debate idea Re: [Peace-discuss] The case against anti-war adventurism in the U.S. (fwd)

[Ricky Baldwin]

Actually, Jeff Sowers suggested a public debate to
Mark Thompson, the organizer of Saturday's
"pro-troops" rally, and he reportedly liked the idea. 
I'd suggest anyone who wants to work on this - like
Paul - should talk to Jeff and get started (time's
a-wastin').

Ricky

--- paul michael king <pmking at students.uiuc.edu>
wrote:
> 
> We're going to war without having a real debate,
> either in the Congress or
> in the country: this is often said by the antiwar
> opposition. Well, then,
> instead of preaching to the converted, let's
> challenge the other side: I
> propose a series of town hall debates at which we
> confront the advocates
> of war, right and left, and expose them in full view
> of the American
> people.
> 
> Both visually and intellectually, such a device is
> so much more
> interesting than a sea of chanting protesters: it
> has a built-in dramatic
> structure made for television. The 21st century
> equivalent of the
> Lincoln-Douglas debates, re-enacted in hundreds of
> cities and towns across
> the country: what better way to reassert the
> legitimacy of dissent and
> throw down the gauntlet to the War Party? If the
> civilian advocates of
> this war fail to pick it up, then they lay
> themselves open to the charge
> of cowardice. We can then point to the anomaly of a
> War Party that doesn't
> flinch at mowing down whole cities full of Iraqi
> civilians, but is too
> scared to face their fellow Americans on the
> battlefield of ideas.
> 
> I don't agree with the rest of his article at all,
> but this idea really
> appeals to me. What do others think? Can you imagine
> a Town Hall Meeting
> with pro-war people?
> 
> ..::Paul
> 
> 
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