Fw: Why I'm leaving the NY Coalition for Peace and Justice

[Gordon Fitch]

Nathan Newman:
> A pretty good summary of why the NYC Coalition against the war has lost most
> of the mass participation is started with.  A lot of folks said- hey, we
> started small in Vietnam and look how big we are starting now!  But the
> reality is that, like during the Gulf War, the mobilizations started
> moderate sized and shrank.
>
> 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.

Yes -- on the other hand, during these heady days of pseudo-
victory-intoxication -- what would appeal to those who are
not already antiwar?  Being semi-antiwar-maybe doesn't seem
attractive enough to summon the masses to the barricades, or
indeed even a free rock concert in the park.

-- Gordon