Re: Fw: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?

Re: Fw: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-10-20

Thanks, X, for putting into words more or less what I have been
thinking.  Political action is new for me, so I don't have any experiences
to draw from when trying to make this kind of decision.  But, in general, I
was thinking what we need most is to be effective.  I don't think many would
show up for a rally today, and a small number of people (who are getting
burned out already) would put a lot of effort into planning it for little
results.  Having been on the phone calling people the last time and reaching
very few, getting people there on Saturday with short notice is tough.
Also, how many times can you call up the media for a small event before they
stop showing up at all?  And what about our speakers list?  They'll
hesitate, too, if we overuse them ineffectively.  Basically, in order to get
more community support, I think education and outreach would be far more
effective than carrying signs on a Sat evening when there is no Capital
traffic, and maybe a 20 second photo opp on TV.

Now, if the escalation continues at a gradual pace, I think we certainly
could and should plan an action about it that's not specifically linked to a
single day's troop activity.  It seems like there are lots of other actions
going on that we could perhaps tie into, or make up our own reason, like one
month of bombing or something.

peace, X



>From: "X" <X>
>Reply-To: "X" <X>
>To: <X>
>CC: <X>
>Subject: Fw: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?
>Date: Sat, 20 Oct 2001 10:35:08 -0500
>
>I'm assuming that X intended this reply to go to the lists, not just to
>me, so I'm forwarding it along.  (If I'm wrong, I apologize, but with time
>being of the essence, I decided to take the chance.)
>
>X
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "X" <X>
>To: "X" <X>
>Sent: Saturday, October 20, 2001 9:44 AM
>Subject: RE: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?
>
>
> > Yes I have an opinion...  I think our reactionary plans to respond to
> > egregious actions on the part of the US are totally off the mark.
>Barring
> > deployment of tactical nukes to the field, employment of weapons of mass
> > destruction, or overt invasion with intent to occupy a country, nothing
>the
> > US does right now will upset enough of the people to help us gather a
>big
> > rally.  A big rally in my experience in Madison is over 1000 people.  A
> > medium size rally is between three or four hundred and a thousand.  How
>many
> > of us think we can even organize a medium size rally in response to an
>ill
> > defined set of "emergencies" that we intend to react against?  We need
>to
> > look deeper for a strategy and tactics that won't have our best people
> > burning out from so much work to so little result.  We need to define a
> > program of constant social pressure.  We need to keep the issues
>squarely
>in
> > front of the people 7 by 24.  And I think we need to do this without
> > alienating and polarizing people.
> >
> > I think the art event planned for next week is wonderful because it is
> > independent of CNN ("all anthrax all the time" as X says).  How much
> > tabling do we have the resources to support, week in and week out at
>both
> > unions?  How many other "vigils" like the Quaker sponsored ones on
>Monday
> > and Friday can we organize and support?  A few people here and there all
>the
> > time is far more effective than poorly attended rallies held in response
>to
> > ill defined emergencies.
> >
> > I'm not saying all of our rally activities to date have been ineffective
>or
> > poorly attended... far from it!  But organizers who can help to channel
>a
> > spontaneous response from the people with a rally will be far more
>effective
> > than organizers who attempt to drum up a response.
> >
> > I think we need to refine our approaches:  hold rallies that are well
> > planned and/or responsive to a clear need; work with education and
>outreach
> > to see that tables are planned and manned, ummm... personed; organize in
>the
> > community around people who may want to respond to the war with peaceful
> > activity, but could give a rats ass regarding abstruse economic issues
>like
> > G8 summits.  Want to educate these people?  Give them time and good
> > examples.
> >
> > Comments?  Thoughts?
> >
> > -X-
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: X
> > [mailto:X]On Behalf Of
> > X
> > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 11:35 PM
> > To: X
> > Cc: X
> > Subject: Re: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?
> >
> >
> > Aaaargh.
> >
> > Part of me says "If we have to ask whether we should hold an emergency
> > rally, we shouldn't hold it."
> >
> > The other part of me feels like a frog in a pot of water on the stove.
>If
> > the heat is turned up gradually enough, the frog never knows when to
>jump,
> > until it's too late.
> >
> > I realize that's not very helpful.  Anyone else have an opinion?
> >
> > X
> >
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "X" <X>
> > To: <X>
> > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 10:34 PM
> > Subject: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?
> >
> >
> > > all (this is really a response to X's friday morning
> > > call to potential action/questions and marina's friday
> > > night hey it looks like we should at least do a picket
> > > line sat afternoon emails):
> > >
> > > if we are going to do this tomorrow, as X is
> > > suggesting, i am out, as i have to work, but pls keep
> > > me posted, as i will then start the arts chain going.
> > > do we want same signs or more? X has sticks and i
> > > have cardboard, etc.
> > >
> > > i wonder if, and this is just a wonder, having even a
> > > picket when the action is not being well-publicized is
> > > a good idea. i know that there is much going on in
> > > this war, like all other us "actions" which is
> > > underwritten dramatically, and we need to call
> > > attention to it, however, folks are more likely to
> > > understand what we are calling for and call with us if
> > > it is of a dramatic nature. subjective nature, i
> > > suppose. as we all agreed at the last meeting, from
