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Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by kev@tao.ca
Email: kev (at) tao.ca (unverified!) |
Current rating: 1
14 Jan 2004 |
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After a short demonstration outside Monona Terrace, about 150 demonstrators chose to bring their message straight to the WMC, breaking through a line of private security guards into the conference centre, chanting "Ollie North - Corporate Hack! Where did you hide the guns and crack?!" and "Ollie North has got to go! Take him to Guantanamo!". After 25 minutes of chanting, some street theatre and tense exchanges with WMC conference-goers, protestors left the conference centre to march to the Capitol, confident that the WMC events had been properly disturbed. |
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See also:
http://madison.indymedia.org/feature/display/15626/index.php
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Editorial in today's Capital Times
by kev
Email: kev (at) tao.ca (verified) |
14 Jan 2004 |
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from http://www.madison.com/captimes/opinion/column/guest/65150.php
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Ollie North visit a reminder of lies, scandal under Reagan
By Donna Vukelich
January 13, 2004
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The year 2003 ended with the ratcheting up of alerts for signs of terrorist activity. Given such concern, it's somewhat surreal to learn that Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce is bringing Oliver North, notorious for his support of various 1980s terrorist activities, to Madison.
Yep. The retired colonel of Iran-Contra fame, now repackaged as a FOX News commentator and "embedded reporter," is coming to town.
We should not forget that North ran a bizarre series of operations out of the Reagan White House that involved the attempted subversion of the U.S. Constitution and total disregard for legality and the democratic process.
The WMC Web site notes that North "will draw on his knowledge as a former staff member of the National Security Council and assess the United States' role in the world - militarily, economically and politically."
What knowledge from his NSC days might North share? Will he recount the arrogance of his efforts to assemble the monies and materiel necessary to keep the Contra war going in Nicaragua, against the wishes of the U.S. public and the Congress?
In 1983, the CIA mined the harbors off Corinto (Nicaragua's major port). Later that year, the Company blew up the country's key oil storage tanks at the same port. Throughout the '80s, constant attacks by U.S.-funded Contra forces based in Honduras shattered Nicaragua's economy and led to over 30,000 deaths (in a country with a population smaller than Wisconsin's).
Essentially, every tangible benefit of the Sandinista revolution - health care centers, schools, new phone lines, agricultural cooperatives - became a target of the U.S./Contra war. Outraged citizens in the United States and across the world mobilized against that war, and found some allies in Congress, leading to the passage of the Boland amendment, which prohibited the Defense Department, the CIA and any other government agency from providing aid to the Contras.
Furious, the Reagan administration circumvented the amendment by using the National Security Council to supervise covert military aid to the Contras, under the direction of Oliver North.
As that covert war raged, the United States remained far more interested in what was at stake in the oil-rich Persian Gulf, then the site of the bloody Iran-Iraq war. While Reagan envoy Donald Rumsfeld was meeting Saddam Hussein in Iraq, the administration was trying to free U.S. hostages held in Beirut. With hopes of winning Iranian support, the United States, with North as its envoy, secretly sold arms to the ayatollahs. The money from those illegal weapons sales went directly to the Contra assault.
Military planes loaded with guns from Miami and elsewhere also flew to the Contras' aid.
It was the downing of Wisconsin native Eugene Hasenfus' plane in Nicaragua that led to the unraveling of the Iran-Contra web of deceit. Hasenfus' capture prompted congressional investigation into North's role in the Contra war. In December 1986, North invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination in testimony before Congress.
As the enormity of the scandal became clearer, the House and Senate appointed special Iran-Contra committees. Hearings were scheduled for 1987 and North agreed to appear only after being granted limited immunity.
North admitted he had lied to Congress and destroyed evidence. He said, "I am ... not at all ashamed of any of the things that I did. I was given a mission and I tried to carry it out." North remained adamant that he at no time acted on his own, a "loose cannon" as some in the administration claimed.
In Nicaragua, the war dragged on. By 1990, an exhausted population hoping for peace went to the ballot box and elected U.S.-backed Violeta Chamorro. Many Nicaraguans then thought that the United States would magically bring not only peace, but also prosperity. Instead, the 1990s brought the country continued strife, under the guise of "free trade."
