"Time To Break Silence"

by: Winston Smith

Sat Dec 05, 2009 at 08:35:50 AM EST

Let me preface this post by saying that I strongly support the gay rights movement and applaud their effective and aggressive activism. Their willingness to confront issues, organize, passionately advocate their rights, and engage in activism to move a political agenda is inspiring and should serve as a model for other communities. The recent Trenton demonstration and lobby effort is impressive and truly inspiring.

But, I am deeply troubled about our current politics and priorities.

On Tuesday of this week, we all know that President Obama announced the escalation of the Afghanistan war.

Outraged by this decision, I felt compelled to act. Old enough to remember that US campuses erupted in protest in the wake of Nixon's escalation of the Vietnam war, and hoping for some kind of similar spontaneous outpouring of concern, I went to the belly of the beast, West Point.

But apparently only 275 or so of my fellow citizens felt so moved and joined a candlelight vigil and protest there. There must be 10 million people within a reasonable driving distance of West Point, so that small of a turnout is an indication of something deeply wrong in our politics. http://www.lohud.com/article/2...

The next evening, I joined an even smaller candlelight vigil in Princeton. Although it was raining and cold, I would guess there were only about 30 people or so. Where were the Princeton students? Where was Dr. Cornel West and other prominent Princeton faculty? Where was the clergy and progressive communities of faith and goodwill? http://www.nj.com/mercer/index...

So, in the wake of these disappointments, the huge 700+ turnout to Trenton to advocate for marriage equality led me to think of Dr. King's famous 1967 speech, where he came out against the Vietnam War and joined a burgeoning anti-war movement.

Many in the civil rights movement opposed King's linking of the war with domestic issues and civil rights:

Over the past two years, as I have moved to break the betrayal of my own silences and to speak from the burnings of my own heart, as I have called for radical departures from the destruction of Vietnam, many persons have questioned me about the wisdom of my path. At the heart of their concerns this query has often loomed large and loud: "Why are you speaking about the war, Dr. King?" "Why are you joining the voices of dissent?" "Peace and civil rights don't mix," they say. "Aren't you hurting the cause of your people," they ask? And when I hear them, though I often understand the source of their concern, I am nevertheless greatly saddened, for such questions mean that the inquirers have not really known me, my commitment or my calling. Indeed, their questions suggest that they do not know the world in which they live.

http://www.americanrhetoric.co...

So, I ask, is it time yet to break silence?

Where is the anti-war movement?

Why can progressive communities turn out 700+ people to lobby Trenton for marriage equality, but virtually none to oppose an immoral and unjust war?

Discuss :: (10 Comments)

[Advertisement]

Protecting the Sanctity of...Sidewalks?

by: Scott Weingart

Thu Nov 20, 2008 at 12:46:07 PM EST

Princeton students are braving the cold to show their support for Traditional Perambulatory Values:

A group of students opposed to the recently-passed California marriage amendment (Proposition 8) gathered outside of Firestone Library at 9:30 this morning to launch a day-long protest in support of their own Prop 8, an initiative to ban Freshmen from sidewalks in order to "restore the definition of sidewalk accessibility to what the vast majority of Princeton students already believe it should mean and what Princetonians agree should be supported, not undermined." The protest's organizers explain their demonstration on the group's Facebook page:

We believe that California's Proposition 8 is illegal and immoral. The use of a state-wide referendum to limit the rights of a minority group is the very sort of action the that the constitution ought to defend against. We hope to point out the danger and absurdity of that proposition by advocating for our own "Princeton Proposition 8" which will 'ban freshmen from walking on campus sidewalks.' We hope to parallel the language and actions of the real Prop 8 as much as possible, as we believe the injustice speaks for itself and needs no exaggeration. We will be careful not to turn this into an attack on any particular group or organization, instead choosing to focus on the moral, legal, and logical reasons why Proposition 8 should be overturned.

The protest is scheduled to continue throughout the day today and again from 9:30 to 5:00 PM tomorrow. If you're in the Princeton area, stop by to show your support!

More photos below the fold.

There's More... :: (4 Comments, 18 words in story)

Granny Peace Brigade to March in Newark

by: koleary

Fri Jun 23, 2006 at 02:14:19 PM EDT

Just in case you haven't heard about the Grannies, they gained recognition last year after they were arrested outside of the recruiting office in Times Square. They were charged with disorderly conduct. They were offered a plea bargain that included all charges being dropped in exchange for the Grannies', whose ages range from 59 to 91, staying out of trouble for the next six months. I am sure to the prosecutors chagrin, the grannies turned the deal down. You might be wondering what their defense was. They said they went to the recruiting station to enlist so their to spare their grandchildren from having to do so. When they got there the door was locked and they being of advanced age became tired and needed to sit down. They were acquitted.

This comes our way from New Jersey Peace Action...

Join the Grannies for Peace in a Rally and March
Sunday, June 25 from 1:00 pm– 3:00 pm
Starting at Broad and Market Streets in Newark and marching to the Armed Forces Recruiting Center located at 31 Clinton Street
Please Join us for a Potluck Dinner with
Grannies for Peace Brigade
Sunday, June 25 at 4:00 p.m.
At the Friends Meeting House
225 Watchung Avenue
Corner of Watchung Ave. & E. 3rd St.
Plainfield, NJ 07060
The Grannies Peace Brigade is the group of 18 "grannies" who were swept up last October by the New York City police, handcuffed, loaded into police vans and jailed for four and a half hours.
The grandmothers were accused of blocking pedestrian traffic at the Times Square Army recruitment center in mid-town Manhattan after the women presented themselves for enlistment on October 17. They told army recruiters, "We insist/we enlist," arguing that the military should take them into Iraq service rather than their grandchildren. They were acquitted on Thursday, April 27.
The women ranged in age from 59 to 91 and protest each week in Times Square against the war. Their campaign, arrest, and trial drew media attention from around the world. The Grannies celebrated their court victory by breaking into song outside the courthouse after the verdict, singing "God Help America" to the tune of "God Bless America."
Asked what the judgeÃ‚’s decision meant to her, Grannies for Peace member, Joan Wile, 74, a retired singer, said, "Listen to your granny, and take to the streets like we did."
Sponsored by: NJ Peace Action, PeoplesÃ‚’ Organization for Progress - Plainfield Chapter and Somerset Voices for Peace & Justice Ã‚– Local groups who sponsor monthly demonstrations at the recruiting stations in Plainfield and Somerville.
This will be a potluck dinner, so please bring a dish to share, a dessert, or some drinks as you are able.
You can RSVP to: info@somersetpeace.org to let us know what you will bring and how many people are coming, which will help with our planning.
March and Rally on Broad and Market Streets, Newark
DATE: June 25
TIME: 1:00pm - 3:00pm
LOCATION: Broad and Market Street, Newark