Date: Tue, 1 Aug 2000 23:21:51 -0400
From: Ted Glick
Subject: [LAAMN-NEWS] Then and Now
Future Hope
August 1, 2000 (No. 13)
Then and Now
By Ted Glick
It was hot as I walked back and forth on the Ben
Franklin Parkway in the heat and humidity in
Philadelphia on
July 30th, at the Unity 2000 demonstration on the day
before
the opening of the Republican Convention. As I walked,
between the stage where people were speaking and the
block-
long street fair with tables, food, street theatre,
floats,
drumming and more, I began to think of the differences
between the new pro-justice movement of today as
compared
to the peace and justice movement of the late 1960s.
One difference is the widespread acceptance of
a multi-tactical approach. In the '60s there were often
serious political arguments between those who wanted to
organize non-violent civil disobedience and those who
believed that large, legal, peaceful protests were THE
tactic. Today, there is a much more widespread
understanding
that these two approaches can be complementary.
It's similar in regards to electoral activity. There
is much less opposition to involvement with elections
than
was true 30 years ago, in large part because of the
Nader/
LaDuke campaign and other progressive third party
activity.
Indeed, at the demonstrations over the first three days
of
the Philadelphia actions, July 29, 30 and 31, there were
many people wearing buttons and carrying signs in
support
of Nader and LaDuke, in particular.
Another difference a more widespread use of humor.
One of the most creative and popular contingents at the
July
30th march was Billionaires for Bush (or Gore). Dressed
in
suits, ties and evening gowns, they chanted slogans
like,
"Who needs day care, hire an au pair," "Big money united
shall never be defeated," and "Make a smart investment,
buy
yourself a President." And this is but one example of
the
use of humor in a more extensive way by the new
pro-justice
movement.
It is also significant that this is a movement with
many leaders.
In the late '60s, there were particular individuals
who were seen as the peace movement's leaders - Dave
Dellinger, Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, Abbie Hoffman and
Jerry Rubin being among the most prominent. Major
national
demonstrations didn't happen unless at least one or two
of
these or other well-known individuals were major,
on-the-
scenes organizers.
The actions that have taken place in Seattle,
Washington, D.C. and Philadelphia, on the other hand,
involved a wider range of leadership, a greater mix of
individuals playing leadership roles, and a much more
collective organizational process. Njoki Njehu, the MC
of
the April 16th demonstration in D.C., has commented on
how,
"in the months and weeks leading up to the mobilization
in
Washington, for the first time that I've seen at a
larger
level, we worked by consensus. We had a collective
method
of work involving literally hundreds of people in
Washington
organizing meetings and working groups, making decisions
and
respecting them, empowering people. We were creating the
kind of world that we want."
This, perhaps, is the most significant of all
the differences. There is a widespread appreciation of
the
necessity of a fully democratic and respectful political
process as we organize our actions. We can't say that we
are against an undemocratic and oppressive political and
economic system and then function within our own
meetings
and events in a top-down, hierarchical way.
But it goes even deeper than this.
Possibly the most amazing experience at a political
meeting that I have ever had took place in Washington in
April. It was the night of the 16th, following a morning
and afternoon of blockading, marching and demonstrating,
and in the sweltering basement of a local church five or
six
hundred people were trying to figure out what to do the
next
morning. It was too much for one young man, and he
pretty
much "lost it" as he tried to make his contribution to
the
long, difficult process of coming to a decision. He
began
attacking the chair of the meeting and airing his
frustrations in a very antagonistic way.
All of a sudden, as if on cue, the entire room
was filled with 15 to 20 seconds of a long
"ooooommmmmm." I
looked around, trying to grasp what was taking place.
Then,
as the frustrated young man grew silent and sat down,
and
as the "oomms" died away, the chair of the meeting
smoothly
transitioned back to the issues at hand.
Back "in my day," there would have been a very
different reaction. There would have been calls for the
speaker to shut up. At least one person, almost
certainly
another man, would have taken offense and indignantly
responded to one of the points that was made. Or someone
would have taken advantage of the momentary disruption
to try to push a particular point or alter the agenda.
This time, however, the desire on the part of the
group as a whole to stay centered and focused and the
use of
a spiritual tactic in a political meeting by large
numbers
of young people led to a very different outcome.
As our movement grows and develops, as we address
our continuing weaknesses and become increasingly
stronger,
we will be faced with many roadblocks by our corporate/
government enemies. But if those of who are older can
learn
from the maturity and dedication that many of our
younger
leaders are demonstrating, we stand a fighting chance to
accomplish our objective of bringing into being a truly
just and peaceful country and world.
Ted Glick is the National Coordinator of the Independent
Progressive Politics Network (www.ippn.org). His first
book,
Future Hope: A Winning Strategy for a Just Society, has
just been published. He can be reached at P.O. Box 1132,
Bloomfield, N.J. 07003, or .
- -30-
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