In early March 1991, just a year after taking office, Chamorro's government introduced the first U.S.-imposed structural adjustment measures. Nicaraguan producers and business people, still reeling from a wartime economy, were suddenly expected to compete with products from all over Central and Latin America and the United States in accordance with the new gospel of "free trade."
Numerous U.S. firms moved in. For example, in the mid 1990s Tyson Foods (yes, that Tyson!) flooded the Nicaraguan market with nicely cut chicken, cheaper by the pound than that raised in the country. Within six months, most of Nicaragua's small poultry producers went belly up and a few relatively rich companies cornered the market.
With Ollie North's help, the U.S./Contra war paved the way for a docile, defeated Central America. Last month, all the Central American countries, with the exception of Costa Rica, signed onto the Central American Free Trade Agreement. In other words, we can expect most Central Americans to see their economic options worsen.
It's not surprising then that Oliver North is now speaking of "free trade" instead of guns and arms. In the end, the interests are virtually the same, and while talk of "free trade agreements" and "globalization" is relatively new, the marriage of political, military and economic interests is hardly novel.
As Ollie North speaks before the WMC, we would do well to remember the candid confession made by another former Marine, Gen. Smedley Butler, in 1931:
"I helped make Mexico safe for American oil interests in 1914. I helped make Haiti and Cuba a decent place for the National City Bank boys to collect revenue in. I helped purify Nicaragua for the international banking house of Brown Brothers. ... I brought light to the Dominican Republic for American sugar interests in 1916. I helped make Honduras 'right' for American fruit companies in 1903. Looking back on it, I might have given Al Capone a few hints."
If only Ollie North would be so forthcoming in Madison.
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Educator Donna Vukelich, a Madison native, spent the greater part of the 1980s in Nicaragua, where she reported on the effects of U.S. policy and worked for several nongovernmental organizations providing assistance to women and children. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Justin Mog
Email: justinmog (at) terracom.net (verified) |
14 Jan 2004 |
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Terrific! Great coverage of a great event! A blow for justice and democracy has been struck!
A similar Ollie "welcoming" was planned for the evening of Tuesday, Jan. 13th...does anyone have an eye-witness report of what happened that evening?! |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Thanks for the photos
by Ed Harvey
Email: has (at) been.com (unverified!) |
15 Jan 2004 |
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I love when you can get everybody in one picture like that. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by JB
Email: JBrillion (at) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
15 Jan 2004 |
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Did anyone outside of Indymedia notice? His appear to have slipped under the radar of the other media. Did WMC forget to pay the bill? |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
did anyone actually see him in town?
by marco
(No verified email address) |
15 Jan 2004 |
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Did anyone actually see him in town?
I'm starting to wonder if maybe he no-showed, but
they didn't want to publicize it like they did when
Cheney no-showed. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by La LA la
(No verified email address) |
15 Jan 2004 |
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Oliver was in town they showed him on NBC. The piece was okay, could have been worse. It mostly gave time for the Bob Welsh (is that right?) and a couple others to discredit the protestors. Ollie refered to the protests in this way, "the young people in Iraq, have experinced more responsiblity and reality than those voices in the lobby ever will" or something pretty close to that. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Wrench in the Machine
(No verified email address) |
15 Jan 2004 |
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Not to rain on anyone's parade too much - and both North protests were really great - but, what is the deal with the "peace police" in Madison?
Just because some folks come from out of town and somebody doesn't recognize them doesn't make them an undercover cop! It gets even worse when some self-appointed "leader" decides just how far the protest will go and then disciplines others for exercising their free will.
It is pretty hypocritical to be shouting "No Pasaran!" and invoking militant opposition to Ollie-style state terror and then turning around to shut down other protesters' efforts to halt "business as usual."
If people are motivated to risk arrest by breaking through a flimsy line-up of rent-a-cops to occupy the auditorium or physically block the wealthy elites from getting into the luncheon, well more power to them!
