Washblog

  Out of 16 pictures in Dina's report, only three have the "puppets" as the main focus (plus one of the grannies). Most of the others are of ordinary, dignified people.
  But, what is it that we notice? The "in your face" 20%. What works, works.

Dave Gibney Pullman

by gibney on Sun Mar 04, 2007 at 12:41:28 PM PST

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But protests seem to have become somewhat irrelevant after the world-wide protest before the war, the biggest protest in history, was ignored by the media. Still, what else can we do when our elected leaders won't act and even actively lobby to stifle our voices. Thanks for documenting the impeachment protest (we were in your photos).

by artisan on Sun Mar 04, 2007 at 12:54:43 PM PST

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Dina, thank you for courage in posting this diary.  I fully expect to be odd woman out in this discussion and definitely in the minority of opinions expressed.  Be that as it may, I would be remiss not to share an element that I believe is fundamental to this discussion.

Who -  who carries the actual weight of this war?  Is it the peace/activist communities; some who have long histories with 'causes' and 'protests'?  I propose that it is the military troops and their military families who singularly carry the weight of the Iraq invasion/occupation.  Specifically, it is my grandchildren who are having first-hand experiences of the potential of death/maiming of deployed parent.  Specifically, it is the families left alive by troops who have already been killed in combat or combat-related incidents.  Specifically, it is the families who have returning veterans with life-altering wounds, so much so that their likelihood as family providers is severely hampered - before their adult lives even get off the ground.  

Oh, and as a sidebar, let me say it again - their lives were not wasted.  Their lives were cut short before they had a chance to experience adult life and they were put into the at risk situation by a callous Commander-in-Chief and Congress, who believed their lives were worth the trade off.

 One of the difficulties I have personally in collaborating with peace/activist communities/movement is that it feels like they are willing to co-opt my message as a military family to fit their agenda. In other words, I have often felt exploited and mis-used because I was a military family willing to speak out publicly.  I'm speaking too generally because that has not been a universal experience for me, but too often and more often than not.

Among those who bear direct weight of this war; the soldiers, their families, returning Iraq (and Afghanistan) veterans, their message is the message, I believe, that most needs to be heard. However, because it is not the usual in military culture to be speaking out publicly in opposition, we that do are fewer than those who keep the silence.  

One of the responsibilities I charge myself with when representing military families and not just myself as a military family, is to keep a broader view of the military families and military culture in mind and I regulate my demeanor and words accordingly.  As you describe in your analysis, it is a social bonding and a culture unto itself.  I see part of my speaking out responsibility as trying to make that culture understood by those who may not understand.  

I come out of that culture as having been raised on military bases, as young wife to young husband drafted and deployed to Vietnam, and I thought my time as military family ended with his return from Vietnam. I did not expect or anticipate that I would be a military family again in another combat war situation, believing this country had absorbed the lessons of Vietnam.  For forty years I have lived life as a civilian and not as a military family.  My career work has been in advocacy for populations who have been disenfranchised but it has not been activity in what I call the peace/activist movement over the years.  

For some who are 'newly' minted military families who already have history in peace/activist movement over the years, they are comfortable and familiar with the 'theme' of peace/activist actions.  For some who are long time military families, courageous enough to break with military culture tradition and speak out publicly, they are not at all familiar with the 'theme' of peace/activist actions and this new alliance represents a learning curve for them.  I know it certainly has been a learning curve for me.  

I have come to understand that among the peace/activist communities and movement there is a perennial discussion/argument as to how to best build the movement and move it forward.  That is apparantly not a new dialogue even amongst the peace/activist community.  I contend that for some of us, new initiates of the peace/activist actions, it is a new dialogue/discussion - not one we are familiar with or know as part of our 'normal' lifestyle -- the life we had before we began protesting publicly.  Or at least that is my experience.  

Now that I have been, as a military family speaking out, part of the peace/activist or what media likes to call the 'anti-war' groups these past four years, I have been very taken aback at some of what I've had to learn about the nature of peace activists (again, I am speaking generally here, and that, I know,  is a dis-service to many individuals who have been very respectful).  I entered the arena with what I thought was an open mind and heart, and four years later, I find myself with - to borrow a phrase I often hear my husband use in other venues- 'a hardening of the attitude'.  

It has been part of my experience, not once, not twice, but too often to  find that some of the more high profile peace/activist communities aggressively insist on their agenda at all costs.  Sometimes that cost is that the core message I bring by invitation to participate as a military family with them is corrupted. I have and continue to find that highly disrespectful and cannot help but feel used and exploited all over again.

