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How Can We Stop the US War Machine
After-protest meeting to discuss how to build an anti-imperialist movement in the US
HOW CAN WE STOP THE U.S. WAR MACHINE?
Sat April 20, 4:30pm The Women's Building, SF
Come to this panel discussion after the anti-war demonstration in San
Francisco*
Since 9-11, the Bush and his bi-partisan backers in Congress have declared
war on the world. They've killed thousands of civilians in Afghanistan, sent
troops to the Philippines, Yemen, and the Republic of George and
dramatically stepped up support for the US-puppet regime's war in Colombia.
Bush gave Ariel Sharon the green light to launch the full scale invasion of
the Palestinian towns and cities and massacre hundreds of civilians and
resistance fighters. And to top it all off, the US is clearly preparing for
a new invasion of Iraq.
But resistance is growing. 1,000,000 took to the streets of Morocco, 20,000
protested outside the US embassy in Lebanon, and Cairo students fought
police for their right to protest in support of the Palestinian struggle. In
Europe tens of thousands have demonstrated against Bush's war from Rome to
London to Barcelona. And students at several Bay Area universities have held
large protests and civil disobedience actions to demand an end to US aid to
Israel.
These protests are an excellent start, but what will it really take to
prevent the US government from launching more wars? How did the anti-war
movement in the 1960's get big enough to frighten the government in to
withdrawing from Vietnam? Is it possible to recreate that success? If so,
how? And, why didn't the anti-war movements of the 1960's put an end to all
wars? Understanding these questions is not an optional extra as we protest
Bush's new wars, but an absolute necessity, if we get rid of the US war
machine, once and for all.
Come participate in a discussion led by:
CRISTINA VASQUEZ
Colombian-born social justice activist and Director of the SF Mission based
Companeros del Barrio.
EYAD KISHAWI
Member of the San Francisco American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and
the Free Palestine Alliance.
TODD CHRETIEN
Activist for the International Socialist Organization.
SATURDAY APRIL 20TH, 4:30 P M (after the anti-war protest)
The Women's Building, 3543 - 18th St., SF (between Valencia & Guerrero)
Meeting sponsored by the International Socialist Organization [
http://www.internationalsocialist.org ] , publisher of Socialist Worker [
http://www.socialistworker.org ]. Cal l 510.333.4604 for more info.
*The anti-war protest meets at 11 a.m. at Dolores Park (19th Street &
Dolores Street). March to downtown Civic Center for a rally at 1.
Sat April 20, 4:30pm The Women's Building, SF
Come to this panel discussion after the anti-war demonstration in San
Francisco*
Since 9-11, the Bush and his bi-partisan backers in Congress have declared
war on the world. They've killed thousands of civilians in Afghanistan, sent
troops to the Philippines, Yemen, and the Republic of George and
dramatically stepped up support for the US-puppet regime's war in Colombia.
Bush gave Ariel Sharon the green light to launch the full scale invasion of
the Palestinian towns and cities and massacre hundreds of civilians and
resistance fighters. And to top it all off, the US is clearly preparing for
a new invasion of Iraq.
But resistance is growing. 1,000,000 took to the streets of Morocco, 20,000
protested outside the US embassy in Lebanon, and Cairo students fought
police for their right to protest in support of the Palestinian struggle. In
Europe tens of thousands have demonstrated against Bush's war from Rome to
London to Barcelona. And students at several Bay Area universities have held
large protests and civil disobedience actions to demand an end to US aid to
Israel.
These protests are an excellent start, but what will it really take to
prevent the US government from launching more wars? How did the anti-war
movement in the 1960's get big enough to frighten the government in to
withdrawing from Vietnam? Is it possible to recreate that success? If so,
how? And, why didn't the anti-war movements of the 1960's put an end to all
wars? Understanding these questions is not an optional extra as we protest
Bush's new wars, but an absolute necessity, if we get rid of the US war
machine, once and for all.
Come participate in a discussion led by:
CRISTINA VASQUEZ
Colombian-born social justice activist and Director of the SF Mission based
Companeros del Barrio.
EYAD KISHAWI
Member of the San Francisco American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee and
the Free Palestine Alliance.
TODD CHRETIEN
Activist for the International Socialist Organization.
SATURDAY APRIL 20TH, 4:30 P M (after the anti-war protest)
The Women's Building, 3543 - 18th St., SF (between Valencia & Guerrero)
Meeting sponsored by the International Socialist Organization [
http://www.internationalsocialist.org ] , publisher of Socialist Worker [
http://www.socialistworker.org ]. Cal l 510.333.4604 for more info.