We don't need nannies, we got Homeland Security for that. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Direct action gets the goods
by I'm with Wrench
Email: . (unverified!) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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Yeah, i definitely agree. those who felt we were there to change the mind of the WMC by handing out flyers about Ollie's background should do more research about their intended audience. We were already clearly antagonistic by our rightful presence within the conference, and had lost any (extremely thin) chance of converting any WMC union-busters to our side. There's nothing wrong with putting up human barricades to events like this one, and blocking the bus (see photo above) was a perfectly appropriate move... |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Alan Squad
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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I going to go right out and say it, "Alan, its our turn to watch you." Not only are a lot of us sick and tired of you leading these event the way you want them to go, if I ever see you grad other protestors they way you did at the Ollie north event you will be the one on the ground. Stop it, you are worse then the private security creeps. It is totally hypocritical to get people to chant " No pasaran" then whip people aside who are actualizing that. If you feel the need to lead people around like that go get some action figures to play with. I'm sick of you dictating the way "Madison" protests. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by yo
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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cmon people...we were timid and unsure of what we were doing. of course we dont need peace police to tell us not to take certain direct actions if we want to. noone owns the protest. but also, noone can force other protesters into actions that they dont want to take. as far as i know, noone had really organized to do any direct action. i wanted to go farther into the terrace, but people were really timid and unsure of what they were doing. and i wasnt about to go in all by myself and face certain arrest with no benefit. if some of us had actually organized and talked about doing something, we could have done so. so we kind of have ourselves to blame. p.s. it was allens idea to go up the drive and up to the terrace main doors. otherwise we would have stayed out front in the cold without making any impact whatsoever. if others were there trying to do more direct action (in an organized way), then i missed it. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by ha ha
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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Oh yes if it wasn't for Allen nothing would have happened. BS . The best protests in Madison have not løoked to the "old new left" vangard for any guidance. When we had tons of people, Tuesday night we were told not to do anything because we were going to do that the next day. Marching to the door is not a good idea it is simple common sense. Anyone there with any sense of a good tactic action would have suggested a march to the doørs. Rather than marching around the block aways it would have made more sense to go straight in and into the lobby at the very least. People are timid becouse certain people make them feel that they are not empowered, some of those people are from inside our movement and some lie within. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by ph
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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I don't think it would have been a good tactical move to sustain the blockage of the bus, simply because that could have brought in the cops sooner, thus preventing an opportunity to enter the Terrace. I'm glad that was given up. There were bigger opportunities available.
However, that people didn't take advantage of the free opportunity inside the Terrace saddens me. With little effort, the whole entourage of protesters could have merrily danced straight into the conference room, especially when the only real thug was occupied once he had latched onto me for nearly a minute straight. As one person here put it, we may never again get another opportunity to walk right in, most peacefully and joyfully, since, in the future, the terrace may have more of a police-state blockade, as we know has happened before. We could have easily had much greater impact than we did, and most likely with no violence.
There are other things that disappoint me more than any of the "alleged" attempts by Allen to prevent further penetration into the Terrace. First, it disappoints me that so many relinquish to Allen (or any other single individual or group) the right to self-determination and/or the right to collective decisions, ie, it disappoints me that they/we don't come to the table ahead of time but just wait, show up, and let a boss emerge to tell everyone what to do. Second, it disappoints me that those who wanted to penetrate the terrace further (myself included) didn't work out the tactics ahead of time, didn't agree ahead of time that this should be an end-run option, didn't figure out paths to the luncheon convention room so that protesters could move in that direction immediately upon entering, didn't time it right, didn't wait until a bit later when more people would have massed together for a march to the terrace, didn't wait until a bit closer to the conference time so as to interfere directly. For those who would have preferred a direct action with real impact (delaying the conference, broader media, etc), I would have preferred that they/we had organized ahead of time a mass of people with a clear set of options with operation plans (possible division of labor, methods of mobilizing, radios, back-up plans, evacuation, etc.) to ensure it came off, and came off peacefully. But that would have taken real time and effort, and perhaps the energy and will just wasn't there.
