The Westwood Pep Rally, followed by the ANSWER Anti-inaugural Parade went almost exactly as intended. There were about three thousand people in Westwood, mostly from UCLA, who participated in an anti-bush parade. There were a few protestors there, but the ANSWER coalition, supported by the police officers, that I suspect ANSWER paid to do security at the event, were able to marginalize them before they had any real effect on Bush’s war machine. The people watching the parade were few in numbers, probably due to the area that the police/ANSWER team chose, and the police’s success at keeping pedestrians away. Nonetheless, there were a few conservatives that did attend, drinking their cappuccinos from the windows of the several Star Bucks along the parade route. Below are pictures from the night’s festivities.

Though my critique of the leadership of the last four years of the anti-bush movement is not yet complete, I will say this. I have no doubts that groups like the ANSWER coalition has created a system of protesting that marginalizes the movement and keeps political dissent in the background. It is one thing for ANSWER to say that they cannot and will not condone an action, but when ANSWER openly criticizes direct action, they reduce the effectiveness of the entire movement, and marginalizes everyone; they become agents of the repression that many of us stand against. It is through a diversity of tactics that gives strength to a movement. This city, these streets, this government, it is ours. We cannot expect our government to change itself, and we did not come out on the streets to go to a parade. This is our democracy, and we need to take it back. When I criticize the march, as I did above, I fully understand that ANSWER has its purpose. It is a place that parents can bring their children to. It is a place for college buddies that are more worried about a misdemeanor on their record than the Palestinian kids that are being shot with our bullets can come and voice their opinions. But this really is our country, and these types of gatherings by themselves are not going to change a thing.

Just ask yourself, why did Ukraine get a new election? Was it because they listened to the police and the government? Something tells me that if the people that stole their election to disperse because a permit expired, they would still be there.

error

error

error

Are they really free? For the record, this couple had a lot of great energy.

They still think that we can work within the system.

There were a few who demanded to be heard, just a few...

error

When ANSWER saw people trying to commit direct action, they first told everyone that they were not allowed to protest, and when that didn't work, they asked the police to help.

The Few, The Brave, The Revolutionaries...

Follow the Rules, Turn Right, Heads Up, Important People In Front, Follow the Truck.

Here are "the people" that we were speaking too. Do you see the urgency in their eyes? I wander if they called their senators to say things have to change.

Someone is pushing the envelope.

The Police were nice enough to tell us where ANSWER agreed to marginalize us.

ANSWER makes sure that everone stays together and does what they are told. If you cross the line, they get the cops to get you. I sometimes wander if this method was established by the FBI or the Shin Beth?

error

Telling us to leave the area or we will be arrested and telling us to do what we are told, and on and on.....

And a revolutionary seems defeated by the well-oiled ANSWER/LA Police Coalition.

OH SO YOU ARE REAL ANTI-WAR FOLKS, IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANSWER WHY DONT YOU START YOUR OWN GROUP.....WHY GO KNOWING THAT THE CONCEPT IS NOT TO BE LIKE THE ONES WE HATE THE MOST, PEACE IS A WAY OF LIFE ,...... IF YOUR SO BOTHER BY THE WAY IT WAS DONE DONT TALK DO...............THIS CONCEPT OF WHOSE ANTI WAR MORE THEN THE OTHER IS SO LAME ASS.....
THERE IS A TIME FOR PEACE THERE IS A TIME TO STAND.....
I DONT GET YOUR BEEF
WHAT IS IT YOU STAND FOR? THAT YOU DONT MENTION.....
YOU JUDGE OTHERS QUITE WELL YOU SEEM MORE GOP THEN ANTI-WAR.
WHATS YOUR BEEF ? DID SOME GIRL IN THE ANSWER MOVEMENT HURT YOUR FEELINGS? WITH ALL THAT IS GOING ON WITH ALL THAT SOME OF US ARE PROTESTING AGAINST YOUR BEEF IS WITH ANSWER?

I DONT GET IT IF YOU KNOW YOU HATE CHICKEN WHY GO TO KFC? HEY HERES A ISSUE THE CONSERVATIVE RIGHT WANTS TO BAND SPONGE BOB SQUARE PANTS THEY WANT TO DECIDE FOR THE HOLD COUNTRY WHAT WE CAN WACTH AND NOT WACTH, AM I A FAN OF THIS SHOW NOT REALLY BUT DO I WANT OTHERES TO DECIDE WHAT I WACTH OR NOT HELL NO....BUT HEY THE FACT THAT ANSWER DOSENT WANT PEOPLE DOING STUPID SHIT THAT GOSE AGAINST MEN LIKE MARTIN LUTHER KING HEY NOW THATS A ISSUE YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS CAN FOCUS ON. WAR PLUS WAR = MORE WAR.... I WILL STAND AGAINST THE POWER THAT BE WITH THE UNDERSTANDING THAT

I DONT HAVE TO BE LIKE THEM TO GET CHANGE, PEACE AND FREEDOM THROUGH A M-16 DOSE NOT WORK...
BUSH HAS PROVEN THAT HOW ARE YOU GOING TO CHANGE THINGS?
BY JUDGING OTHERS WAY OF PROTESTING HOWS THAT DIFFRENT THEN BEING A CLOSED MINDED WAR MONGERING FOX NEWS CHANNEL SHEEP SLASH ROBOT....
DONT BECOME THE THING YOU SAY YOU HATE?
WHEN IT COMES TO THE ANSWER MOVEMENT
I SAY THIS TO YOU.
DONT TALK.. DONT JUDGE.......
DO SOMETHING
DONT TALK WALK TOWARDS SOMETHING WE CAN RALLY AROUND PUT YOUR MONEY WERE MOUTH IS....YOU WANT A REVOLUTION PROVE IT. IF NOT STEP DOWN AND LET THE REST OF US DO THE WORK YOUR TALK CANT BACK UP .......AM I PERFECT NO BUT I BELEIVE YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE YOU I HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE ME AND I DONT HAVE TO BE YOU OR ACT LIKE YOU OR THINK LIKE YOU TO SAY NO TO THIS WAR....
THAT CONCEPT IS CALL FREEDOM.

CROSS.

I go to every other big demo. It's awesome to see the people, and reconnect with people I met last time. It's also good to remember that we're not alone with our sense of what's going on. There were some cool signs too -- lots of creative people are in our movement.

The speakers leave me cold. It's not that I disagree with them, but that they seem so hopeless and angry. It's very negative. Also, I don't like the amplified truck. When people hear silence, they fill it with their own chants. Demos are a good place to try out some new rhymes.

There are a lot of little groups out there, with five people, or fifty people, doing political work. They're radical and anti-imperialist, but also engage the system, going to city meetings, trying to get resolutions passed, making local peace vigils and demonstrations, and growing the movement. They're doing it person-to-person rather than with Answer's mass-media, mass-control techniques.

