Why The Anti-War Left is a Failure in One Picture

Sep 19, 2007 12:43 PM
Tags: afghanistan, dc, iraq, leftwing, politics, protests, war

From a troopsoutnow.org flyer around DC:

anti-War flyer

This is a protest against more funding for the military campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, and only three of the eleven placards are even tenuously related.

No focus, people. No focus.


Comments: Why The Anti-War Left is a Failure in One Picture

You're being generous. Really, only the "Bring the Troops Home" poster is on target. Potential war in Iran is related in spirit, but protesting that is not the same as protesting ongoing wars. Nor is impeaching Bush. You hit the nail on the head as far as why, even though I'm left wing, I hate most left wing protests.

Posted by: Justin on September 19, 2007 2:22 PM | permalink

What you posted is just a small part of that flyer. All of those items they list in that picture are part of their unity movement. Note the words "stop the war at home and abroad." Their purpose isn't solely to protest actions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Posted by: *dell on September 19, 2007 6:42 PM | permalink

Yes, *obviously* it's a small part of the flyer, you nitwit.

For starters: I'm focusing on part of it, it's a silhouette of the actual protestors, this is the section that best highlights the cacophony and a legible screenshot of the flyer would take up the whole freaking page.

My whole point is that this "unity movement" is the crux of the problem.

The protest itself, is supposed to be telling Congress not to authorize additional hundreds of millions of dollars for the fight in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But they can't stay on topic, and the message is inevitably muddled.

Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 20, 2007 8:38 AM | permalink

I'm not sure there is a point in this discussion, but I'll just mention I think the miscommunication is the idea that it is the _Anti-War_ Left. It isn't, it's simply the Left.

Part of the Left's idealogy (however you feel about it) is that military intervention doesn't accomplish anything. Their idealogy encompasses many other concepts. So when the left arranges a march (right or wrong) they want their complete platform on display.

There are many people who may believe any number of things about war in general, but believe that This War isn't accomplishing anything. Those are Anti-War something or anothers, and you could expect a targetted message from them, but they don't seem to arrange marches.

You seem to believe that the march is about the war, the people who are organizing the march, likely believe that the war is a symptom, they believe there are many other symtoms (racism, sexism, poverty, lack of healthcare, lack of education, etc).

I've been to a number of marches, and I've come to the conclusion that if you are there to say anything more specific than, "The current status quo is unacceptable, things must change." you will be disappointed by the lack of focus.

I agree with you that they'd probably get more people out to march with a tightly focused message, but to them it would be pointless. They are trying to change the way we think about War amoung other things, not convice us that this war isn't good, otherwise there will always be another war.

Well, there are a bunch of photons for a pointless discussion.

Posted by: nephlm on September 20, 2007 11:24 AM | permalink

Hmm ... that is interesting.

Posted by: Joe Grossberg on September 21, 2007 1:12 PM | permalink

Too funny. My wife and fully agree. The right had their time in office and blew the budget. The left doesn't even have a focused blow the budget strategy.

Posted by: Martin Saenz on September 26, 2007 3:59 PM | permalink

No more comments! Either someone has violated Godwin's Law, I'm tired of the discussion or, most likely, the ten-week window has closed. You can, however, contact me through email.