All said and done, I'm most grateful to those who had the good sense to move inside and encourage everyone else to do so, as soon as possible. I don't recall clearly, and maybe it was someone else, but I thought it was Allen at the door waving everyone inside. Had we remained outside the doors, it could well have been another shameful and unnecessary gassing, which is a real downer for everyone, but an especially big turn-off to the tag-alongs who lack the courage and determination to persist at all costs. The cops, of course, would not dare gas people inside where it would have affected the VIPs (Very Indecent People). Smart move to get inside, asap.
Despite my disappointments, I'm most pleased that North didn't pass through Madison without protest, and I'm pleased that this was played up in the media for weeks prior to the event, not only refreshing tens of thousands of weak memories of North's history as a terrorist, but also driving home the point that government should not be for sale to the highest bidder, as it unfortunately is. I have doubts that this would have happened without Allen's persistence. I personally prefer a ballanced view: Allen is a dedicated comrade who labors to no end for a better world, a radical among radicals, and is certainly willing to listen and negotiate, work cooperatively, and consent to a course of action not of his preference, if people work with him, especially ahead of time.
My two revocable cents--
--ph |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by ha ha
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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All the great things Allen has done aside. If he ever grabs a person I know like he did the fellow on Wed. that's it. Pointing out people as possible police who are from the area and have been to many other events is also inexcuable. He could have asked any number of other Madison folks who they were first, no must be "police or black blockers" (third party quote so who knows) If people allow him to have the power he does at these events then he had best use that power constructivly. Spontanious actions can be the best most successful we can have. When people direct those who want to participate in those actions to do something else they are asserting an illegitment authority. I give full credit to Allen and other folks who mobilized people to show up. A very good job. But organizing people to attend and an event doesn't give you power to control the folks who show up.
There should have been another groups of folks who organized a different stratagy. The whole building was/is open many, many different types of actions could have occured, most of which would have gone off with out arrest but could have been more effective at making Ollie feel unwelcome.
The overall point is that I am sick and tired of Allen asserting his authority over others at protests. On more than one occasion he has told me personally "not to do anything stupid." (Direct quote) I have never done anything stupid at a protest and I have been to 100s (okay I have but nothing that endangered anyone but myself or perhaps my self-estem :) )He needs to keep his mouth shut when others are attempting constructive actions that go outside his "game plan" and get to know the local activist community better. If he sat back and let others have a chance to display there own opinion, it would benifit us all.
Finally while in many ways this is an attack on Allen (it more or less is) I found certain actions at the Ollie protest to be unexcusable as other actions in the past. As a movement we need to constantly put ourselves in check if we are to have progress. Self-examination as well as out right critism for faults of the movement is a nessesary part of building a stronger assualt on the opposition. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by ph
(No verified email address) |
16 Jan 2004 |
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Ha Ha wrote:
"Self-examination as well as out right critism for faults of the movement is a nessesary part of building a stronger assualt on the opposition. "
DAMNED GOOD POINT! Let that be constructive criticism, as much as possible, though. Obviously, we aren't making near the difference we would like, so we have to improve.
All in all, most here in this discussion seem to be more in agreement than disagreement: diversity of tactics but solidarity in spirit, tolerance, forethought, spontaneity, etc. Regarding Allen, I think folks here just need to communicate with him directly for a win-win outcome in the future. If he hears from enough folks directly, I think he'll back off and let his contribution be limited to the areas where it is in the best interest of all, such as hell-fire-and brimstone speeches, fine research and writing, reasonably good outreach. I don't think he's a very good tactitian for DA or CD, imho. That requires an entirely different type of knowledge and experience, and he and others would do well to empower and learn from those who have that sort of knowledge and experience.
Maybe we could all start getting together to practice rapid action consensus decision making. "Huddles," if I may. I know there are several around here that know a hell of a lot more about than I, though I've had a bit of experience with it myself. At any rate, I think it's much better that folks know what the hell they are doing at these actions, so they don't end up accidentally competing against one another.
Too, I agree that some spontaneity should be applauded. People have to be able to adapt to onforseen situations and seize upon unanticipated opportunities, if they are to optimize the impact of their efforts.
