If indeed "the era of political demonstration is back," then the march tomorrow, Saturday, April 29 2006, strikes me as a hugely significant demonstration. Jessica Wilson has the details. In New York City, people will be marching for peace, justice, and democracy. At stake is the upcoming use of military force against Iran, quite possibly including the use of tactical nuclear weapons, as a result of the "crisis" engineered by the Bush Administration. Could a massive demonstration have an effect on policy? Let's hope so.
On Saturday, there will also be a demonstration at Rice University (Houston) calling for action in Uganda, where children are regularly kidnapped, beaten, raped, and forced to participate in the LRA's slaughter of Ugandan villagers. A rally is planned for Sunday in Washington, DC (among other locations), calling for the US to stop the genocide in Darfur. For details on any of the demonstrations, see Professor Wilson's post at her blog (or at Leiter Reports), and follow through to the links to the various reports and websites. I would encourage any like-minded readers to participate, if possible--and to report back in the comments section!
Thanks Joe, for linking to Professor Wilson's announcement.
My friends and I came of age in the turbulent sixties and seventies of student protests and sit-ins (which sometimes got a bit out of hand, I must confess). I used to wonder if my own children who grew up in the placid nineties would develop the same kind of global awareness that my generation did. (I am glad to say they have). It is therefore heartening to see that the younger generation has been awakened to the need for activism on behalf of peace, justice and democratic values.
Bush, himself a child of the sixties, eschewed the protests but partook of its recreational libertinism. It is therefore quite ironic that it his Neanderthal administration that has rekindled the spirit of mass rallies in the US. It is amazing that the carnage in Darfur continues unabated while we opt for unnecessary mid- eastern misadventure(s).
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | April 28, 2006 at 06:56 PM
Ruchira, I also posted about this at Liberal Avenger, and it's funny that you mention the generational thing, because the same thought occurred to me when I added the updates about the Uganda and Darfur demonstrations:
I’m curious to see how this all will turn out. If it’s large enough, who knows? My generation hasn’t really grown up with public demonstrations--I think we tend to be cynical and not believe that anything of this sort can have a real influence on the world. On the other hand, even people my age recall the Vietnam protests, if only by images seen on television--and of course there was the recent march of 500,000 people in Los Angeles (immigration).
And of course, the irony you point is unsurpassed, as is sadly typical of the Bush II Years.
Posted by: Joe | April 28, 2006 at 07:03 PM
Hi Ruchira,
Ok. Whats the issues if the Iranian Government goes? Are they a popular government? Are they not a raving group dangerous of Mullahs who seem have managed to keep Iran in poverty? I am not sure if US will drop nuclear weapons but I am sure they would-if they had access to it, atleast thats what my impression from their president. I know there are plenty of such regimes around, Saudi Arabia comes to mind, but let's have one less.
No?
regards
p.s Peace marches? mmm. Ok. Lets see.
Posted by: confused | May 03, 2006 at 10:25 PM
Confused:
The awful Mullahs in Iran are crazy no doubt, but crazy like a fox. I doubt that they will have the courage (or the stupidity) to launch a nuclear attack on anyone, least of all the US. Their saber rattling is just that - they want to be major players in the middle east. And yes, there are many other countries we have to watch out for. The most troubling in my opinion, is Pakistan.
On the other hand, if we attack Iran with bunker busters (nuclear or the conventional variety), we will do infinite harm on their civilian population a majority of which is young (26% under the age of 14 and a median age of 24.8 years). I would love to see the last of the fundamentalists in Iran (and everywhere else in the world). But I think the Iranians themselves ought to decide their own fate. Ironically, we have strengthened the hands of the mullahs by our Iraqi adventure. The Shia dominated government there is likely to be much more friendly with Iran's religious bigots than Saddam ever was.
If you have the time, please read Professor Juan Cole (Informed Comment). He explains things much better than I can.
P.S. Street rallies are a good way to bring attention of the government to what citizens are thinking.
Also, I noted with some interest that you have Manoj Joshi on your blog roll. I know him very well!
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | May 04, 2006 at 12:29 AM
Thanks for the link Ruchira. Much appreciated.
That was a dirty trick on Hitchens part. Though I found using the pictures of the Fallen a little cheap, every war however righteous will have suffering and death. That can never be a reason not to go to war, if the situation demands.
Coming back to your response, I am not sure when Iranians will rise against their regime, its not so easy as the Chinese example proves. It is also a little dangerous argument because that means the West should never have interfered in Serbia or the shameless silence about the genocide in Darfur(kudos to Kristoff for atleast following the story) is justified.
Really? Manoj Joshi has always been one of favorite columnists, he makes a lot of sense.
Anyways, you have been added to my blogroll now, I will provide the pseudo liberal touch here. :)
Posted by: confused | May 04, 2006 at 01:45 PM
http://riverbendblog.blogspot.com/2006_05_01_riverbendblog_archive.html#114651778124834749
Very Interesting points made.
Posted by: confused | May 04, 2006 at 02:06 PM
Confused:
I too am very much conflicted about when (and how) is the right time to intercede militarily in another nation's affairs. Definitely, there are situations which demand that.
In 1971, India's role in the liberation of Bangladesh from the atrocities of the West Pakistani junta was a noble effort. I saw that happen and I was proud of the role that Indira Gandhi and the Indian military played. (Soon afterwards in 1975, Mrs. Gandhi betrayed the voters by her authoritarian behavior.)
You are probably new to my blog. So perhaps you take me to be a blanket pacifist. I am not. I fully supported the Afghan invasion and the overthrow of the Taliban. I was hoping that the whole world would concentrate on rooting out the brutal Islamic fascists. I am very angry about Bush-Cheney-Rumsfeld's cynical sleight of hand that has mired us in this mess in Iraq instead. We needed to clean out Afghanistan (and Pakistan) which continue to be a thorn on the side of the civilized world.
Serbia and Kosovo were okay too. Darfur and many parts of sub - Saharan Africa are crying out for international intervention. But we are supremely indifferent.
Iran has not done anything on the scale of Darfur. Yes, they have a very bad, menacing government whom we don't trust. That is a very thin excuse to go to war. (We don't like Cuba and Venezuela either. Soon Bolivia will join the list. Evo Morales plans to nationalize the country's oil market.) There is no evidence of genocide or famine (except of the mind and soul) in Iran although there are human rights violations like in China and most of the Islamic world. Should we then reform all of these ideologically repugnant nations with warfare? I don't think so.
Manoj Joshi is my brother in law - my sister's husband. Notice that he is on my blogroll and I on his. I too like his columns although he and I disagree on many things - politely of course. :-)
Posted by: Ruchira Paul | May 04, 2006 at 02:26 PM