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We Need a New Form of Protest

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posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 01:40 AM
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We Need a New Form of Protest


I always watch intently at the public protests where large groups of people ascend on some city landmark in a show of solidarity. Something interesting is always bound to happen and I am able to witness first hand the nature in which humankind operates in herd form.

Protesters and police gather under their respective ideals, something like a unified banner for hordes to fight beneath; but this ideal and all it stands for soon takes second-seat to an ever-growing group mentality, that insatiable feeling which overcomes us in the pulsing heat of a group frenzy. Somewhere within, emotion overwhelms reason and the memory of peace soon gives way to the instinct of a ferocious mob. Riot ensues, people get hurt or arrested, property gets damaged and nothing gets solved. As an observer, one can witness the very shattering of dignities.

We see this rage in protesters all over the world, all too quick to run amok for their ideals. In all cases, some windows gets smashed, effigies burnt, some people get hurt, or worse, killed, and some parks get defecated upon; but nothing changes, nothing gives way to anything new, things go on the way they always have and everyone is left to clean up the mess and pay back the damages. Voids are quickly filled with nothing different, and any hope for change ceases.

We know there are real idealists within the protest striving for real change. All honor to them. They organize, educate and raise awareness to inflict their moralities and systems as loudly, and hopefully as peacefully, as they can.

The opposition, usually represented by the men and women of the police, do the exact same and inflict their own— or at least their superior’s ideals—on any unsuspecting protester who happens to be in the way.

We must give some credit here to the real perpetrators of this chaos, the architects of such herd madness, the organizers and idealists in the trenches fighting the good fight for their flags. They at least have a reason to be there.

But for every diligent and ambitious subverter of the status quo in any protest, there are at least 10 hangers on, thugs, quarter-protesters, or spectators getting in the way, or worse, undermining and slandering the protest. Whatever the reason that set the wheels in motion—perhaps a single act of immolation in the most powerful form of protest against tyranny—gets overwhelmed by the bungling mediocrity of these ‘protesters’ (a label they have yet to earn). At best, these specimen are stupid, caught in the moment and possessed by the ‘collective consciousness’ of the stampeding herd; at worst, they’re participating for the wrong reasons, maybe as an excuse to do damage, to have fun, to become a mob, or perhaps to appease the most petty yet beautiful vanity of the human spirit—to show off, merely to appear to themselves and others as if they are capable of being a force for change, whatever that change it may be.

Take for instance the common 'slacktivist,' the one who gives off the appearance of someone taking a concern in real issues, but who in turn does absolutely nothing to further the cause. He is one such perpetrator. It’s strange to see a man fingering his iPad as he protests financial inequality, consumerism and jobs being shipped over seas. He paradoxically supports the very forces he’s fighting against in a seemingly oblivious ignorance. His thumbs are constantly on the ‘like’ button so he can let his friends know that he is fighting the good fight. Luckily, we incredulous minds know that he’s not there for the issue; he’s there to keep up appearances, to take part, and to let it be known that he’s a good man who tackles real issues. These protesters should be discouraged.

Nonetheless, when the mob is unable to control their herd-mentality and all too willingly stampede at any sign of panic, the protest is no more, and riot takes its place. This begs the questions: is this what we need to do to force dialogue on our issues? Why must we burn ourselves and our homes to be heard?

The majority of people, the ‘99%’ of seven-billion plus human souls, have the most astounding odds in any opposition I’ve ever witnessed. And to think that with that many people, change cannot be created by force. Well the sad fact is—and most of us are afraid to admit this—the majority doesn’t want change, not unless they’re led there by the harness.

Change cannot be forced; it needs to be cultivated. It needs to grow organically from the soil up. What are we but that soil? A new form of protest is needed, one where nothing is destroyed and nothing lost, but created and gained.

So, dear reader, where does it begin?
edit on 8-1-2013 by LesMisanthrope because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 01:59 AM
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Well, I consider myself a "slacktivist" I guess, in that I do not protest with signs or go to any of those "demon-strations", waste of time and energy. Those "protests" have changed nothing in what, 60 years?

All those OWS videos made me ill. Repetitive chanting, standing there, waiting for change, ridiculous idea.
Plopping their asses down in parks for weeks, will change what exactly?

New idea....

Gather an OWS amount of people, march down to these "leaders" of ours' homes/offices/businesses... arrest them, try them in court, and put them all through due "common law" process, not through courts with judges long since bought & paid for.

Simple, tells a story. Those who we "suspect" of subverting this country, gather evidence enough for an arrest, get a large group together, and go get these people. Is it that hard, if the evidence exists?



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 02:29 AM
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The most effective form of protest is to not condone or fund what you are against.

If you're protesting against against banks and bankers, don't put your money in a bank or use a bank for any reason

If you're protesting against WalMart , don't shop there for anything

If you're protesting against the electoral system, don't vote

If almost everyone in America just simply stopped condoning these systems by simply not partaking everything would change.

83



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 02:32 AM
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reply to post by LesMisanthrope
 


Originally posted by LesMisanthrope
[...] but nothing changes, nothing gives way to anything new, things go on the way they always have and everyone is left to clean up the mess and pay back the damages.

I'm not sure what kind or degree of change you're talking about, but this is not what happened on November 9th, 1989 here in Germany.

Its also not what happened during the so called "color revolutions" from 2003 to 2005, or what happened in Tunisia or Morocco since 2010.

All I'm saying is the form of protest used in said examples does work.

*ETA:
The OWS or Chic-fil-a-style "protests" in the U.S. were a joke at best of course. Drum-circles or eating chicken won't lead to change or even a revolution.
edit on 8-1-2013 by ColCurious because: (no reason given)



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 02:37 AM
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We don't need a new one, we just need to not be afraid of using the old ones.



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 02:59 AM
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reply to post by ColCurious
 


Good point about the fall of the Berlin wall. But we must admit that there are very few protests that end up in the protester's favour. And yes, OWS was a joke.



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 03:05 AM
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The entire problem is subjecting ourselves to the idea that we need to protest.

If we were self-sufficient we wouldn't need to find that scapegoat.

The problem lies in our benefactors enslaving us and us essentially begging for it to stop.

The only protest left to do is a boycott, and beyond that it's pretty much succession from 'their' world.



posted on Jan, 8 2013 @ 03:14 AM
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Originally posted by yourmaker
The entire problem is subjecting ourselves to the idea that we need to protest.


No brother, we need to light a fire



posted on Jan, 9 2013 @ 06:08 PM
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reply to post by yourmaker
 


That's right. Why would such a large majority need to protest? In reality, all we'd need to do is roll over to get what we want.

The leaders do not own us. We own them; and all we need to do to prove that point is to stop buying what they're selling us. Until we do that, we, the majority, everyone caught in this system, are 'TPTB,' and the harbingers of our own end.



posted on Jan, 9 2013 @ 06:47 PM
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How about a mobile drive in theater, so we can camp out on the white house lawn, memorials, etc.. and throw a kegger and play anti establishment movies until they concede?

Perhaps a Woodstock like event, with public speakers, quoting the Declaration of Independence, and the Constitution of the United States of America.

Personally it doesn't matter to me, as long as it is a peaceful assembly addressing our right"to Petition the Government for a Redress of Grievances” so on and so forth, until we are heard, listened to, and obeyed.


See also Charters of Freedom for additional info and references to American Liberties.


edit on 9-1-2013 by ADVISOR because: it needed it, ok...



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