As to the naysayers and scardy cats, I don't know. I'm inclined to think they might do better to establish a distraction or decoy elsewhere, rather than stand in the way of a direct action.
One last thing, I'm just wondering: when folks like Allen stamp their name all over events, making it appear their little puppy, does that leave them feeling responsible? Do they set themselves up for being singled out for liability if shit hits the fan? Does it lead them to try to assert more control than people are willing to accept? I didn't see him grab anyone, so that's just rumor to me, unless he confesses, unless I hear it from lots of people in person, or unless I see a photo of it. Doesn't seem like his style, though I suppose anything's possible when one puts oneself in such a position.
Kind of rushed. Sorry if my thoughts seem scrambled, here.
thanks,
ph |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Allen
Email: alruff (at) execpc.com (unverified!) |
17 Jan 2004 |
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Thanks for all the comments. The "woulda, shoulda, couldas" were all very interesting.
I'm just curious where everyone was when several planning meetings took place?
SOme of the criticism levelled at me were off the mark. Some were right on. I'll heed the ones that were "on" and disregard the others.
I may seem "old left" to some of you (whatever the hell that means), since I still function on certain basic principles such as comsiderastion for the mass when in demonstrations. "Doing one's own thing" while in a crowd is dangerous and unwise. I never said anything about someone being a "black blocker" and I know what I saw, regarding my concern about
a cop in our ranks. As far as my pulling one guy (ONE) off of some character trying to enter, that guy was out of control and not acting collectively at a time when our numbers had already diminished somewhat -- thereby making all of us vulnerable. The Madison cops, (not the rentals) were but yards away and it could have turned into something nasty.
Also, on princple, I'm not afraid to sign my name, especially when it comes to criticizing another on a public list. (How about it, HA HA?)
All the talk about what people SHOULD have done, after the fact is moot since folks were'nt organized or prepared beforehand. Monday morning quarterbacking.
For people to not put in any work in the planning and organizing and then just show up and then complain about how this or that wasn't done or how someone shoulda done this or shopuldn't have done that is bullshit.
The fact stands that there would not have been the several hundred people on Wednesday or the sharp demo on Tuesday if but a very small number of us had not generated the activity. If people had gone off prematurely on Tuesday, then we would have not gotten near the Monona Terrace on Wednesday.
I was one of the first people through the doors and up against the police line. Ask Mike G.
All I ask is that folks have enough integrity, guts and political honesty to come talk to me if they have problems rather than carry on about me on some list which I then have to find out about second hand.
-Allen |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Ha ha
(No verified email address) |
17 Jan 2004 |
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No I won't give my name because I am sick of the "powerful" organizers in Madison outing people they don't argee with. I support the efforts at getting everyone out, good job. But then hold back a little. It is the continued use of this paternalism and what I would argue vangardism that is unhelpful to the movement.
It is because of this type of behavior that people feel unwelcome at many madison organizing meetings. MAPC as one recent example. Certain people need to address why other don't attend these meetings yet are more then willing to participate in actions. Why show up to a meeting were our voices will be neither heard nor respected.
Why talk to people who won't listen. These critisms are nothing new. If Madison wants to create a more constructive movement we need to have meetings, organizing, and events that lack this paternalist attitude. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Ha ha
(No verified email address) |
17 Jan 2004 |
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I also wanted to add that while I am voicing this on the Indymedia page and in a tone which is far from nice, I do think that I am stating opinions that I have heard from many people (especially young people) in Madison. To pick on Allen is correct in this case in my opinion, but it is also easy to single him out. I don't mean to suggest that he is the root of the problem. He just happens to be very visable, vocal ect.
As it happens venues for discussion about these problems in the Madison Community are few and far between. Most people seem to be happy to exist in the happy little liberal land of Madison and not push against the norm. Voices that speak to changing this routine are often shut down. People who have personally talked with individuals like this end up getting a lecture that they did not need nor fixes anything. Placing these concerns on a public discussion, puts the public actions of an individual at the discussion. If I did something like this I would hope people would put me in my place. Privatly and publicly.