> > > here on out it is much more subjective than just the
> > > bombing beginning.
> > >
> > > regardless, i will pass the word if i hear back from
> > > more folks.
> > >
> > > thanks,
> > > X
> > >
> > > --- X <X> wrote:
> > > > Hi all,
> > > >
> > > > I'm back from work and the media coverage is
> > > > different than this
> > > > morning. This morning, TV had reported it as
> > > > "deploying ground troops."
> > > > Now the media is characterizing it as "a handful of
> > > > U.S. special forces."
> > > > Given that description, it looks like we do not need
> > > > to employ our
> > > > emergency response today. What a relief!  However, I
> > > > think we need to
> > > > be READY if troops are sent in. Given the quick
> > > > nature in which this
> > > > may happen, I opt for planning our strategy now so
> > > > we don't have to
> > > > scramble later. I think a picket line would be the
> > > > most expedient course,
> > > > especially given the fact that we've already had
> > > > numerous
> > > > rallies. Also, a picket line is a lot less work to
> > > > organize than a rally.
> > > > Rallies involve amplification, multiple speakers,
> > > > musicians, etc. We would
> > > > need the following to be ready if we decide on a
> > > > picket line: press release,
> > > > press contacts, bullhorn or portable sound system
> > > > (or both), picket signs,
> > > > chant sheets, and MAPC literature. These tasks cross
> > > > over multiple
> > > > committees so I think we ought to decide now what we
> > > > want to do and
> > > > start preparing within the committees--then we won't
> > > > be in a crisis
> > > > mode later.
> > > >
> > > > Thoughts?
> > > >
> > > > Peace,
> > > > X
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > From: "X" <X>
> > > > To: <X>;
> > > > <X>
> > > > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 10:31 AM
> > > > Subject: [MAPC-coord] Re: [MAPC-action] 5pm Action
> > > > Protesting Ground Troops
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > CNN is reporting a small deployment of Special
> > > > Forces ground troops,
> > > > > probably intended to locate targets for air
> > > > strikes rather than to engage
> > > > in
> > > > > combat.  Fox News is reporting three teams of a
> > > > dozen troops each.  One of
> > > > > them reported that there had been numerous prior
> > > > sightings of U.S. troops,
> > > > > but that this was the first official confirmation.
> > > >  It's not the top story
> > > > > either place.
> > > > >
> > > > > My recollection from the CC discussions was that
> > > > an emergency response
> > > > would
> > > > > be automatic in the event of a non-Special Forces
> > > > ground invasion or a
> > > > > *major* deployment of Special Forces, but that a
> > > > small Special Forces
> > > > > deployment would not necessarily trigger an
> > > > emergency action.
> > > > >
> > > > > I would also note that, in the two hours since X
> > > > posted this, there has
> > > > > been no other discussion of an action on any of
> > > > the MAPC lists.  So I
> > > > don't
> > > > > get the impression that other folks in MAPC have
> > > > interpreted this as
> > > > > requiring immediate action.
> > > > >
> > > > > My own feeling -- perhaps influenced by the fact
> > > > that I'm sick and can't
> > > > > help out regardless -- is that this is not a
> > > > significant military
> > > > escalation
> > > > > and is probably just a public acknowledgment of
> > > > what has been happening on
> > > > > the ground all along.
> > > > >
> > > > > X
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > > From: "X" <X>
> > > > > To: <X>;
> > > > <X>
> > > > > Sent: Friday, October 19, 2001 7:53 AM
> > > > > Subject: [MAPC-action] 5pm Action Protesting
> > > > Ground Troops
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > > The media is saying that the US has sent ground
> > > > troops into Afghanistan.
> > > > > We
> > > > > > had planned on a 5pm action on the capitol in
> > > > response to this. I think
> > > > we
> > > > > > should go ahead, but given all the other things
> > > > we are doing, we should
> > > > > keep
> > > > > > it simple.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I propose we just have a picket line. The
> > > > following things need to be
> > > > > done:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Get an announcement out to WORT to build the
> > > > action.
> > > > > > Get a bullhorn.
> > > > > > Put together a sheet of chants.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > What do you think?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Unfortunately, I am walking out the door to go
> > > > to work, so I can't help
> > > > on
> > > > > > this. Given the fact its a work day, I suspect
> > > > alot of other people are
> > > > in
> > > > > > the same boat. Can someone step up and run with
> > > > this?
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks.
> > > > > > X
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > > action@madpeace.org mailing list
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-action
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > > coordination@madpeace.org
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-cc
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > _______________________________________________
> > > > coordination@madpeace.org
> > > >
> > > http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-cc
> > >
> > >
> > > =====
> > > X madison wi usa
> > >                               X
> > > X
> > >
> > > book o the week: the archivist by martha cooley
> > >
> > > __________________________________________________
> > > Do You Yahoo!?
> > > Make a great connection at Yahoo! Personals.
> > > http://personals.yahoo.com
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > coordination@madpeace.org
> > > http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-cc
> > >
> >
> >
> > _______________________________________________
> > coordination@madpeace.org
> > http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-cc
> >
>
>
>_______________________________________________
>coordination@madpeace.org
>http://lists.OpenSoftwareServices.com/mailman/listinfo/madpeace-cc

Saturday, October 20, 2001 12:04 PM

Re: Fw: [MAPC-coord] action, no action?