The reason Kerry lost, despite the fact that many in our movement assented to vote for the guy, was because the Republicans were better at person-to-person organizing. They flipped the switch and thousands of people made millions of phone calls.

The real insult is this: they learned it from the Civil Rights movement.

The Left has a weak base. We don't even have sellouts to occasionally represent our interests. The result has been plain: more tax cuts for millionaires, and more suffering for the poor.

I don't think some marxist mind-bomb is going to "wake people up" and shit. I don't think the inevitable steamroller of "history" is going to guarantee the proletariat will seize power.

If history says anything, it says that capitalism in a time of economic difficulty, will find alliance with fascists, and will develop fascism into a real force, to capture the imagination of the working class, and mobilize it into a political force to destroy any uprising of the working classes.

These big marches are not enough. We need thousands of little organizing victories weekly. The perfect analysis of our condition, while important, is not enough. Truth is just information, it's not politics. The correct political position, while romantic, is not enough either. Idealism is important, but it's not political engagement.

1P1P, ruben rivas, a, cornelius cardew, and everyone else: thanks for the photos. They're great!

the photographer's comment on the pix:
5.jpgarg9nw.jpg, image/jpeg, 1000x750

“Are they really free? For the record, this couple had a lot of great energy.”

... is vague at best, and sexist at the sight of it. Can you please either explain your intentions or change that caption PLEASE.

feminist for peace here
lisbeth west
duckdaotsu media
http://www.duckdaotsu.org /

First off maybe try shrinking your photos so we can see exactly what your captions are taking about.

One question I would like to ask my friend, is did you ever try attending the ANSEWR Organizing meetings?
Or blocking the rally rope so kids can run into you and writing "fuck you" all the time you could afford? The ANSWER Coalition isn't perfect, but it has been the most consitent and persistent group that has been providing venues for people to dialouge and gather the broadest anti-war forces since 9/11. As others have jumped back and fourth with lines like, "Support Our Troops" or out right joined and backed the democratic candidate, ANSWER coalition members have been consistent with making sure that the line is corect and day to day work with their mass base is built up. Maybe breaking shit so the cops can crack little kids skulls is something LAPD payed you to do? As for continuing the work, of course a rally is not enough but as we see who has been consistent in really developing an anti-imperialist stance it's been ANSWER.

So how about taking a shower, showing your face, and get in the grind really organizing the people. Addressing their needs and drawing parralels to the oppressed people around the world? Winning over the people so when your base reaches critical mass the revolution can be acheived. If you can't see yourself doing that painstaking work maybe going back to Daddy's Trustfund will make you feel better?

Onward
Serving the People

I can explain. The protest organizers seem very authoritarian and try to get people to follow orders. It is the classic master, slave morality. As far as the picture, the red eye reminded me of the movie Dawn of the Dead, where the zombie (working class) go after the ruling class, who blockades themselves in a mall. It seems like many Americans (probably people in general) can only follow the crowd and do what those around them are doing. The reasons that the break away marches failed is because ANSWER would run in and yell, "don't follow them, they are not following the rules" and the entire crowd would comply. Are they really free?

At the same time, I saw this couple (man and woman) several times during the protest. They had great energy about them and were really down. I didn't want them to read this and think I was speaking badly about them. They were great, loud, and down for the cause.

You are right; I should have explained that more.

Cross,

Maybe you missed my point. When one group tries to dominate a movement (like ANSWER has successful done) and then that group tries to marginalize other groups, it becomes a centralized power structure that can destroy all progressive changes. I am not telling people not to go to ANSWER rallies, and I understand that if ANSWER condones certain actions, it could hurt them as a group. But when the act like cops (as they have been doing on the West Coast) and publicly criticize other actions, they hurt and weaken the entire movement. This is so common sense that I am coming to the conclusion that they are doing it on purpose as a power grab tactic, and it is the reason that the anti-war movement is marginalized. Strength is in diversity of tactics, and the authorities knowing that they can go after ANSWER, or Bloc, but that it won’t even slow the movement down. And, for your information, there is a third option, don't join or start any group, but participate in random acts of activism. Before Answer, there was a decentralized anti-free-trade movement that was becoming more and more successful, because one person couldn't control or harm it. ANSWER has started the McMovement, and it affects us all. You sound like the Wal Mart executive that says, "if you don't like Wal Mart, open your own discount store and run us out of business." Well, it just doesn't work that way.

For what it's worth, I've gone to a couple Answer meetings, but none were planning meetings for marches. Also been to some IAC things. Also donated money before.

I get more involved locally, and have done some more standard stuff like student demos and whatnot. So, yeah, I feel entitled to complain.

What's wrong with a little criticism from your peers?

I have a criticism for anarchists: get organized and make your own march/festival/event.

SIMPLE I DONT BELONG TO ANSWER OR ANY ONE GROUP .

...AND FOR WALMART AND THE SMALL BUSSINES MAN DONT HAVE THE SAME GOALS AS YOU AND ANSWER
. ONE YOU BELIVE THE SYSTEM IS SO DIRTY AND PURE EVIL YOU CANT WORK FROM IN....FEEL YOU ON THAT..BUT I THOUGHT IF YOU WERE IN A WAR AS YOU CLAIM TO BE IN .....IT BE SMART TO KEEP YOUR FREINDS CLOSE AND YOUR ENEMY CLOSER.
.
I TRUST A COP LIKE I TRUST A TRINTY BROADCAST MEMBER TO TELL ME ABOUT GOD...I DONT...

BUT I DO BELIVE THAT SYSTEM CAN BE DESTROYED WITH IN BY KNOWING HOW THEY WORK. ..
AGAIN YOU DONT NEED TO ASK ANSWERS PERMISSION TO DO ANYTHING ,
HOW CAN THEY DESTROY A MOVEMENT WHY DO YOU GIVE THEM SO MUCH OF YOUR POWER YOU HAVE FREE WILL...ANSWER ISNT THE MOVEMENT NEITHER ARE YOU OR ME WE ARE APART AS A HOLE....THE KEY FOR ME IS TO UNDERSTAND ALL.;;;;

ARE ALL MY PROTEST WITH IN THE SYSTEM NO.

THERE ARE MEANY SHADES OF GRAY , BUT I MUST ALLOW OTHERS TO FIGURE THAT OUT FOR THEM SELVES NOT EVERY ONES CROSSROADS ARE THE SAME, NOT EVERY ONES AMERICA IS THE SAME.

THE EVIL IS ALL OVER AMERICAN HISTORY AND GROUPS LIKE WALMART ARE APART OF THAT EVIL GREED FORCE.

BUSH AND HIS FREINDS SHOULD BE PUNISHED BY THE SAME LAWS THEY PUT US ALL THROUGH. KNOWBODY IS THE MOVEMENT.... IT MUST NOT BE THE SOUND OF JUST ONE POINT OF VIEW . EVERYONE WILL HAVE DIFFRENT PARTS TO PLAY,..