True, elements interested in a more direct action fashion could have establised a different plan of action and acted on their own. That did not happen and that is those persons fault (myself included) But as I stated earlier actions can change, they do not have to always fit the pre-established plan. When certain people (ie: leaders) are telling everyone to leave it is very difficult to spontanously come up with new approches. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by mike g
(No verified email address) |
17 Jan 2004 |
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since i was mentioned by name, ill respond by name. like i said above (yo), i think that more direct action would have been nice. but those willing were not organized, and a lot of the other folks who came were too timid to do spontaneous direct action. i respect everyone who came out to voice their opinions. its not easy to speak truth to power. we should all commend eachother for standing up for what is right in the face of authority. and if folks wanted to to do more, then we needed to organize to do so. im not trying to silent the criticisms brought out in the earlier comments. i just think we need to balance these complaints with an understanding that we hold the power to change the way we protest. and if we arent happy with the outcome, then we need to organize to make things different. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by mike g
(No verified email address) |
17 Jan 2004 |
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since i was mentioned by name, ill respond by name. like i said above (yo), i think that more direct action would have been nice. but those willing were not organized, and a lot of the other folks who came were too timid to do spontaneous direct action. i respect everyone who came out to voice their opinions. its not easy to speak truth to power. we should all commend eachother for standing up for what is right in the face of authority. and if folks wanted to to do more, then we needed to organize to do so. im not trying to silent the criticisms brought out in the earlier comments. i just think we need to balance these complaints with an understanding that we hold the power to change the way we protest. and if we arent happy with the outcome, then we need to organize to make things different. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by ExJohnWayne
Email: dkliese (at) chorus.net (verified) |
18 Jan 2004 |
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Considering the situation, I feel the Pro Peace & Justice events on Tuesday & Wednesday went very well.
I was part of the MadTown Liberty Players street theater and we did what we could. Never thought I would perform in both the convention center and the state Capital.
My question to those who feel a more aggressive form of direct action should have been taken is this:
Why must we confront the "enemy" when they are in strength and on their terms?
Remember the convention center is less then a block from the so-called Public Safety building where several law enforcement agencies are headquartered. I find it hard to believe that the minimal security presence we encountered at the convention center was the only contingency the "powers that be" had made for the day.
To paraphrase General George S. Patton; any stupid SOB can get arrested or gassed for the cause.
The security forces, as inflexible as they are, seem to have acted on some "lessons learned", why can't we? |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Sand Crab Wallower
Email: sand_wallower (at) yahoo.com (unverified!) |
19 Jan 2004 |
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I'M THE GUY WHO STOOD IN FRONT OF THE BUS SO HERE THIS...
I'm so pissed off at these greedy specimens who dress up in suits and whore out the world for extra spending cash that it physically makes me tremble and wretch. I was fed up, I'm still fed up and I will continue to be fed up until some humane and common sense laws are created and/or enforced that will put an end to the type of BULLSHIT being carried on by the W.M.C. and ALL who speak on their behalf.
When the charter bus came, I was not about to run or step aside, I was full of adrenalin and anger, it was boiling inside me, I was walking with people whom I did not recognize from the night before , they were politely moving out of the way, I will not be polite with W.M.C. people. I did not step out of their way. It all happened in a second, there was no time to think.
I stood firm... The bus drove directly into my chest...I looked into the drivers eyes( about 2 1/2 feet away)... His crazy ol'eyes beamed at me like two lazer pointers. I knew instantly that after his 40 year bus driving career, his perverted dream of running down a dirty hippy was finally coming to fruition...Before this thought was completed my shoes were well under the bus and I was falling...NOW I'M NEW TO TOWN AND I'M NOT A COP, OR WHATEVER IN THE HELL YOUR ALL TALKING ABOUT. ALSO, BECAUSE I'M NEW TO TOWN, I DO NOT KNOW WHO IN THE HELL "ALLEN" IS! but... but... I'm thankful he said what he said... He said, or I should say yelled, "It's too early"(and maybe something else I can't remember). HE NEVER GRABBED ME! As I was starting to fall backwards, I stepped back to steady myself against the bus. "Allen" did one or two things. 1) He quite possibly saved my life, 2) by saying, "It's too early", I was able to step aside with dignity instead of feeling (and looking like) a scaredy-cat.