 We (military families and troops) are already used and exploited by this Administration and Congress - that we know, live and experience.  It is perhaps a 'tender' spot we carry and is perhaps magnified when we experience it on smaller scale among our friends in the peace/activist communities in our efforts to find the courage to speak out.  Now, I know that I do not speak strictly for myself in this regard, as it is a message I hear often from other military families, yes, here in Washington, and among military families in other states.  Even so, I hear quite the opposite message from some other military families and returning veterans who are more comfortable with peace/activist communities and think the actions ought to be stepped up.

 Thus, the speaking out military community and returning Iraq/Afghanistan veterans find themselves now in the same dilema - dialogue - discussion  the peace/activist communities have apparantly been having for decades. What are the more effective methods of getting the message out; who is the listening audience; what is the core message; what tone does the message and venue take...etc., etc..  I have heard often - welcome to the peace/activist community - it's like herding cats - there are as many differences as there are commonalities - get used to it.  

 Hmmm, considering the military community culture has a saying used often 'suck it up' which translates to  mean get used to it/live with it - when the peace /activist community uses a phrase with a similar meaning - get used to it - sure sounds to me like another hardcore, set in concret, cultural more representative of another culture.  I affectionately, or not so affectionately refer now to the peace/activist community as a culture unto itself; a lifestyle.  Hmmm, so military culture and the peace/activist community culture do have something in common -  they have cultural norms developed over many decades, perhaps a century or two or more.  I sometimes wonder if the peace/activist community really 'listens' to me or if there is an expectation that I will learn and conform and become like them - someone they can relate to, identify with - part of the group - part of the bonding.  An expectation that my behavior will resemble theirs - not the other way around.    

  While that sounds critical of the individuals within the peace/activist community, I don't intend it to be as I've encountered too many genuine, authentic people who are sincerely concerned, dedicated and willing to do what they can on behalf of the troops and their families, on behalf of the Iraqi people who are continuing casualties in this war (it has been said that is is a decade long genocide).  However, it also seems that because people believe they are doing everything in their power to end a war, bring the troops home and get relief to the Iraqi people, that they seem to take on an assumption of 'higher ground' which then seems to imply that the methodology they chooose to deliver the message is also one of higher ground.  In other words, they become as much the zealot, fundamentalist, inflexible, hardcore and hardnose peace activist as the very people they take to task for having an unrelenting, inflexible attitude and approach.  Or so it seems to me.      

   I'm not sure I want to try to take on the 'broader' discussion/dialogue here as much as I want to try to represent what it is like for us, in our family, as a military family, as the two in my family are in training and preparation now to deploy to Iraq a second time this year, as I stand up to represent on behalf of my grandchildren in a way in which they can be proud of my actions when they reach adulthood.  

   Dina, as you clearly wrote - trying to have this discussion, online, in blog form, with the inherint difficulties of written word meanings - it will lapse to what could be the 'Men are from Mars/Women' are from Venus kind of discussion.  But, I think there is courage in trying to have the discussion, and my hat is off to you for wading in.  I know this is marshy ground, and I wonder at myself in choosing to wade in with you.

  Some might consider or say that to have this kind of a discussion in public is 'divisive' to the movement. That this kind of public discussion feeds the idea of external to the movement efforts, tactics and stragegies intentionally aimed at diminishing the work of the peace/activist (or as media likes to call it anti-war) movement.  That this kind of discussion is better left for behind the scenes, discussed in private meetings.

  On the other hand, perhaps it's timely to have this kind of discussion four years later - and with hindsight of what peace/activist movement has done over the past four years - longer as the initial worldwide outcry against invading Iraq was in 2002, and I know even back to Sept 11, 2001 there was concern that our country via the leaderhsip might react in ways requiring a unified peace/activist message.  

 

"The bar for success (in Iraqi)is so low that it is almost buried in the sand." Barack Obama, Sept 12, 2007

by Lietta Ruger on Mon Mar 05, 2007 at 09:43:18 AM PST

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It's seemed to me that there's been really a very interesting, maybe unprecedented coaltion/alliance between peace movement people and military people who are speaking out.  From the start, it seems a bit unlikely as a coalition -- those who carry out wars and those who oppose them (of course, many peace activists are not pacifists, per se).

Peace activists /advocates are learning, I think, the role military and ex-military have played in stopping wars.  If Bush had followed the advice of his military experts, we wouldn't be in Iraq, as I understand it.  