AND YES THERE SHOULD BE A PLACE WERE MOM AND DAD CAN BRING THERE CHILDREN TO SEE ONE KIND OF CONCEPT OF FREEDOM MAYBE NOT YOUR CONCEPT .... ONE ALL THE SAME.

HOW FAR ARE YOU WILLING TO GO TO STOP THE GOVERMENT ?
TO END UP ACTING AND BEING JUST LIKE THEM...

SO YOU STORM THE WHITE HOUSE AND KILL THEM ALL OFF RE CLAIM THE WHITE HOUSE.. THEN WHEN DO YOU STOP ?

DO YOU START HURTING OTHERS ONE BY ONE WHO DONT AGREE WITH YOU. ?

GET THIS I DONT CARE IF YOU ARE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT CHRISTIAN OR NOT..

MY VEIW WITH ANY GROUP IS YOU CROSS THE LINE WHEN YOU DEMAND I MUST BE LIKE YOU TO BE FREE. HOW YOU TREAT YOUR FELLOW MAN IS MORE IMPORTANT.
1PLANET YOU HAVE JUDGE OTHERS YOU DONT KNOW BEHIND THERE BACKS THATS YOUR IDEA OF JUSTICE?

TAKING PICTURES OF THEM TO DISS THEM WITH OUT THEM HAVING A CHANCE A VOICE TO SPEAK THERE MIND , HOW ARE YOUR ACTIONS NO DIFFRENT THEN PATTRIOT ACT.

YOU PUT THERE IMAGES ONLINE AND WAS THE JUDGE AND JURY ...YOUR CONCEPT OF FREEDOM MY FRIEND IS SCARY.

WERE I COME FROM THERE IS A SAYING THAT A THUG IS A THUG THATS HUSH.
IF YOU ARE SUCH THE SOLDIER OF TRUTH YOU BE LIKE THE WIND YOU HIT AND BE GONE BEFORE WE COULD SEE YOU.
YOU WOULD NOT SPEND YOUR TIME TALKING OR BICTHING ABOUT HOW ONE GROUP SEES YOUR BEHAVIOR....YOU BE TO BUSY TO WORRY ABOUT SOME MOM AND POP PEACE MOVEMENT.

WHO GETS ON YOUR CASE CAUSE YOU GUYS REALLY DIG ANARCHY SHIRTS AND WANT ALL OF US TO WAKE UP BUT YOU GUYS COME ACROSS WITH SO MUCH EGO LIKE BUSH AND HIS BOYS.

EVERY GROUP THAT THINKS THEY ARE BETTER STONGER OR MORE IMPORTANT THEN THE NEXT THATS WHAT HURTS THE CAUSE.
FOR I DONT BELONG TO ANY GROUP FOR IAM NO ONES SHEEP BUT I WILL SUPPORT AND BACK UP PEOPLE OF ALL RACE AND CREEDS WHEN THEY ARE SEARCHING FOR JUSTICE AND PEACE AND BALANCE.
I RATHER UNDERSTAND THEN BE UNDERSTOOD I RATHER ALLOW YOU TO BE WHAT EVER IS YOU WANT TO BE. WITHOUT YOU OR ANYBODY ELSE DECIDING WHAT MY PATH SHOULD BE

WHO ARE YOU TO DECIDE WHO IS APART OF THE REVOLUTION AND WHO IS NOT. HOW ARE YOU TO KNOW THE EFFECTS OF THE WESTWOOD PROTEST MIGHT BE. YOU TOOK A POLE OF EVERYONE THERE AND ASK THEM HOW THIS EFFECT THEM AND WHY THEY ARE THERE RIGHT?

IAM ANGRY IAM MAD FUCKING PISSED OFF AT THE SYSTEM, BUT THERE OWN SHAME WILL BE SHOWN TO THE WORLD BY THERE MISTAKES THAT MAY THER LIES BE EXPOSSED AND MAY WE NOT BE LIKE THEM BUT LEARN FROM THERE MISTAKES.
IF THATS NOT AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR YOU .
THEN AGAIN I SAY DONT WINE ABOUT THE PEACE MOVEMENT
THEY HAVE NO CONTROL OVER YOU..
.DO YOU NEED CREDIT FOR ALL
YOUR ACTIONS,
DO YOU AND YOUR CLICK WANT THE LIME LIGHT?
ARE YOUR ACTIONS MENT TO SET US ALL FREE ?OR IS ABOUT YOU GETTING YOUR COME UPS OR YOURE PROPS FOR YOUR ACTIONS.

KNOWBODY SEES THE THE BIBLE THE SAME I SURE DONT BUT DO I HAVE THE RIGHT TO TELL SOMEONE HOW THEY SHOULD SEE GOD ?HELL NO WHO THE HELL AM I .
SO THE QUESTION AGAIN IS WHO ARE YOU TO TELL ANYGROUP HOW THEY SHOULD PROTEST.....I SAY YOU GO BE WHO YOU ARE ,,,,LET THEM BE WHO THEY ARE...

YOUR A SOLDIER ..THEN DONT TALLK ABOUT IT BE ABOUT IT.
BRO YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW THIS BUT YOUR COMMING ACROSS LIKE THE CHRISTIAN RIGHT.
ALL I KNOW YOU MIGHT JUST BE A INSIDER TO THROW SALT IN THE GAME.
SEE THEY DID THAT TO MALCOM X AND MARTIN LUTHER KING BOTH MEN WERE RIGHT BUT YOU NO THIS YOU SPENT YOUVE SPENT YOUR HOLE LIFE STUYDING THIS STUFF RIGHT.

DONT MISTAKE KINDNESS AS WEAKNESS.
DONT MISTAKE MY PEACE FLAG AS
A INVENTATION TO MAKE ME A SHEEP
OF THE SYSTEM...

SEE YOU GUYS TALK HEAVY GAME BUT WHAT HAVE YOU AND YOUR CLICK DONE.?

I SEE DIVERSITY IS NOT IN YOUR PLAN. DO YOU LIVE UNDERGROUND IN A CAVE DO YOU AND THE HARD CORE HAVE A PLAN ? OR DO YOU GET LATE FOR WORK JUST LIKE ME...DID YOU BUILD YOUR COMPUTER BY SCRACTH FROM THE GROUND UP OR DID YOU BUY YOURS AT THE SAME CORPORATE LOCATIONS
AS MOST DO.
DID YOU HACK INTO • Indymedia on a untraceable internet connection..?... are you working everyday to impower the homeless and the working class who are stuck into low wage jobs in this country while PARIS HILTON spits in there face and uses the money thats created by the labors.so she can do shows on FOX TV....or do you spend most of the time taking pictures of people you dont know to judge them behind there backs.
QUESTION IS WHO ARE YOU
WHY SHOULD ANY ONE TRUST
YOU KNOWING THE GOP HAS
TONS OF COMPUTER QUACKS
TRYING TO HURT, CONTACT AND CONTROL OTHER ON LINE AND OFF.