I listened to "Allen" Tuesday night at the end of the demonstration, and I went inside after he said publicly, "Lets go inside." . Why did I listen to him, a complete stranger? BECAUSE HE WAS THE ONLY VISIBLE LEADER THERE! We're really not that different from the old-fashioned sterotypical angry mob with torches and pitchforks that you see in old movies. Realistically, how can we have a pre-determined plan and stick with it with so many variables? Leaders HAPPEN in instances like these. If someone wants to lead, than lead and quit crying after the fact like Monday morning quarterbacks. If you have issues with a leader, then bring them up to the leader and resolve them yourselves!
We should all be proud, we were on, and in some cases led, the t.v. news at 5, 6, and 10 o'clock on various channels, and we were on various radio newscasts and apparently in the capitol times. We reached an audience which is RARELY exposed to this issue. Someday the bad guys will change! But it will be when the whole city is run over with demonstrations! And when a protest like that happens, it won't matter how many meetings we have in advance that many people can't attend.
In closing, I just wanted to clarify all this silly bickering. Also I'm not saying this guy named Allen is good or bad, for I've never conversed with him although I do have respect for him.
If you have questions or comments, contact me directly.
Sincerely,
Mr. Sand Crab Wallower
P.S. It felt wonderful to scream my feelings directly at these people in public, and please be happy while your breathing. |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Kurt
Email: aquaranger (at) hotmail.com (unverified!) |
19 Jan 2004 |
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Interesting discussion. WHile I agree with many of the points in this thread I wonder if people are grasping some of the critisms which were not articulated as clearly as they could have been. (But thanks for the comments all.) At times I have had both very positive and very negative experinces with Allen, but I certainly value his experience and pressense in the community. The concerns voiced here and in other groups from past experiences point to a larger problem in Madison and the larger radical community.
Many people really take issue at the idea of the visable "leader" I think that this concern is voiced in the comments by HA ha, wrench, ph and others the problem that I think others have (Allen, John Wayne, and Mike) is that the personal organization for this decentralized organization is not manifesting itself. Both valid comments but both really missing the points of the other side (I'm not suggesting these individuals don't see this but the movement as a whole.) These points of contention have mainifested themselves at many of the large mobalizations in the last several years.
I was at both Ollie event and I thought they went rather good. I did witness some of the actions mentioned and I also have my concerns. I too was frusterated by some of Allen's actions and I wish there was a better forum for addressing these concerns. I was also frusterated by the truth in many of the comments expressing the need for Allen to take the actions he did. We should be able, as a community, to take part in good actions without the leadership of an individual leading us in chants, action, tactics etc. Since time and time again the community proves that this role is honored and neccessary, I find this dishearting.
On the flip side I have participated in innumeral actions in Madison and other places that have realied on indiviudal empowerment and leadership that have gone off very successfully. Perhaps people need more experience with these types of actions to feel more empowered themselves.
Anyway the contention is nothing new but certainly a point that needs some level of resolvement to improve the atmosphere in Madison. Not addressing this issue results in a high level of negitive, unproductive feelings like some of the stuff here. What's worse is the people stop supporting each others actions, events and meetings becuase of tactical, and philosopical differances. The people I know who would never attend a MAPC meeting or a Critical Mass (to pick on two) because of this are too many to count.
The English language is the real oppressor. *#&* Spelling
Kurt |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
You got that right
by John Nickels
Email: cap (at) times.com (unverified!) |
20 Jan 2004 |
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Sand Crab sums it up:
"We're really not that different from the old-fashioned sterotypical angry mob with torches and pitchforks that you see in old movies." |
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Commentary: Protests & Direct Action |
Re: Crashing WMC's Ollie North love-in
by Mob enthusist
(No verified email address) |
20 Jan 2004 |
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What's wrong with a good old fashion angry mob? (Okay so a lynch mob is similar but in my opinion significantly different.) |
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