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Dear Bob: You're right. Our peace group is struggling with similar problems.
But here's a possible answer. Educate and organize your community around two
areas: a) as many photos as possible from Al-jazeera news should be
distributed and raised on placards before city hall that reveal the horrible
effects of our bombs on Iraqi children and adults. People need to see what
Bush's high moral tone of bringing democracy to Iraq, etc. means in reality.
People need to see that he's a liar and a murderer, b) as much information as
possible (brochures, town hall meetings, teach-ins) needs to get out about DU
('depleted uranium') weapons, cluster bombs, FAEs, ELFs, mini-nukes, bunker
busters, microwave weapons...In short, the weapons of the US military that are
weapons of mass destruction and need to be catalogued and described to as many
people as possible. Their effects on people need to be known, who makes them
(e.g., Raytheon in Texas), their profitability to certain individuals in the
government, their tax-funding. Organize and make links with other groups on
this. Daniel.
>From: bob.steel1@juno.com
>To: casi-discuss@lists.casi.org.uk
>Subject: Re: [casi] Where are the demonstrators?
>Date: Mon, 07 Apr 2003 14:47:41 EDT
>
>
> >I wonder what are the current proportions of pro-war vs. >anti-war
>sentiment, especially in the US/UK, and how >reliable are the estimates
>you can offer
>
>I'm with a small peace group in the middle of largely rural Illinois,
>USA, and will give my perspective on the matter.
>
>A larger proportion of the people here are / were pro war than in the
>cities and more liberal areas of the country. One result of that is the
>membership of the peace group is fairly small (10 to 30 show up at
>meetings), and with few resources.
>
>When the war started, we discussed whether further demonstrations would
>change anything. There is a big campaigne from the government and the
>press to "support the troops" and many people have bought into this with
>the idea that now that the US is at war the important thing is to win it
>quickly and not discourage the soldiers, so many who disapproved have
>figured that the issue is lost, and many on the fence have simply
>aquiesced to the situation.
>
>Public opinion is heavily against demonstrations now and there is a lot
>criticism (asnd worse) against peace groups, and we are concerned about
>turning many people off to our message when they are particularly set
>against hearing it, and consider peace demonstrations to be anti-American
>and disloyal, even traitorious -- and this message is being constantly
>reinforced by the government and media. Some are concerned for their
>safety, socially, financially, or even physically, and hesitate to stand
>up too visibly.
>
>We have had a few small candle vigils, but the questions remains: What do
>we hope to achive? -- surely the US will not stop the fighting. The
>consensus seems to be that the best we can do is look to the future to
>prevent further wars on other countries, and to learn about what the
>plans are for Iraq are after the fighting stops.
>
>We are currently discussing ways to spread the word and educate people
>about the facts rtaher than simply demonstrating -- looking towards
>recruiting more people and other longer terms goals. In other words, it's
>a period of regrouping and re-evaluating what we should do. We have "lost
>the battle" and must now look to "winning the war", which includes
>finding ways to overcome the media and government propaganda, contesting
>the loss of civil rights, and strengthing the group.
>
>I suspect that this is similar to what is happening elsewhere.
>
>-Bob Steel
>
>
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_______________________________________________
Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq.
To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss
To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk
All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk