Greetings Terrorists

by robert herbst Sunday, Dec. 02, 2001 at 11:54 PM
slowtractor@earthlink.net

The following is a submission to the IMC-LA S11 art gallery

Greeting Terrorists,

I am writing you as a form of outreach. I’d like to introduce myself as an activist artist living in the United States. For years know I too have been working to end the exploitative system of Western Imperialism. Can we agree on a mutual dislike of capitalism?


I first became aware of your activities on Sept. 11th of this year. Where as your methods of closing the stock markets and ceasing the Pentagons war operations differ from my own, I am non-the-less impressed with your tactics efficacy. Us radicals in the U.S. work through consensus in an affinity group structure. This allows individual collectives leeway in deciding on their own methods of protest. Some of us practice direct action; others Ghandian non violence, still others of us may choose to just lobby our representatives. So, I hope we could work together if we can agree to disagree.

In this regard, while you seem to be firm in your approach you might find that working with us may expand your own “tool kit”. I myself have written very touching leaflets which I handed out to individual American military personnel describing the consequences of their actions in the third world.

One of the reasons I am writing to you today is to personally introduce myself to you. I can understand your use of property destruction however my respect for it falls off when it involves harm to any living being. Though tactically effective, your indiscriminate use of violence may get a bit messy (in my eyes it really distracts from getting your message across). Add to this the fact that I am concerned about getting caught in the crossfire. So to end all confusion - you can recognize my comrades and me by our clothing. Generally we wear dark clothing, but sometimes (and especially at a dance) we may be quite colorful in appearance. This should clear that matter up.

I am sure we can find space for a meaningful collaboration, and I look forward to working with you.





Il Lucha Continua,

Robert Herbst

Original: Greetings Terrorists <art project1>