Indirect Action
or
Why I won't be throwing rocks at men
with guns
We've had World Economic Forum in NY (200 arrests) and NATO Security
Conference in Munich (800 arrests), before that there was Genoa..
When I saw events unravel at the G8 summit in
Genoa last year it
made me cringe with embarassment. To see people I know and drink
with
making empty gestures and taking futile actions, babbling incoherently
when
a microphone is thrust in their face, reeling off thoughtless slogans
about
a New World Order, a need for change and to 'take action'. And while
this
is what we have come to expect from the world leaders, the protesters
were
not much better. But at least the 'rioters' believe in what they
are
fighting for. It is hard to find anything that the plutocrats care
about,
apart from the obviou$ of course.
It is difficult to criticize the revolting hordes.
Direct action is often the
only response one can think of to relentless provocation by baton-happy,
jackbooted riot forces. And not that I blame the police, per se.
Sure the
police forces in most countries are racist bullys who act as if
they are
above the law but THEY never sold arms to Suharto, Saddam and Sharon.
All in all not a warm welcome for the protesters
unconstitutionally beaten
up by the police, and dismissed by Bush because they were western
and
affluent. He said he might have listened to starving refugee of
the land
squabble in DRC, or disposessed South American small-holders who
had lost
their livelihoods to agribusiness. But none of these so called disgruntled
parties bothered to turn up.
I was not in Genoa that weekend either, I would
like to have gone (the
opportunities for networking and publicity were huge) but when I
had my PA
phone the BA executive travel club she was told that all the seats
had been
booked months in advance. Who would have thought anarchists could
be so
well organised? Now whenever a global summit is announced there's
a
fight for flights between the BBC, the SWP, Globalize Resistance
and block
bookings for the Black bloc.
It is all very direct, there is always loads
of action, but nothing changes.
It is like beating your head against a brick wall, usually extremely
similar!
May-day! May-day!
The first of May dawns and like all socialists
(good and bad) my thoughts
turn to a more egalitarian society and 'a better world for all our
children.' Unlike almost all professed socialists, I am not a socialist,
I
am not even sure I want children. Besides, I also believe in greater
democracy, freedom of speech and minimal government.
I am mindful of the need to act by example I
was one of the first people I
know to carshare. Everyday my Rolls take both me and my chauffer
to work.
I cycle, I recycle, I'm organic, I'm monogamic,
I live locally but travel globally, I give peace a chance. I turn the lights off whenever
I leave the room - my sister (a lighthouse keeper) hates this.
I usually vote green, not because they might win or because I agree with
their policies, but it is a strong vote in favour of more representative
democracy. Likewise, I sign any petition that gets waved under my
nose, to help make up the numbers. I might not agree with the BNP but undersigning
their stupid screeds certainly helps fight apathy!
I didn't send Robert Mugabe a Christmas card
last year & like to think that
my eloquent silence caused him to look again at his country's human
rights
record.
And if I had a thousand dollars for every time
I have voted against the
board at shareholder meetings. (Well, actually, I do, thanks
to the
wonderful performance of my Nike, Exxon, and Philip Morris holdings.)
I give to the National Secular Society to campaign
against Government
funded religious schools in Britain, to Christian Aid to abet their
improving schools in Africa and to the World Population Forum to
fight
against Catholic anti birth control dogma.
I buy organic in the hope it will encourage more of the same and
I buy GM
for the same reason.
But when I want any protesting done I pay someone
to do it for me. It makes
sense on so many levels:
- It salves my liberal conscience. (I am a polyester liberal - we
are like
woolly liberals but with a greater addiction to petrochemicals.)
- It keeps professional boiler-suited agitators in work.
- I do not need to know the details.
- I do not invalidate my life insurance.
- I can write it off against tax.
- I like whales but I get seasick.
- I have a subscription to the Big Issue to make
sure I never miss a week.
(It's cheaper too!)
Protesters would be better armed taking a leaf out of the Wealth
of Nations
in preference to Das Kapital. Adam Smith recognised diversity and
welcomes
professionals because they have found what they are good at and
do it
better than I could. This principle applies not just to the manufacture
of
widgets but also to every walk of life, to the march of progress,
even to
marches of protest.
And despite my boundless optimism and enthusiasm,
I have to admit that
Imperial Cancer Research are more likely to find a cure than I ever
will
working alone on a budget of a few pounds every now and again and
the
occasional test on whichever pet has recently waned in my children's
affection.
The flaming Mercedes Benzes warm the heart. Every
cobblestone through the
plate glass of privilege makes crazed patterns! There's something
in the air
of street warfare that brings a tear to my eye.
Tony & co. know what's best for you and me
and the protesters seem to know
even better than that. I just don't know who to trust less.
Better living? Throw Rocks!
Problem: Power is in the hands of the few.
Solution? Throw chairs through the windows of McDonalds.
Problem: The developing nations are crippled
by unfair debt.
Solution? Throw chairs through the windows of McDonalds.
Problem: The 'food' is terrible at McDonalds.
Solution? ?
I always take more napkins than I really need
when eating at McDonalds
and have six sugars in my Starbucks Triple Chocco Mallow Moccas
- eroding
their profit margins.
Steal from work!
I am writing this at work, stealing company time (and incidently
stealing an idea and lyric from King Missle.) For me the fight never stops.
Tonight before I leave the office, I will call the Ghanaian speaking clock.
My capitalist pigdog oppressor of a boss is looking over my shoulder
wondering why I am so uncharacteristically animated. He doesn't
like what
he sees.
Ha!
He frowns.
Ha again!
He thinks he will break my spirit!
But ha to him.
He mentions that he pays my wages.
I better stop this and get on with 'enhancing corporate revenues'.
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