YOUR MORE MAD AT ANSWER THEN THE POWERS THAT BE WHY IS THAT?????????????????.....CROSS...
WHO ARE YOU?
MAYBE I ALREADY KNOW THAT QUESTION> IN THE DAYS OF MARTIN LUTHER KING THE F.B.I. PAID OTHER YOUNG BLACKS MONEY TO UPSET HIS PROTEST SO KNOWBODY WOULD FOLLOW.
YOU WANT A REASON TO BE RAMBO,...
WHAT YOU WATTING FOR SOLDIER.
YOU TALK BIG GAME BUT IF YOUR TARGETS ARE YOUNG TEENAGE PROTEST GIRLS.....DAM THATS THE BEST YOU CAN AFTER???

For the record, I am not advocating a 'war' on the United States. We are citizens; we don't need to declare 'war' in the traditional sense; its already ours, we just need to remove the elite from a position of power and authority. The system is already in place.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.”

Revolution can manifest itself in many ways. Some so it in a voters box, some in organized rallies, some in acts of civil disobedience, and others stop the movement of capital. The strength is in the convergence on a goal by many different groups and individual people. Some may stop commence, others my delay congressional approval. But when a powerful entity begins to centralize this movement, and act to destroy the diversity, then the strength diminishes. The Thursday demonstration is not the first time that ANSWER has worked against the cause. The West Coast (I haven't seen this happen on the east coast, and actually, I have seen DC ANSWER participate in non-permitted marches, and support a diversity of tactics) has repeatedly tried to break up and discourage civil disobedience, sit-ins, and anything not sanctioned by their organizers (and/or the police department) for the last couple years.

What I will say is that the current organizers have had four years, and they couldn’t even sway the election. The status quo has not worked and needs to be re-evaluated. We need to look to other places for ideas. Maybe working to stop commerce would be more effective.

http://www.sdnp.org.gy/apa/block_road.htm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3141288.stm
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54631-2004Feb19.html

But when groups that have the ability to communicate to the activists crowds like Fox has to communicate with Republicans, and they continue to attack a diversity of methods, the movement stagnates.

Do not turn what I am saying into a violent call to action. I do not condone many actions taken, and I will speak out against acts of violent aggression, but I will not say it is wrong for other people to do anything short of violence. It may seem that I am attacking ANSWER a lot (in a way I am), but not their good work, they have done a lot of great things, but they also have done some harm, and their size has a lot to do with it. Their way cannot work alone, and they have to stop working against others.

BTW, Cross, attacking me because you don't like what I say is an Ad Hominem fallacy. Try taking a critical reasoning class. You don't have to know who I am, or trust me. I am not asking people to follow me, I am asking them to follow themselves. If you had a clue, you would have already gotten this from what I said.

I DONT ATTACK I DEFEND THE RIGHT FOR EVERY MAN AND WOMEN YOU JUDGED TO HAVE THE RIGHT TO BE THERE. (THE HOLE UNDERDOG THING)_
BUT I GIVE YOUR PROPS FOR KNOWING YOUR STUFF.....FOR YOU WESTWOOD DIDNT HIT THE MARK BUT IT DID FOR MY WIFE FOR THE FIRST TIME TO BE ABLE TO STAND FOR WHAT SHE BELIVED TO BE A UNJUSTICE WAR...

.I BEEN DOING THIS STUFF ON AND OFF THIS WAS HER FIRST TIME AND FOR US TO GO TOGETHER..WAS GOLD. FOR HER TO SEE OTHERS THAT AGREE THAT THE BUSH HOUSE OF OIL MIGHT MADE HER FEEL ALIVE............

WE MIGHT NOT AGREE ON THIS OR THAT 1PLANET BUT I WILL NEVER LET ANYONE TELL HER THAT HER ACTIONS AT WESTWOOD DIDNT MEAN ANYTHING........
SHE FOUND A WAY TO EXPRESS HER ANGER, I WAS PROUD TO STAND UP FOR HER AND BACK HER UP SHES MY WIFE AND BEST FRIEND...

..WE GET JUDGE IN MORE WAYS THEN ONE WE GET FROM ALOUT OF SIDES SO MY AGGRESSION TOWARDS YOU IS THAT I RATHER HAVE SOME ACTION THEN NONE AT ALL.......
AND WHEN IT COMES TO POLICE AND ME WE DONT GET ALONG THAT
WELL,
I GET DOUBLE THE PRESSURE THEN YOU MIGHT GET MY FRIEND....
AND MY PLAN TO PROTEST HAS TO HAVE ALL SIDES TO IT.....ME AND MY WIFE WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE A LIVING TOGTHER, I CANT AFFORD TO GET RODNEY KINGED EVERY WEEK WHOSE GOING TO KEEP MY HOUSE HOLD TOGETHER .....YOU...............SHE DEPENDS ON MY INCOME AS I DO WITH HER AS WELL WE ARE A TEAM.............WE ARE THE WORKING CLASS WE ARE THE ONES WHO CLEANS THE HOTEL ROOMS DOSE THE JOBS THAT NO OTHERS DO AND WE HAVE FOUGHT LONG AND HARD TO GET OUT THAT TRAPP.
IAM SORRY IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU BEEN ATTACK BUT ALL I CAN SAY WHEN YOU JUDGE OTHERS YOU DONT KNOW , YOU DONT GROW.
PEACE TO YOU AND YOUR CREW AND MAY ONE DAY WE BOTH CAN SEE THE END OF KLAN LIKE RULE OF THE UNITED STATES.

CROSS. P.S. ME AND MY WIFE HAVE BEEN JUDGED ALL ARE LIVES JUST BASED ON HOW WE LOOK AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO LIVE ARE LIVES..

DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW THE ANGER WHEN EVERY WERE YOU GO YOU CANT BE JUST BE.

I CANT NOT AFFORD TO BE LIKE THE ONES WHO HATE ME
I MUST RISE ABOVE AND CONTINUE
TO STAND FOR MY SELF AND WHO I CHOOSE TO LOVE AND BECOME.
EVEN IF I MUST STAND ALONE.
ME AND MY WIFE........ ARE WORLD ONLY BECOMES HARDER WHEN WE GO OUTSIDE EVERYDAY BE THERE A WAR GOING ON ARE NOT.... SHE DOSENT CONTROL ME I DONT CONTROL HER WE LEARN ABOUT EACH OTHER EVERY YEAR WE ARE TOGTHER.
FREEDOM 0NEPLANET I FIGHTING FOR THE RIGH TO JUST BE.
ME.
CROSS

LA's spectacular protest culture is really bad.
Look at cities like NY, Portland, San Fran, where large scale spectacular protests wind through neighborhoods and spark creative exploration of public spaces. Support street level music and theater... what do we got, Butoh and Radical Teen Cheer. All great because they are an expression that is outside the droll language we hear drumming from the stage and KPFK.