*The anti-war protest meets at 11 a.m. at Dolores Park (19th Street &
Dolores Street). March to downtown Civic Center for a rally at 1.
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IMC Network
thanks.
Asiam, Florence - Italy
thanks.
Asiam, Florence - Italy
March, rally, shout, wave signs.. then go home and talk about feeling empowered.
Meanwhile, Jenin is a mass grave. Palestinian *children* throw *rocks* at *Merkava tanks*.
And we? We wave signs. And at the first mention of taking real action.. of militancy, of armed retalliation against our so-called leaders who provide the money and the weapons for this bloodbath, what do we hear?
From within our own ranks, "we're non-violent! We musn't sink to their level! An eye for an eye.." Endless moralizing drivel.
These people are fighting for their lives. They're choosing to die on their feet than live on their knees.
But America?
We don't even possess the intenstinal fortitude to ADMIT that we are cowards. We won't even admit that we fear our own police if we truly stand up and defend the innocent by attacking our leaders. Palestinians throw rocks because that's all they can get - we only throw tantrums, because we're not willing to get hurt.
So much for nobility. So much for solidarity. So much for the innocent. We're sorry y'all are being killed en masse, but you see if I did anything SERIOUS I'd.. gasp!.. get arrested or something, and that might make me miss my Tues morning yoga class. Besides, Im afraid of jail - it might be cold, and people might be mean to me. Waaaaah.
I'll just sit here in America, voting for politicians whom I know either can't win or won't listen. I'll just sit here, talking to friends about the latest newswire gossip, and reveling in the safety of my righteous armchair anger.
Fear me, for my name is Couch Potato and one day I and my kind shall rise up against the evil of the world.. assuming it doesn't look like rain out, because that might warp the head on my drum and then I'll be out of tune at next week's Drum Circle for Global Justice.
AMERICA NO LONGER HAS A SOUL! If it did, the White House would already be in flames.
And exactly what is stopping you from detonating YOUR bomb belt in a crowded Burger King?
I have to go now, I'm late for my yoga class.
most of the middle east protests are driven by islamic extremists who exist under nondemocratic nations ran by militant regimes...
i believe palestine has a right to exist and fight for freedom. but i do not support extrimists, or see those protests in line with my desire to see a collective power structure...
that being said, throwing rocks in amerikkka won't work. why? well, small amounts of research shows that any kind of violent resistance against the military state will result even more restrictions on our freedom.
why aren't bomb belts going off in wal*mart? its b/c of the fear we have of an escalated military state (if you've been to a large protest, you know where i'm coming from)...
if killing couch potato shoppers in the name of a stateless society if the way to go, then where are the suicide bombers?
Well, that is a good start for a discussion.
I don't think people avoid suicide bombings here because they fear an increased military state. The suicide bombing is an "art of war" employed by "soldiers" who no longer fear ANYTHING, because they are headed for "martyrdom." A suicide bomber undermines and overwhelms the expectations of the military state, since military power is based on a given population's fear of death.
If anything, we Americans generally avoid suicide bombings because we, as a people, are not desperate enough to lose our fear of death. We fear a weakened economy, high gas prices and high taxes. Some of us fear police brutality, hunger, and joblessness. But so far, we stay within the bounds of the system. This is not always true: we've had suicide attacks, like the Columbine killings, and the news is full of murder-suicides that evolve from personal crises. But suicide attacks by Americans are generally not political in nature. Perhaps this is because we retain some faith in our system, or perhaps this is because we are doing too well to really give a damn... as long as our safe reality is not touched. We might kill our wife and kids, but not our President or Congressman or members or rival political parties. (unless you're in the FBI/CIA!)
This is not to condone suicide bombings, or the extremist groups which have refined the tactic. Some claim the "terrorists" want to destroy America, invade us and put us in prayer school, but I do not believe this. If anything, they want us to cease our invasions of their lands and our capitalists suckings beneath their desert. In short, they have a cause that is opposed to ours, which is what makes them "our" enemy. But only a true ignoramus does not realize that, when it suited US interests, men like Bin Laden were armed and trained for murder with US tax dollars. Jihad has not changed; our interests have.
The suicide mindset is actually not so foreign to our own. Mutually Assured Destruction meant that, if it came down to it, we would all die rather than live as Soviets. Well, Palestinian teens don't have nukes yet, but when you can strap on some dynamite and strike a blow against the conqueror, they'll do it. We expect no less from our own soldiers (and Canadian soldiers), who face death every time they engage an enemy, or stand in the way of "friendly fire."
Point: When it comes to democracy, the US wears no halo. That is a myth.