I'm in Portland, ANSWER Can't Get to Me...
Mar. 4th, 2003 01:46 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
varropdxI'm a fast reader, but it took me a long time to read this Michael Lerner article. (Thanks, Sarah.)
Whoa. (Since ANSWER is NOT in charge of the Portland rallies, maybe Michael Lerner will come up to Portland? We generally have the third-largest turnouts in the country...)
Another problem I've seen with people is a sense of powerlessness, no matter what their station in life. Protesting and discussing the folly of Shrub's war in public is a way to defuse the powerlessness of one person....I know Shrub, or my Senators/Representatives will not listen to me. If there are overwhelming numbers of people in the streets or contacting government officials, they're forced to acknowledge us, even if they aren't swayed.
People in power are used to getting their own way. Take-it-or-leave it commercial dealing; controlling access to markets for products, artistic works, and services; and setting agendas towards the lowest common denominator or a specific higher benchmark is the way they operate. If you use file-sharing services to sample music before buying, you're stealing CDs. If you prefer local stores to chains, you're an "elitist." If you bring up valid concerns about attacking Iraq, you hate America and aren't concerned about the welfare of military personnel and their families.
Bull. If we hated America, we'd *leave* it and never look back. My dissent is concern that this country, which my ancestors *chose* to come to nearly 100 years ago, is becoming the autocratic bully they fled.
Whoa. (Since ANSWER is NOT in charge of the Portland rallies, maybe Michael Lerner will come up to Portland? We generally have the third-largest turnouts in the country...)
Another problem I've seen with people is a sense of powerlessness, no matter what their station in life. Protesting and discussing the folly of Shrub's war in public is a way to defuse the powerlessness of one person....I know Shrub, or my Senators/Representatives will not listen to me. If there are overwhelming numbers of people in the streets or contacting government officials, they're forced to acknowledge us, even if they aren't swayed.
People in power are used to getting their own way. Take-it-or-leave it commercial dealing; controlling access to markets for products, artistic works, and services; and setting agendas towards the lowest common denominator or a specific higher benchmark is the way they operate. If you use file-sharing services to sample music before buying, you're stealing CDs. If you prefer local stores to chains, you're an "elitist." If you bring up valid concerns about attacking Iraq, you hate America and aren't concerned about the welfare of military personnel and their families.
Bull. If we hated America, we'd *leave* it and never look back. My dissent is concern that this country, which my ancestors *chose* to come to nearly 100 years ago, is becoming the autocratic bully they fled.