The spectacular left in this city as exemplafied by many (but not all) media voices on KPFK confuse themselves for the revolution. Answer and such organizations ride on that back... that if we can tell enough people what we think the truth is, then the revolution will happen.

Folks, this is bs. The only radical attempt at KPFK is spanish language broadcasting, the only radical attempt at these protests is that they happen at all. We really can do better... seeding cultural possibility. The only conflict at KPFK occurs (boringly) behind closed doors, the only dissent on the street occurs beforehand in the permit offices...

Political change isn't go along to get along and carreer enhancement, its creativity, invention and play. If those who controled the left media in the city, and those who managed the protest media on the streets in this city had a little more flexibility and openness- we would see a boom in the allready blossoming anger and frustration and longing that is allready occuring in this city.

Instead of imagining that culture must go to there streets, or voices must be channeled through their ideological perspectives on air, the management class needs to let creativity (and that doesn't mean a band from 1990) take the stage. Creativity in though, in action... Why not a protest where instead of spending money for stage and sound, the organizers hand out masks... or hand out seeds, or wind through Highland Park or MLK.

Loads of folks are making grassroots culture and protest that is trying to shake a dominant paradigm, its unfortunate that the spectacular classes of the left in this city choose the same old speakers, the same old routes, the same old issues.

I strongly agree your message, what is the next step?

The only thing I have to say to CROSS is that I am glad you and your wife had so much fun. And I understand that your standard of living is important to you, and you don't want to 'rock the boat'. I also have a family (along with a son to support) and I also have a nice job, but I guess I value the lives of others higher than you do, and that is okay, at least you are doing something. Nonetheless, these parades are not going to do anything to stop the US imperialism. This movement is not about me, its not about you, or ANSWER. These are about the person in the picture. They are about trying to stop the madness and violence our government is causing. If anyone works to stop the madness, I am on his or her side. But when people work against it, well, I am against them. ANSWER is helping the government pacify the people by encouraging them to march in hiding, yell in a vacuum, and show themselves in the dark. ANSWER has potential to do great things, it just chooses not to.

Why Anti-Capitalism?

By Joaquin Cienfuefos

(An Excerpt from Anarcho-Communism: A Revoluionary Position For Theory and Practice in the Imperialist U.S.)

Building Anti-Capitalist Organization and an Anti-Capitalist Front

As we build a movement for radical change the question is always posed, what should be the "dividing line" or what should people unite under. Generally the idea for mass organizations or organizations as a whole is to have the largest numbers out there in a rally or protest. The argument is made that in order to build the Anti-War Movement or the Anti-Globalization movement we can't and we shouldn't call out Capitalism as the root cause or we shouldn't be upfront about the economic infrastructure of power. The idea is put foward that we should be first anti-war or anti-corporate and then anti-capitalist, meaning first win people to resistance of what the ruling class is carying out, and then take on the power structure which carries out the injustices in the first place.

I want to put these questions out there not to be sectarian, but to increase unity on a correct basis in building a revolutionary movement, which is much needed today. We need a broad, diverse revolutionary movement made up of autonomous organizations and cohesive networks to not only challenge the power structure but to once and for all get rid of it and reallign society from below.

This point brings to mind the Old Left of the 1920's to the 50's, and what Staughton Lynd wrote about in Prospects for the New Left. In this writing Staughton Lynd talks of the 60's generation and how there was break with the Old Left type politics in particular the old left Communist Party, and some of their labor unions. He makes a good point that we should draw from some of the good aspects of the old left, to build something new, in terms of the New Left of the 60's generation. Some of these new ideas included the rejection of dogma, the celebration of action, the struggle against centralization and union bureaucracy, the vision of a movement as a band of comrades acting out the future as if it were already here (which is in many ways what anarchists talk about) . The principal criticism of the old left was the whole idea of the popular front, "the assumption was that enemy was fascism rather than capitalism, hence that the so-called liberal wing of the ruling class might be an ally." This period was during World War II, where basically the Old Left CP sold out, and called for the support of the troops and the war against fascism, and ended up supporting the U.S and their imperialist interests. "[The Communists] declared that Communists would defend their country in time of war, that Communism would come to the United States by parliamentary means, and so on."

I would agree with Lynds approach, I don't think it is linear, nothing is. There is a multi-dimensional aspect to everything. There was a lot to learn from the old left, and there is even much more to learn from the new left (also from past struggles around the world and people), but nothing is static either. We need a whole new approach, and a revolutionary left. We need to synthesize the experiences but be critical of the mistakes, in order to advance in our goals of a new egalitarian society. The 60's generation challenged the order in society, and the groups that developed from that era are inspirational, but things must be taken even further.

Struggles have to be linked to the root cause of the problems facing humanity and the planet, which is the economic, political and social system of Capitalism-Imperialism. Capitalism should be the dividing line in which people unite, debate, and fight under.
There wouldn't be war if it wasn't for the capitalist system, in its imperialist stage, where it seeks to accumulate empire and power, through its millitary. Capitalism seeks to expand its markets by globalization, where it dominates entire "third-world" countries, exploits people more brutally, and destroys the enviroment while doing it. This is the honest truth. Fascism is a system where Capitalist openly rule under different social relations but similar mode of production and imperialist methodology. They should all be challenged. It should be a popular front against capitalism, imperialism, and fascism.

It seems that the organizations that now exist, the anti-war coalitions and so on, want to have large numbers in their demonstrations which isn't bad in it of itself. There is a need for numbers, in order for change we need millions of people to become politically conscius one way or the other. However, history shows, that people step foward in different times, and then take steps back, history itself is never linear. The number of people in the streets depends on whats going on in the world, and what the power is doing, the more overtly imperialist they are, the more people resist, that is a fundamental truth. The task of organizations are to expose the power structure mainly, and to create a consciousness in people to be able to act out in the interests of humanity. There is a difference in understanding and consciousness, therefore our role as revolutionaries is not to impose our own particular vision but to develop one collectively with others. Our role is to develop and educate other rebels through building a revolutionary movement that is determined, that will inspire and influence people to take direct action and to be guided by theory. Ultimately, we have to be organized in terms of how we want the future world to be organized, and everything we do even the simplest act, has to prepare us for the future.

There have been and are many people and groups who resist capitalism now is the time to unite. There are people in the U.S. and around the world who are challenging imperialism in many ways now is the time to network. We have to seek to raise the debate amongst ourselves, and link up but at the same time keep the autonomy which makes the groups involved unique.

I see pictures of how the Industrial Workers of the World had Mass Assembly meetings and thousands of workers participated in the decision making process through vote by hand, this is direct democracy, where debate and participation are part of daily life (this can be discussed later, but just to give a glimpse of how we can organize ourselves). As an Anarcho-Communist, but especially as an Anarchist, I think that we should organize in a decentralized way, meaning that there is no small group of people who make the decisions and the rest of us do the ground work for them. The New Left, and mass movements that developed from the time, follow the same model of organization, which in the final analysis is hierarchical (I won't get into the problems of centralism, they will also be discussed later). In our organization today, we have to train ourselves to be self-sufficient, to be self-manageable, and to develop our forms of organizing to be as inclusive as possible while not losing our sense of autonomy and defense from the state.

This Anti-Capitalist Front should be diverse where different struggles, and theoretical positions can enter debate. National liberation struggles will definately be an important aspect of the front, because they are always the first to challenge the power structure in any part of the world. I think even pacifists can enter the front, because I know a lot of them are anti-system, and its an individual process for everybody. We'll influence each other, and debate over the means and the strategy. In terms of today, in particular in imperialist U.S., we are not yet in a military stage, meaning we are not yet there to getting rid of the system. This does not mean we should be in the political defensive, we should be calling out the system, and in our practice preparing and fighting for better ground politically and tactically against the right wing. This brings to mind George Jackson of the Black Panther Party, he said that to simply engage in military activity without a political component it would lead to being isolated and smashed. This happens to much in the left today, where we isolate ourselves, a lot of us anarchists do it. This makes it easier for the state to come down on us and attack us. We're so small in numbers that we have to seek to link up with each other on the correct basis.

The Black Panthers develop an approach of "survival pending revolution" meaning they would be self sufficient and serve the people while they awaited for revolution. George Jackson saw that in these programs they should combine the military aspect, in defensive way, where they would defend the programs when it came under attack by the police. While this is true and it speaks to reality, you can't have complete autonomy under capitalism, because if whatever you build becomes a threat to the status quo, the state will seek to destroy whatever you create. I don't think we should just patiently wait for revolution though. I think the actions we take today have to prepare and lead up to the end of capitalism. This is why we need a revolutionary movement, all struggles have to be linked up to the economic infrastructure. Its a process of theory-practice-theory, where we develop our strategy, our methods, and our approach. Our organization cannot wither away when individuals are attacked or when the state attacks the nucleus because there wouldn't be one. This type of organization is necessary and possible. All the groups and individuals involved would have a say so in the decisions and planning that is done.

Respect goes out to the old left, the new left, and the rebels and revolutionaries of the past, but we need a higher synthesis and we need something revolutionary, in the interest of humanity and to finally end the rotten system of capitalism.

Protest is useless under the auspices of the current regime. You can not expect justice either as the regime and their government violate their own laws.

I was forced to receive injections at the LA Veterans Administration Westwood, under the direction of the money laundering gun wielder for the federal governments criminals associated with the National Treasury Employees Union, the FDIC and Secret Service.

Protest does not work. Other measures will have to be instituted. They also control the media.

We must ask, who are these war criminals among us? How can we get the supporters of the regime to quit chanting their trite slogans, like that B.S. sticker, "W My President".

W is not my president as I am not allowed to vote after receiving forced injections at the LA VA and forced to sign papers when fleeing for my life.

I hope the upper layers of government in Los Angeles are toppled, both Federal and Local.

I would have died for LA while in the military. Now I say, "Reserve room at the local hotels on 4-22-200X for international freedom fighters".

We are dealing with assassins and their mercenaries. Look to the sky and pray they are ousted or that we are given a quick and merciful extinction.

In the event of a nuclear war and bioligical and chemical war internationally, and if all goes wrong with no food or water, asphyxiation is the best way to take yourself out according to the book by the Hemlock Society, "Final Exit".

Los Angeles, your city is probably one of the more hopeless due to the size of the population, indifference of the population, and the control of media by war criminals, but that part is all over the USA.

Prepare yourself, better yet, flee LA is my new motto, as I fear the government there like my worst mortal enemy. They drew first blood and will not give me a trial by jury for legal ownership of a gun when my life was under sever attack.

G. D. the regime. Support all freedom fighters, including Hezbollah, Zapatistas, Sein Fenn, etc.

The regime can only be corrected by removing the top layers that are corrupt in the greatest fashion. We need a civilian investigatory unit to be part of a larger revolutionary international organization.

LA, once my dream, now my scream.

THE RACIAL PROFILE WAY OFF,
NO SHOCK MOST ARE....((DUE TO HOW BAD IT IS YOUR PROFILE WAS ON THE PIC I SENT I SMELL ONLINE HACK AGAIN YOU ACT JUST LIKE THE ONES YOU SAY YOU HATE))

YOU KNOW THE DIFFERNCE BETWEEN ME AND YOU IS MY PROTEST IS EVERYDAY IT CANT NOT BE ERASED OR WIPED OFF AS BLOOD ON ONES FACE.

THIS COUNTRY HAS MADE MY SKIN MY SIN..
SO PLEASE MY WEEKEND RAMBO TELL ME ABOUT THE STRUGGLE.....,YOU KNOW PAIN OR ITS HOW YOU GET OFF BASICALLY.......

IN WICH THE PERSON IN THAT PICTURE COULD BE CLEANED UP PUT IN THE STARBUCKS ACROSS THE STREET FROM YOUR HOME AND BLEND IN WITH THE REST..
..,
UNLIKE ME NO MATTER WHAT I AM... IN THIS COUNTRY I WILL ALLWAYS BE TREATED LIKE A SECOND CLASS HUMAN BEING.. WEATHER YOU ALL UNDERSTAND OR NOT I LIVE IT REGARDLESS.........

EVEN IF YOU DO STORM THE WHITE HOUSE THERS A GREAT CHANCE THAT EVEN IN YOUR GROUP I AM A NIGGER......BET YOUR CHILDS LIFE ON IT...

COME ON TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BATTLE TO BE ABLE TO GET A HOME , JOB...REJECTED BASED ON THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN. THERES DEATH GOING ON RIGHT NOW IN THIS COUNTRY WERES YOU GROUP...HEAR THAT................... NOTHING.......

YOU WANT TO BREAK IT DOWN
STOP USING THE CORPORATE CONTROLED GOVERMENT AS YOUR EXCUSE TO BE EXTREME !!!!!!
OR JUST TO BASH SOME HEADS IN DUDE..!!!!!!

THATS HOW YOU GUYS DO IT IN THE PITS RIGHT.
THE SAME I NEED A RUSH SHIT AS THE COPS DO HERE IN L.A......WERES THE PICTURE OF YOUR CHILDS HEAD BASHED UP BY THE

COPS.>>>>

WERES YOUR GROUP NOW ,... THEY ARE CLOSING MARTIN LUTHER KING HOSPTIAL FROM THIS COMMUNTIY.... DIDNT SEE THE SO CALLED HARDCORES YELLING TO END THE CLOSING OF A HOSPITAL FROM PEOPLE OF COLOR, BUT YOU SURE HAVE TIME TO GO TO A ANTI-WAR PROTEST AND JUDGE TEENAGE GIRLS..

.I HAVENT HEARD ABOUT YOUR GROUP BEING THE SO CALLED ROBIN HOODS TO SAVE US SO CALLED ROBOT SHEEP....