On another note, the puppetry aspect of peace demonstrations seem not very frequently connected with the organizations that do seem to be hijacking even the peace message for their own agenda.  

by noemie maxwell on Mon Mar 05, 2007 at 07:06:41 PM PST

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Why Protests Don't Work...And Why They Do
posted by Sara, Feb 21, 2007

I haven't read it carefully enough and will go back to it, and I can't seem to access the 79 comments posted at the discussion at Orcinus.  Interesting that, unknown to me,  this discussion should also be happening at Orcinus - another of the syndicated blogs at Pacifc NW Portal.

"The bar for success (in Iraqi)is so low that it is almost buried in the sand." Barack Obama, Sept 12, 2007

by Lietta Ruger on Mon Mar 05, 2007 at 08:43:52 PM PST

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We need a mix of both and it needs to be coordinated better. It's way more effective to have a wave of normal people followed by a parade of freaks,
followed by a wave of senior citizens, followed by a wave of teens, etc. etc. It dilutes the message to have the same puppets at every event, but it's also great
to see them once in a while. I think the puppets should go out to the overpasses, or college campuses, or parks on sunny days. Let regular people interact with them.
It's a great way to have fun and help other people get engaged along with you.

I observed a rally which was ruined by the presence of hard leftists distributing propoganda. It was just like having "get saved" pamplets pressed into my hand at Westlake Plaza.
It can really turn off some people and they won't want to turn out for events like that.

by Lefty Mama on Tue Mar 06, 2007 at 01:44:55 AM PST

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Hi Dina-

I don't have a thesis, so this is a disjounted reply.

I think the puppets, signs, costumes, agitprop, and accouterments are fantastic.

Life is a celebration. If we choose to make it so. Puppets and costumes are life affirming. Even when they're satirical or critical. They denote the spark of creativity. Having wondered "What am I doing here?" more than once, and not coming up with anything useful, celebrating life seems like a pretty good strategy.

The agitprop stuff is supposed to be arresting, supposed to make people think, supposed to challenge convention and taboos.

Asking their should be puppets is like asking if there should be political cartoons. Like the fuss over Tom Toles' cartoon. The history of American politics wouldn't be the same without our freedom of speech and satire.

Lefty Mama mentioned concern about who shows up.

Whatever.

If you don't like the crowd, start your own. What are we supposed to do? Tell people they can't show up and participate?

At best, I tolerate the ANSWER, socialists for greater prosperity (or some such), and the anti-Israel Palestinian peace stuff. If the crowd's large enough, I don't mind them blending in. In those cases, it's clear that they just showed up to the party because that's where the party is. But when they're more prominent, I don't bother. Avoiding guilt by association. And choosing not to suffer through their attempts to win me over to their points of view. (Again.)

How would the WTO protests have looked if certain groups were excluded? If the turtles (puppets) were told to stay home?

The magic of that event was all those disparate groups being present together and figuring out that despite their differences they had a common interest.

So it is with the peace movement.

If the monks, progressives, military families and vets, artists, and school children can't unite for the common purpose of choosing peace over war, then it's really not much of a peace movement.

I really don't know the overall value of marching and protesting. Initially, I marched because I was home alone, watching the media, and going insane. I read a lot and researched 9/11, WMDs, the Middle East, Iraq, etc. I KNEW it was a mistake and that Team Bush was LYING and going to MESS IT UP horribly. (So did everyone else who read Harper's magazine, listens to Hans Blix, General Zinni, etc. There was plenty of dissent. It was just hard to find.)

Where was I? Oh yea...

So I'm home, never had been very political, and going insane.

I marched to be around people like myself. People who knew the invasion of Iraq was wrong.

The experience validated me. Validated us. A huge fraction of the population agreed with me. I was not alone.

Did the protests stop the war? No. But it helped me find my tribe. It was a ramp towards further involvement.

Were the protests effective in a larger sense? Maybe not. Multiple times, I marched underneath King 5's corporate head quarters. 250,000 people streaming by and they couldn't be bothered to put a camera on the balcony, much less cover the event, accept to dismiss it.

But maybe so.

The lack of response showed everyone that the media is now aligned against us. Consequently, progressives started forming our own media.

The difference between now and 4 years ago is staggering. Maybe it's hard to remember the vacuum at the time. Well, we're filling it. By fits and starts. But it's happening.

So, in summary, please keep doing the costumes and puppets. I think they're great. I think they make great theater. I think they're necessary.

