That has been the pattern of antiwar organizing-- appeal to the converted to get a big initial turnout and then see the movement shrink as it fails to recruit new converts to the antiwar cause.
Nathan Newman
----- Original Message ----- From: "portsideMod" <portsidemod at yahoo.com>
[Below is a letter from an activist of the peace movement in New York City, raising issues of both principle and tactics. We invite comment from readers. -- psMod]
From: Diane Lent <greenelent at earthlink.net>
I have decided to leave the New York Coalition for Peace and Justice. I took on a big role in coordinating the Mobilizations Committee and it is for that reason that I feel it necessary to explain my decision. I want to state strongly that this does not come from personal reasons of feeling hurt or not liking the process. Those things may have been true for me at certain moments but I would not quit something which I felt a political commitment to, even if I didn't like the process and feel frustrated about organizing the work. I have a difference with the political direction of the Coalition.
The first meeting I attended of the group that became this coalition was on Sept. 19, where 400 people from all over New York City, representing many communities, sectors and organizations were in attendance. It was not a perfect or truly representative group but it was a very encouraging beginning for a new anti-war coalition. I felt it was sufficiently broad to bring in larger forces who oppose the war. (I would have been at the very first meeting held at the Brecht Forum on Sept. 15, but I was not in New York City that day.)
I won't review the history of all the meetings and events as I am sure you are all aware of them. I had serious reservations about the Coalition after the Oct. 16 meeting. Later I was encouraged again by the formation of the Coordinating Committee and a good meeting in the end of Oct. with over 50 people present. Since then everything I have attended has been smaller and narrower it its political view.
My belief is that the U.S. war will be long and will spread to other nations. I believe that many people in this country are having serious doubts about the war, in spite of the media's consistent promotion of the 90% approval for Bush and the policy. When the US strikes in another country is when the next wave of people will actively oppose the war. So our job is to reach those people. These are not the people of the left that we have all always worked with. We are probably the 10% who will always oppose US Military operations no matter what. I consider myself historically part of this segment. We will not be the US Citizens who will directly impact US policy. But we are the ones who will initiate and build the Anti War movement. I think our job is to reach out to the broadest sector of the American public and connect on some level. To do that we should be working through organized groups such as Religion and Labor. But it is not just those sectors. We also want to appeal to a large group of people who get their information from the media and are part of the popular culture. Our messages and events should appeal to those people through the language and character that they use. Many people in the Coalition say they are for this broad outreach but I feel that the choices being made will not achieve that.
I worked hard on the October 7 protest. I think we did a pretty good job of having a strong anti war message and appealing to people who are not the "Usual Suspects". In a recent Coalition discussion the majority of members present in a discussion planning for Dec 16, said that the people we want to attract to the demonstration are those that already oppose the war. It was my impression that the majority were speaking for a militant character. And it is at this point that I departed from the majority of people who are coming to meetings now.
There is a pivotal issue here about opposing racism and bringing in more people of color. I strongly support opposing the policies that are impacting people of color at home and in Central Asia. Those issues are central to the struggle. I do not think that, what I consider to be the leftist direction being favored will necessarily bring in more people of color. In my personal survey of my friends and neighbors who are of color they did not agree that not addressing the issue of bringing those who attacked the WTC to justice should breakdown on racial lines. Of the dozen people of color I asked about the issue, not one felt that there should not be a strong position to bring the perpetrators to some kind of justice. And they all oppose the war.
I will continue to oppose the war in New York City and I hope to find a group to join that coincides with my views. I think that the need to oppose the war and the war at home will be around for along time. In that spirit I want to stay in touch with the Coalition. We will all be pulling our efforts together in the months and years to come. I am an individual activist right now so therefore not really accountable to an organization. That is not ideal for me, not my belief to operate as an individual, but it is my situation right now. So I respectfully submit this, wish the Coalition success and will see you around the Anti war movement in the future.
I have taken some tasks for Dec 16 which I will continue with. I will be available in the future to take and supply photos as requested.
Diane Lent
__________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Buy the perfect holiday gifts at Yahoo! Shopping. http://shopping.yahoo.com
portside (the left side in nautical parlance) is a news, discussion and debate service of the Committees of Correspondence for Democracy and Socialism. It aims to provide varied material of interest to people on the left.
Post : mail to 'portside at yahoogroups.com' Subscribe : mail to 'portside-subscribe at yahoogroups.com' Unsubscribe : mail to 'portside-unsubscribe at yahoogroups.com' List owner : portside-owner at yahoogroups.com Web address : <http://www.yahoogroups.com/group/portside> Digest mode : visit Web site
Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/