YOUR GROUPS WAS THERES WHEN THOSE COPS BEAT THAT BLACK CHILD WHILE HE WAS HANDCUFF. IN L.A. RIGHT.....HOW MEANY COPS YOU JACKED OR BRUSES YOUR CLICK GET FOR THAT UNJUSTICE.
SPECIALLY SENCE YOUR A FATHER AND ALL.

..((THE MORE YOU DISS THE ONES THAT ARE NOT LIKE YOU ,THE MORE YOU COME ACROSS LIKE THE TRINTY BROADCASTING NETWORK)))

YOU ARE GOING TO ARGUE REVOLUTION WITH A BLACK MAN LIVING IN THIS COUNTRY.

..DAM YOUR LIFE MUST BE HARD...YOUR THE CHANGE ????Y
YOU COME OFF LIKE A CLUESS NARC LOOKING FOR TROUBLE.....
YOU GOT THE PRIZE FOR ANGER, BABY ROOKIE REBEL I HAVE SCARS ON BODY FROM COPS,WHITE BOYS,MEXICAN BOYS, PARENTS THE PAST AND THE MINUM WAGE JOBS...COME ON TELL ME ABOUT THE STRUGGLE YOU KNOW IT SO WELL RIGHT....YOUR GROUP WAS OUT THERE WHEN THE JANITORS PROTEST RIGHT....
I BATTLE WITH IT EVERYDAY OF MY LIFE I DONT HAVE TO GET ARRESTED TO END UP LOOKING LIKE YOUR FREIND , BUT IF YOU DID YOUR AFRO SLAVE STUDIES YOU KNOW THIS RIGHT....THAT HAS HAPPEND TO ME AND FRIENDS BASED ON THE FACT WE FIT SOME PROFILE..... YOU TELL ME AGAIN THE LAST TIME SOMEONE MADE YOU FEEL LIKE CATTLE JUST BASED ON YOUR LOOK.

SEE YOU AND YOUR GROUP ARE NO DIFFRENT THEN THE KLAN THE GOP THE NAZI YOUTH THE CRIPS OR BLOODS 18 STREET OR LATIN KINGS........ WHO HURT YOUR ASS TO THE POINT IN WHICH YOU ARE WILLING TO SPILL BLOOD.
IF ONE IS SPILLING BLOOD FOR FREEDOM THEN YOU WOULD COULD SEE ONE HAS SPILLED BLOOD WAY BEFORE YOUR MOMMA SPIT YOUR ASS OUT.

YOUR WHITE MAN GUILT AND GOOSE BOOTS IDEAS DONT FLY WELL , STOP USING THE MOVEMENT IN GENERALL FOR SOMETING YOU AND THE CAST OF THE O.C. CAN DO ON THE WEEKENDS....
YOU LOST YOUR SOUL YOUR NO O.G. IN THIS GAME YOU ROOKIE..BE CAREFULL WHAT YOU WISH FOR YOU WANT PAIN SO BAD.....WHY?
AGAIN FOR YOU TO GET THAT PAIN THAT YOU LOVE SO MUCH YOU HAVE TO GO SEARCH FOR IT SO IT CAN HAPPEND SO YOU AND THE CLICK CAN GIVE HIGH FIVES AND TALK ABOUT HOW BAD ASS AND DOWN YOU ARE...THIS MOVEMENT IS DEEPER THE YOU KNOW...

BUT LIVE ON THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN VOICE BE EXTREME AND DONT FORGET TO PULL OUT ENOUGH MONEY FOR YOUR BAIL OUT YOUR ATM AND REMBER TO PACK YOUR WE ARE GOING TO BE REBELS FOR AMERICKKKA LUNCH..
DONT FORGET YOUR PENNYWISE CD.

YOU KEEP JUDGING OTHERS THAT YOU DONT KNOW ..KEEP MISTAKING KINDNESS FOR WEAKNESS. ...BUT THIS IS THE FINAL TOUGHT I WILL END IT WITH THIS WE ASK THE LEAders

THAT BE TO PUT THERE SONS ON THE FRONT LINE IN THIS FAKE ASS WAR..WE ASK YOU TO DO THE SAME..
UNTILL YOR CHILD HAS DIED FROM THIS SYSTEM UNTILL IT HAS KILLED OFF YOUR FAMILY WITH THE USE OF DRUGS,POVERTY, A SLOW DEATH LIKE AIDS WITH MY GRANDMOTHER.
UNTILL YOU SIT SOME WERE AND REALIZE THAT EVERYBODY IN YOUR FAMILY IS EITHER LOCKED UP, DEAD,JAILED,DESTROYED FAMILY BONDS DUE TO ENVIROMENTS THAT ARE LIKE VIETNAM EVERY FUCKING DAY IN THIS COUNTRY.
.. AND UNLIKE YOU NOT NO PHOTO SHOP PASTY TOURRIST TO COME VIST THE PAIN ACTUALLY LIVING IT .
GRABED BY PROGRAMS THAT WERE MENT TO FAIL ON PURPOSE...
BUT YET YOU STILL BELIVE YOU KNOW TTHE WAY TO GO JUST LIKE BUSH,,,,,,((SEE KIDS THE ONES WHO HAVE TO TELL YOU HOW BAD ASS THEY AND THERE GROUP USALLY ARE THE ONES WITH THE MOST BAGGAGE,,,SEE SMALL D**K + BEING INSCURE+PLUS CLASSIC UPPER CLASS WHITE BOY GUILT+ A NEED FOR SPEED AKA EXTRME BOYS WAR-PROTEST BLOOD ARREST ON SUNDAY AND BASE JUMPING ON FRIDAYS....

= ALOUT OF TALK NO WALK ALSO KNOWN AS A POSSER...LIKE A WHITE BOY ACTING LIKE HES FROM THE HOOD WHEN HES FROM BRENTWOOD.

COMPLICATES THE HAND SHAKES WHEN HE MEETS PEOPLE OF COLOR AND ALWAYS I MEAN ALWAYS PUTS OTHERS DOWN BEHIND THERE BACKS LIKE THE WESTWOOD PROTEST......

UNTILL THEN LEARN THE WORD HUMBLE.
THE PEACE SIDE OF ME SAYS MOST PROTECTION TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND YOU BEING ALIVE THEN BEING ANOTHER DEAD REVOLUTIONARY DOSE NOTHING ..
WE CAN WRITE A LIST OF DEAD MEN THAT FOUGHT THIS GOVERMENT IN WHICH WE STILL FIGHT AGAINST THE THINGS THEY DIED FOR. (((STRUGGLE CONTINUES))

THE FIRESIDE THE STREET SIDE OF ME THE SO CALLED AMERCAN CREATED NIGGA SIDE OF ME SAY TO YOU AND YOUR STATEMENT ABOUT ME AND MINE....
FUCK YOU POSSER.
TELL YOU AND YOUR FRIENDS IF THEY WANT ACTIONS GO FUCKING PAINTBALLIN.

