[Peace-discuss] Tires Plus: Expect meanness, respond with kindness or disengagement

[Morton K.Brussel]

I get the impression that we are becoming overly timid. I'm referring 
to the question of whether it should be promulgated  that Tires Plus is 
antagonistic, or worse, to the anti-war movement. I believe that there 
are instances where you have to know your antagonists as distinct from 
those who are uncommitted to the war issue, or committed by 
mistake—i.e., by ignorance. Should Israeli goods be boycotted? Many 
believe this to be an effective way to affect Israel's governmental 
policies. Should we have boycotted the apartheid South Africa's goods? 
Should we be afraid of criticizing, harshly, George W. Bush,  Cheney, 
Rumsfeld et al, lest we offend people who believe that they are 
honorable men? Should we be afraid to condemn corporations that that 
support the weapons industry, or who give funds to politicians to do 
that and support war? Should we be nice to avowed racists, e.g., 
businesses that discriminate against ethnic groups?

There are many people whose minds about war in Iraq you will not be 
able to change. Many of these believe that those against war are 
traitors to their country, contemptible peace-nics.  You can ascribe 
their war-like tendencies to various causes, trust in their leaders, 
for example, but they exist.  I don't think that special consideration 
needs to be extended to these types; rather non-violent militancy 
against them is in order. You can try to convince them otherwise, but 
you should be firm that you will oppose them for their inimical 
actions. Gandhi had no scruples about severely condemning the British 
in India before independence. Nor did Martin Luther King worry about 
offending the southern mentality of segregation.

I look at the managers/owners of Tires Plus in this light. I do not 
think we need be timid about saying that they have been more than 
unfriendly to our efforts. It is entirely conceivable that we could 
gain respect by not being so timid. It is also conceivable that Tires 
Plus might become less aggressive to us if they knew that there would 
be economic costs involved.

I haven't decided whether a letter to the N-G is appropriate for what 
has transpired between us and Tires Plus, but I am tempted to let the 
public know what has happened.

As for the comment that signs such as "Bomb Texas" are used by our 
opponents [The N-G] against us, perhaps. That may be a tactical error, 
but a good political point was being made, if perhaps too 
belligerently.  Let's not discourage the diversity of our sentiments 
and metaphors.

Mort Brussel


On Monday, Feb 17, 2003, at 22:05 US/Central, Joan Nelshoppen wrote:

> I'm not sure that anyone was targeted.  My minivan looks a lot like 
> the one they were trying to tow and they initially thought that the 
> woman with two small kids (me) was the one parked there.
>
> I agree with what everyone is saying about responding with kindness.  
> I believe it is really important that protestors for peace act in a 
> nonviolent manner.
>
> Please do not publicly target the tire place for a boycott.  That will 
> not win anyone over.
>
> Also - would it be useful to reexamine some of the new signs?  
> Although things like "Bomb Texas" may make a few protestors laugh I 
> think signs like that do more harm then good and are not perceived 
> well by people you might be trying to get to join you.  I didn't get a 
> chance to look at all the signs as I was driving over to protest on 
> Saturday (I was just totally amazed and proud at the number of people) 
> so I don't know if it was still out there.  But if I had seen that one 
> I would have been offended.  (I should mention I am someone who 
> totally opposes this war.) Incidentally, that sign made the News 
> Gazette and not in a flattering light.
>
> Joan

Preferred email: brussel at uiuc.edu


Morton K. Brussel
2003 George Huff Drive
Urbana, Illinois, 61801-6203
Tel. 217 337-0118

Preferred email: brussel at uiuc.edu