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

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

born-digital

email

yes

no

2001-10-19

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 x'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

Friday, October 19, 2001 11:35 PM

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