VegNod & Ms. Manners Wade in on Protest Etiquette

January 18, 2008

Vegetarian Network of Dallas' philosophy of demonstrating is that we conduct ourselves as ladies and gentlemen. We seek to behave as people that others will respect and wish to emulate. I believe that such conduct is the best way to influence the public in an educational demonstration. I also believe that we must subordinate our egos when we demonstrate and not let our own needs or emotions sway us. We must be there for the animals only. For instance, when a protester berates someone whom s/he believes is an animal abuser (such as a circus handler), the AR advocate could be inciting the handler to take out his resultant anger on animals over which he holds sway. When an AR advocate unleashes her/his ire at such a low-life, who retains control over animals, the AR advocate may feel justified, but it is the animals who will likely pay. Please remember this when you go to demonstrations. Believe it or not, a fellow

AR advocate recently told me that Vegetarian Network of Dallas demonstrations are not "loud" enough to be "hard core" AR demonstrations. While we are not loud, we do distribute many, many educational AR leaflets. Plus, we have had "naked" women (who are my personal heroes) participate like at Downtown Neiman Marcus on Fur Free Friday, which Vegetarian Network of Dallas co-sponsored with IDA. Doesn't that count for something?Sigh. Oh well. One can not please everyone. I continue to believe that one of the best ways to influence people is to open their minds through persuasion. Apparently I have an ally in this belief. Who could it be but Judith Martin, the columnist known as Ms. Manners! And, will wonders never cease? Ms. Martin has even written a column on protest etiquette, which I have pasted below. She makes some good points and has a pithy prose style, so

enjoy.Thank you. MargaretVegetarian Network of Dallaswww.VegNod.comhttp://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/13799961.htmlMiss Manners: Demonstrate etiquette, even in protests Last update: January 15, 2008 - 3:17 PM Dear Miss Manners: At the risk of sounding political, and that is the furthest thing I wish to do -- is protest mutually exclusive from etiquette? This dilemma has come up many times during the past few years, and it has caused some heated discussions with my friends. My position, I could be very wrong, is that I don't mind protesting. Sometimes, I truly do not like the manner in which people choose to protest. For instance, with large graphic pictures and swearing; however, living in a free society, I've learned to accept this. What I do have trouble with, and this is where my friends and I disagree, is how some protesters engage with the public. For example, giving children graphic pamphlets,

telling children they have bad or abusive parents, calling individuals names, commenting on people's apparel, barring people from entering a facility and grabbing at people. I've seen all of these. My friends say there is no room for etiquette in protest. I think when dealing with people in public one should at least try not to be rude to them. Who is correct? Gentle Reader: Of course protest, like every other human activity, requires etiquette. Have your friends never heard of civil disobedience? The saddest thing about using rude tactics is that they damage the causes for which they are used. Rather than the targets thinking that they are being shown a way in which the world would be improved, they focus on the immediate way in which they are being mistreated. These people may claim to want to make the world better, their victims conclude, but are actively making it worse. Miss Manners would think it obvious that in

order to persuade people about an issue of justice they had not considered, you must open their minds to your arguments. People who are humiliated shut down and turn defensive. But when they see orderly picket lines or sit-ins, or hear speeches or read leaflets and articles by people who seem to be well-intentioned and reasonable, they just might stop to think. "Miss Manners" is Judith Martin of the Washington Post. Address etiquette questions (in black or blue-black ink on white writing paper) to Miss Manners, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Av., New York, NY 10016.

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January 18, 2008

Please note that I specified this is how I believe DFW " educational

demonstrations " are most effective. I do what works. Other venues

call for other tactics.

Also, VegNod's motto is " stronger together. " I didn't select this

motto because I thought it catchy. There are too few of " us " at

present and a whole lot of " them. " We must put aside our differences and unite

to effectively give voice to the voiceless. Otherwise, it's divide and conquer.

If that happens, it is the animals that will loose.

I welcome conversation on this topic. Thank you. Margaret

, Margaret Morin

<dogs_good wrote:

>

> Vegetarian Network of Dallas' philosophy of demonstrating is that we

conduct ourselves as ladies and gentlemen. We seek to behave as

people that others will respect and wish to emulate. I believe that

such conduct is the best way to influence the public in an educational

demonstration.

>

> I also believe that we must subordinate our egos when we demonstrate

and not let our own needs or emotions sway us. We must be there for

the animals only. For instance, when a protester berates someone whom

s/he believes is an animal abuser (such as a circus handler), the AR

advocate could be inciting the handler to take out his resultant anger

on animals over which he holds sway.

