse to shop? Empty bank accounts? Cancell Christmas?

Stop the newspaper subscription? Perhaps there's some Greek elders,

who recall the Turkish occupation, when citizens painted everything

the Greek national colours? Do I have that right? It was passive

resistance, and perhaps not so dangerous when everyone does it. We

need new solutions for protest, which police cannot deal with.....so,

where's the crowd? Not a soul on the streets. Economic activity

dies in December, as people go to church instead of the malls, and

tell the kids there will be no new toys for Christmas, so a family

somewhere does not get blown up....and the kids send hand-made cards

to wherever in the world needs the spirit of Christmas the most,

feeling they've made a contribution. Mass protests are an outlet for

concerned people, a safety valve, where we express ourselves, and our

leaders still do whatever they've been told by the PTB, that they

must. We must have a better strategy. Steve