Americans Debating the Issues
Hundreds of activists converged at Boston's Government Center. This demo's differed considerably from the October fourteen activities. (link) Two weeks ago bystanders seemed taken by surprise by the apparition straight through a time tunnel tuned to 1965, today, a higher proportion of non participants expressed their views on the pickets and the very fact of the march itself.
This issue of how we should respond to the crimes comitted on 9/11 is highly emotional. Tempers rose, accusations and angry words were exchanged between protestors and bystanders, who, thereby became participants, so good for them!A police officer is rumored to have slyly given protestors the middle finger, pretending to innocently hang the digit from a car roof's raingutter. In the 20 plus demonstrations posted on Freeman Z.com, Freeeman Z. has generally been impressed with police fairness, respect, and, restraint, so FZDC is disappointed to be reporting this rumor.
Who are these Demonstrators?
Todays rally and march participants included numerous groups and diverse individuals arguing a wide variety of mostly anti-war views. Pro war views were also represented. I will inclue links when possible to the sponsoring organizations. I don't understand why I have to clarify this wicked-obvious point...Nobody here has condoned the actions of 9/11...DUH! These people are debating OUR terroristic actions as supposedly civilized world leaders. We want the world to fear us, that's clear, but that's what terrorism is, so we must beware our own badassageness, lest we become the enemy. Many feel we have already crossed that line. Introspection is not self doubt or self loathing, it is a sign of maturity in an individual and a nation as well.Why Does FZ Document Them?
FZ has a long history of documenting and publishing the views of people who are under represented or misrepresented by money media. The anti war movement is unarguably both. The reactions of bystanders documented here demonstrate clearly that these views are simultaneously repugnant to some Americans and attractive to others. This proves the need for discussion, and toward that end FZ documents this movement and its trends.This is Democracy, Love it or Leave it, Baby!
This sort of heated debate and free exchange of views in public is exactly what makes our nation strong and special. Freedom of speech means protecting the expression of views we may personally despise. Citizen participation in shaping policy is essential to who we are. It may feel safer to hide behind the elected leaders, but they are themselves led by their perceptions of our desires. It is the not the decision of the Judiciary, the Executive or the Legislature to make war, but of the citizens. The channels for dissent must be open so that when the time comes, we can close the chapter as we did on Vietnam. the corporate money media do not represent these views, so they must be taken to the streets in this traditional way so that no amount of VOTE TAMPERING or MEDIA DISTORTION can be used against our collective interests.the Time Tunnel
Amid these activists I felt transported to 1965, to a day before popular opinion turned against western "police action" in Vietnam. It was not ideology, but the corpses, images, and mounting numbers of MIA's coming out of the Vietnam conflict that turned public opinion. To challenge the war then was often called treasonous, a word I heard here today, yet censorship is itself subversive. Many Veterans I have interviewed call MacNamara a traitor for admittedly helping to perpetuate a war we could or would not win. Today he is the traitor, and the anti-war movement of the 60's and 70's has earned the moral highground. This after countless Americans were beaten, tear gassed and even shot by our police and military. We must be very careful about demonizing and cannonizing our fellow citizens. Better to respect eachother and debate our differences. If protest ends this conflict, then it must stop. To accuse dissenters of treachery is irresponsible and historically unjustifiable.(Related FZ report: Vietnamese thank US Veterans, Boston)
Boston City Councilman Chuck Turner stood alone against jim Kelly's resolution which approves of Federal attacks on civil liberties. Turner spoke for peace and justice through rational and legal means. "...investigate the tragic events on September 11 to determine who was responsible. We should not make war on the people of Afghanistan."
bin Laden is grinning: Our Freedom is at risk
The "anti terrorism" legislation just signed by 'President' Bush II, amid the corporate media's withholding of the recount of votes in Florida, where the 'President's" brother just happens to be Governor, is a dangerous, no doubt unconstitutional breech of American rights. We can expect the Supreme Court to look away, just as it did during the WWII internment of Japanese Americans which we now view with shame. The 'special powers' granted to enforcers are not congresses to give, they are constitutionally protected rights that cannot be revoked from us, the Americans from whom all political power originates. The key point is that these protections are taken from "suspected terrorists, a phrase that has no clear legal meaning, and so inevitably will be stretched to, and then beyond the limits of reason. That is treasonous. That is un-American.Sorry, I can't swallow this load
I'm sorry if this upsets some readers, but I honestly have zero confidence in this chimpanzee of a frat boy who obviously cheated his way through college and bought, perhaps even stole the election with corporate megabucks. His daddy was head of the Secret Police (CIA) and that makes me more than a bit uncomfortable, especially considering the number of folks I meet who hold that secret, and therefore inherently undemocratic government entity responsible for at least one Presidential assassination. This shit sounds like one of those corrupt third world nations we read about in the news, but it isn't. It's right here. Bush Lite comes on the TV and lectures like a grade school principal about what I don't understand. He tells me patiently but sternly exactly how to think. tells me if I'm not with him, I'm with the terrorists.Freeman Z. Challenges Baby Bush
Tell ya what...Put me on Jeopardy opposite that freak of financial fortune and see if I don't triple his score. A duel of wits is what I propose. If I don't earn thrice this peahead's score on a random set of questions, (no cheating GB!) I'll shut up, get in line, and vote for him in the next election. I swear it! Jeopardy, Ben Stein's Money, Weakest link, even that history Channel thing that busts my head.And If I Win...
But if I win, I get to give him condescending, G.W.B. style lecures whenever I want, explaining to him the correct way to think and act. I'll tell him if he drinks the wrong cola he's a communist, If he thinks for himself (yeah, right!) he's a troublemaker, and if he tries to stop me from giving my little brother a wedgie he's a terrorist.
Page -1 Government Center Page -2 March Page -3 Reactions to the March Page -4 ROTC Office and Park Index More Photo Reports
City Hall Plaza: All white and sanitized!
Sidewalk by City Hall Plaza
King George II ?
Occupation of Palestine Still a Source of Conflict
The Cycle of Violence
Detail of a Large Display
Median by the Sears Crescent
We also created noriega and Sadam...Remember?
A Vietnam Era Slogan Returns
Canine Introduction Ritual
<--More Pictures
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