>

> When an AR advocate unleashes her/his ire at such a low-life, who

retains control over animals, the AR advocate may feel justified, but

it is the animals who will likely pay. Please remember this when you

go to demonstrations.

>

> Believe it or not, a fellow AR advocate recently told me that

Vegetarian Network of Dallas demonstrations are not " loud " enough to

be " hard core " AR demonstrations. While we are not loud, we do

distribute many, many educational AR leaflets. Plus, we have had

" naked " women (who are my personal heroes) participate like at

Downtown Neiman Marcus on Fur Free Friday, which Vegetarian Network of

Dallas co-sponsored with IDA. Doesn't that count for something?

>

> Sigh. Oh well. One can not please everyone.

>

> I continue to believe that one of the best ways to influence people

is to open their minds through persuasion. Apparently I have an ally

in this belief. Who could it be but Judith Martin, the columnist

known as Ms. Manners!

>

> And, will wonders never cease? Ms. Martin has even written a column

on protest etiquette, which I have pasted below. She makes some good

points and has a pithy prose style, so enjoy.

>

> Thank you.

> Margaret

> Vegetarian Network of Dallas

> www.VegNod.com

>

> http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/13799961.html

>

> Miss Manners: Demonstrate etiquette, even in protests

Last update: January

15, 2008 - 3:17 PM

>

var clickURL =

" http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/13799961.html?pt=y " ;

>

> Dear Miss Manners: At the risk of sounding political, and that is

the furthest thing I wish to do -- is protest mutually exclusive from

etiquette? This dilemma has come up many times during the past few

years, and it has caused some heated discussions with my friends. My

position, I could be very wrong, is that I don't mind protesting.

Sometimes, I truly do not like the manner in which people choose to

protest. For instance, with large graphic pictures and swearing;

however, living in a free society, I've learned to accept this.

> What I do have trouble with, and this is where my friends and I

disagree, is how some protesters engage with the public. For example,

giving children graphic pamphlets, telling children they have bad or

abusive parents, calling individuals names, commenting on people's

apparel, barring people from entering a facility and grabbing at

people. I've seen all of these.

> My friends say there is no room for etiquette in protest. I think

when dealing with people in public one should at least try not to be

rude to them. Who is correct?

> Gentle Reader: Of course protest, like every other human activity,

requires etiquette. Have your friends never heard of civil disobedience?

> The saddest thing about using rude tactics is that they damage the

causes for which they are used. Rather than the targets thinking that

they are being shown a way in which the world would be improved, they

focus on the immediate way in which they are being mistreated. These

people may claim to want to make the world better, their victims

conclude, but are actively making it worse.

> Miss Manners would think it obvious that in order to persuade

people about an issue of justice they had not considered, you must

open their minds to your arguments. People who are humiliated shut

down and turn defensive.

> But when they see orderly picket lines or sit-ins, or hear speeches

or read leaflets and articles by people who seem to be

well-intentioned and reasonable, they just might stop to think.

> " Miss Manners " is Judith Martin of the Washington Post. Address

etiquette questions (in black or blue-black ink on white writing

paper) to Miss Manners, c/o United Media, 200 Madison Av., New York,

NY 10016.

>

> Looking for last minute shopping deals? Find them fast with

Search.

>

January 18, 2008

Margaret,

I am not sure who is having "issues" with the current etiquette of Vegetarian Network of Dallas but, I am sure it is their issue and not the group's. Perhaps it is part of the maturation process but, I have come to understand the truth in the adage, "You catch more flies with honey than vinegar." The "flies" that we are trying to convert can actually become beautiful butterflies in our cause. Beating them up serves our ego and alienates them. I have witnessed fur bearing, affluent individuals, who found out the truth about the cruelty of their apparel and become exemplary spokesmen for animal welfare.

I personally have engaged hunters, many times, in discussions about their "sport." I have gently planted seeds of doubt in hopes that individuals will reconsider their positions regarding the exploitation of animals. However, sometimes we do have to step up the heat. Once again, doing so civilly encourages others to listen to our concerns. And remember, others are watching us and our behavior.

Margaret, thank you for your wisdom. You are on target with your advice about looking at whom we are serving...our egos or the welfare of animals.

Marilyn M

Clarkston, MI

" Think occasionally of the suffering of which you spare yourself the sight. -Albert Schweitzer "