Cheers, Jason

by zappini on Wed Mar 07, 2007 at 07:34:47 AM PST

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Today I came across a blog report at Blogtown PDX - Portland Mercurythis morning of what some students at Reed College in Portland conceived as an exhibit themed 'Iraqi-War Awareness Memorial'.

The exhibit uses 3,000 small red and white flags planted in the ground of the front lawn - to represent the number of U.S. troops killed in Iraq.  They are also using the flags to represent the cited number of Iraqis killed and have 1/6 (122,000 flags) of the total cited number.

I know Portland has had exhibits using prayer flags as symbology.  I remember when some of the peace/activist groups in Portland came together to conceive of using prayer flags and set up an exhibit of what was then perhaps 1,000 prayer flags with the names of U.S. troops killed in Iraq on them + prayer flags with representation of Iraqis killed in Iraq.  Exhibits since then have  had to add increasing number of flags.  

Also, one of the commentersin this discussion thread  mentioned the

AFSC Eyes Wide Openexhibits of the empty boots.  They have brought that exhibit to WA twice now.

image at VFP 109 - Rachel Corrie chapter - Olympia website - Mark Klco, with daughter Elisha, visits the Eyes Wide Open exhibit at Seattle Center, where 1,546 pairs of boots represent U.S. military deaths in Iraq.
and

Candlelight vigils seem a quiet way to reflect and make a statement.
 

I know VFP (Veterans for Peace) chapters set up the crosses exhibit annually - one at the Capitol buildings in Olympia and one or more in Seattle area, in various Seattle region locations.

Arlington Northwest Memorial exhibit, Peter Kirk Park, Oct 2004

and

Arlington Northwest Memorial - Olympia Capitol campus, Tivoli Fountain, October 2005. (Arthur and I helped carry and set up crosses at the Olympia exhibit. White crosses, empty boots in front of them were used at Crawford and on the BTHN tour. )

Reading the names of troops killed in Iraq as well as known names of Iraqis killed; Using Scrolls with images of the troops killed in Iraq as well as representation of Iraqis killed.

Now that the numbers exceed 3,000 U.S. troops and untold numbers of Iraqis killed, creating a tableau would be very time consuming endeavor.  I talked last night with one of my colleagues in Texas.  She says they do a memorial vigil using the small American flags, and on each flag is the photo image and bio of each of the U.S. troops killed in Iraq.  

She says they obtain the photo image and bio from the CNN website. She says they print out the CNN list with photos and bios, laminate, cut each photo/bio into strips and attach to the small flag poles.  She says the memorial/vigil remains up at public park (having obtained the necessary license) for a week, and she says it has received such positive reception, she'd like to see it move to other areas of Huston, Texas.

It doesn't have to be either/or ...  there is assuredly room for different kinds of vigils, memorials, representations.  I think I've just seen too many puppets of late - puppets were used also recently at Fort Lewis in response as support for Lt. Watada court martial.  Incongruent to me to see what resembles a mardi gras demonstration at the gates of a U.S. military base, but perhaps it is an intentional incongruency factor that puts an exclamation point on the demonstration. I was not there, I chose not to be knowing a bit about what was being planned as the mobilization/support symbology.  

Puppets at the Impeachment Hearing is not as offensive as 10 ft tall puppets at Fort Lewis, home to military families who do have loved ones deployed in Iraq and live daily with prayers they will come home alive.  I don't speak for all military families, but I do know that many families consider the base their home (for now) and when 'guests' come to share a message, I would think they would consider how it might feel invasive and intrusive to those military families who call the base home.

 Somehow, and this is strictly my opinion, the support demonstration might have better reflected the dignity and perhaps even some of the humility  I've seen when Lt. Watada has given a presentation.  But, I don't speak for Lt. Watada - I speak for myself, so I have no idea what opinion he holds about support protests/demonstrations.

 Maybe I'm just asking for balance in the symbology and representations and some consideration to tailoring the symbology to the event.  I'm also adding for consideration, and these many be newly viewed images, the 'Unseen Images of Civil Rights movement in Birmingham' links I placed on my blog in March 2006.
 

 About the Project
These Birmingham News photographs of the civil rights movement have not been seen by the public. Until now. See more at al.com: Unseen. Unforgotten.

"The bar for success (in Iraqi)is so low that it is almost buried in the sand." Barack Obama, Sept 12, 2007

by Lietta Ruger on Thu Mar 08, 2007 at 11:23:51 AM PST

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