Reason interviews some folks at the "Funk the War" protest.
http://reason.tv/video/show/350.html

Having been to several anti-war protests myself, I don't think they're being unfair at all. These actually are the people that show up (just ask terpball). That's one reason I stopped going.

My favorite, by far, is the guy that says we need to abandon society and go "back to living in tee-pees". Hahaha brilliant.

3/26/2008 12:57:08 PM

TEE-PEES IS RACIST

3/26/2008 12:57:30 PM

LOL, my favorite quote from that video.

Quote :

"We don't have faith in the government, but yet I believe in social healthcare *tsk* "

So true, *tsk tsk tsk* ... didn't think about that one did ya?!

3/26/2008 1:45:52 PM

Yeah, that sort of thing is what I'm talking about when I said the "peace" movement in this nation is largely ineffective. Instead of presenting a rational, focused, argument against this particular military action, it presents the viewer with a scattered and, thus, largely ineffective treatise against the United States as a whole.

3/26/2008 1:54:11 PM

Quote :

"TEE-PEES IS RACIST"

This might be a reference to my favorite NCSU Shack-A-Thon moment ever.

I can't decide if I'd rather be stuck on a Greyhound bus next to one of those people in the video, or anyone from Reason magazine.

3/26/2008 6:36:27 PM

^^ That's why I think protests on the whole (for any reason) are largely ineffective at best and counterproductive at worst. They tend to bring out the extremists from the woodwork that have no real interest in your cause, they just want a reason to be destructive, or a crowd to push their views on. They're there to cash in on your publicity, and on the whole, they just make things seem scattered and extreme as opposed to focused and rational.

A successful protest needs two things, which most are lacking: A strong charismatic leader, who is clearly the spokesperson representing the views being expressed for this protest and who can convey those views to all people as if he were on their side and not an antagonist.

Second they need a strong adverse reaction to any usurpers and tagalongs. When the crowds get out of hand or lose focus or start championing other causes, someone or a group of some ones needs to bring them back in line. This seems an anathema to the protest (especially one about freedoms) but it helps to remember that protests are not about every view, just the one at hand.

3/26/2008 8:25:30 PM

^ Tactically speaking, I'm sure that's correct.

However, I also strongly support any group of subversives complaining about the powers that be. That's good, honest fun.

3/26/2008 8:37:18 PM

Blind dissent is just as moronic as blind obedience.

3/26/2008 10:00:39 PM

^ Uh, who said anything about blind dissent?

3/26/2008 10:01:50 PM

^

Quote :

"However, I also strongly support any group of subversives complaining about the powers that be. That's good, honest fun."

3/26/2008 10:02:37 PM

I really should respond by quoting myself, but I won't.

I didn't say anything about blind dissent in that passage.

All said subversives have grievances.

They're countless reasons to oppose the status quo, most of them solid.

Especially in the context of anti-war protest, I wouldn't like see much I'd disagree with.

3/26/2008 10:10:04 PM

3/26/2008 11:14:26 PM

I would totally give it to the tepee dude.

3/27/2008 6:35:22 AM

Are they fighting a war against good hygeine too?

3/27/2008 7:41:06 AM