OR GO CLIMB A FUCKING CLIFF ON ACTION ADVENTURE DAY.I
NSTEAD OF POSSING LIKE YOU GIVE A FUCK ABOUT ANYBODY BUT YOU AND YOUR CREW

ILL BE WATTING FOR YOU 2 TAKE OVER OF THE WHITE HOUSE.
GAME RECONIZES GAME..
YOU LACK BOTH ONE GAME AND TO RECONIZE THE CONCEPT OF FREEDOM TO BE....
JUST BE. EVEN THE BLACK PANTERS FED KIDS AND HAD AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR THE ONE WHO NEEDED.....BUT HEY YOU KNOW THIS SHIT RIGHT.....

CROSS..P.S.
THAT WOMEN ON MY SIDE SAVED MY LIFE DUE TO THE FACT I HAD NO MEDICAL CARE COVERAGE AT MY JOB.
SOME BLACKS HAVE PUT ME DOWN FOR BEING WITH HER AS SOME WHITES BUT
UN LIKE YOU I NEED KNOWONES PERMISSION TO DO WHAT I FEEL I NEED TO DO.

AND IF SOMEOME DOSENT LIKE WHAT IAM DOING I STILL FUCKING DO IT ....BUT INSTEAD OF TAKING PHOTOS OF PEOPLE YOU DIDNT KNOW YOUR ASS COULD OF BEEN ALL UP IN THE FEDERAL BUILDING ..

THE STREEETS WERE CLEAR...PLAN TO HARD CORE SEE THAT DOSENT WORK WITH HANGING OUT WITH THE CLICK AND EXCHANGE WHOSE BRUSIE IS BIGGER THEN WHOSE BATTON SCAR...

What's the conflict between CROSS and 1Planet here? I read it through, but there are two things I don't get:

Cross, why are you so defensive of ANSWER?

1Planet, what did Cross do that was so wrong?

As far as I can tell, Cross was just doing what a lot of people were doing. It's what I do at these demos - carry a sign with some message. And I go to the big demo because it's a social event, not because I expect something to happen right there. You meet people or get informed about new things, sometimes. Maybe you take someone new, and show them their not alone in their feelings about the current situation.

I don't think it's weak or bullshit for 1Planet to criticize Answer, and I think Cross is off-base with his personal attacks on 1Planet. What's with giving 1Planet grief for all the sins of the caucasian Left? How do you even know his race, or what he does besides take these photos?

Also, it's not like 1Planet isn't doing anything. If people like him didn't take the photos, there wouldn't be a public record of our protests. It would be a private experience.

I encourage the people who are interested in "doing more" to consider starting a local political support group, an anti-war demo, food not bombs, or something. It's a lot of work, and is a really hard thing for some people (myself, for example), but having a local group that meets helps gives me the strength to keep working. To the people who put the local events together, I'm really grateful.

ITS A SORE SPOT WHEN PEOPLE SAY THAT A ACTION IS NO GOOD DUE TO THE FACTS ITS NOT THERE ACTIONS.....IT COMES ACROSS LIKE THE SAME CRAP WE ALL PROTEST AGAINST.....
CROSS (((WORK IN PROGRESS.}}}
HIS PROFILE OF ME WAS OFF
MY PROFILE OF HIM WAS OFF (MAYBE)
MY PROTECTION IS NOT OF ANSWER BUT TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE HE SLANDER ON HIS POST , FOR NOT WANTED TO GET THERE FACE BASHED IN.
IT HIT A SPOT BUT I CANT LET KNOW ONE HAVE MY POWER BUT SOME STRUGGLES WILL BE MY OWN

I JUST THINK ITS LAME ASS TO GO TO A RALLY WHO USES MARTIN LUTHER KING AS THERE HERO BUT GO THERE TAKE PICTURES OF THEM JUDGE THEM AND CLIAM TRUE REVOLUTIONARY....

HE CAN DO WHAT HE LIKES BUT IF YOU CLAIM HARD CORE GO BE HARD CORE ,
waste all your digital film memory on people who refuse to be like you......smells like bull shit but hay to each there own....

Well, it's true there is a lot of criticism. That's what I live for. Maybe that's some kind of psychological problem, because I get pissed off some days, and then hit this site. Like an addict or something.

I don't know about being hard core though. There's a lot of posturing going on here, and also at the demos.

The hardest thing is to set high standards, live up to them, and live your ideals all the time.

My reason for the pictures, is to help the movement, my reason for the commentary, is to get it to think. I am not angry at the individuals in it (even at cross, though his general attitude is one I am rejecting). The east coast and the west coast are different. In the east, before the war, there was a sense of urgency, a sense that we couldn't just accept the status quo, we had to try to stop it. Maybe this is a pre war / post war (I don’t know), but I moved here after it and now it is more of a "lets do a symbolic protest" feeling so we can claim this isn't our fault. Protests are not supposed to be about protests; protests have goals. It seems the movement is for the movement and it has forgotten the goal. If the goal is not being met, and the movement is about the goals, it needs to change its strategy to meet its goal. MLK was shot when he realized this. He was about to park the country's poor on the door step of Washington DC. The government knows this. That is why they employee people like CROSS, to distract everyone and pacify them before they can affect the imperialistic system (can we say 1/20 elections in Iraq, same deal). I am not saying he is a government agent, he probably isn't, but an agent would be saying what he is saying, and then paint me as the fringe radical he is painting me as. Look at the way he keeps trying to paint me to be a militia member like little Timmy. Funny really, he could even be a student in one of my classes.
My attacks are not on him, but instead, it is on his line of thought. That, "be nice and ask the greedy powerful elite to share" mentality will simply not work. I think we need take it up a few notches. For example, convince a senator to out filibuster Senator Strom Thurmond, or by not attacking those willing to go to jail for justice. But if he wants to march in the dark in order to get others on board, it doesn't HURT the movement, so I am not against it. I am talking about ANSWER and hoping that they continue to organize, and also that they STOP promoting the movement for the movement, and START promoting the CAUSE that the movement is moving towards. As for everything else that Cross said, it didn’t make much sense to me, so I didn’t finish it all.
What I did get: Yes I am white, yes I work a good job. No, this is not a weekend thing. My boss is a republican, and she knows exactly what I believe, and what I do. I do not hide my resistance or my views. I teach them, wear them, and am them. But I’ve done enough defending myself against your Ad Hominem attacks.
As for everyone else, talk, communicate, brain storm, and most important, resist!!

to resit with out ones permission to do so.
may wisdom come before greed.
may one who judges one behind there back must be able to do it ones face....
ones man image will never be the same for all....
(see BIBLE---=-=-=-=-AMERIKKAN FLAG))))
C R O S S...

a picture is the same as words

I like the pic

what's with the eternal report window?
It doesn't open even after 30 min.

what's with the eternal report window?
It doesn't open even after 30 min.

It's not sticking now. Nevermind.