[Peace-discuss] Re: Disruptions…

[Morton K.Brussel]

I tend to agree with Brian.

Disruptions can be useful, albeit capricious; they can also be self 
defeating. It all depends… on many factors, and it is hard to predict 
their effects on the power structure and those whom one wants to reach. 
Some prove to be useful, others counterproductive.

Disruptions can be inspiring, drawing others into their orbit. For good 
or bad. Disruptions can be a threat; they signal desired change.

The American revolution was a grand disruption (but it started slowly), 
so too the French.  Those who fought for the civil rights for African 
Americans, the abolitionists and continuing with Martin Luther King, 
disrupted "business as usual". They were ultimately successful. 
Examples are legion. Often, disruptions are severely repressed without 
having succeeded in their aims to influence a larger public.

In any case one ought to  make sure that the message transmitted to 
those disrupted, and to the broader community,  is clear. That is 
difficult with an antagonistic media, but not impossible.

Perhaps there is a vital threshold in numbers needed to make a positive 
impact, and to minimize state repression of the disrupters.

As to the relevance of all this to the events of last Wednesday, I draw 
no conclusions except to oppose dogmatism on the issue.

Mort Brussel


On Friday, Mar 21, 2003, at 19:10 US/Central, Brian Hagy wrote:
>
>
> On Fri, 21 Mar 2003 Dlind49 at aol.com wrote:
>
>> I fully support protest actions but I want to emphasize, recommend, 
>> and
>> request that at no time: (1) should traffic be disrupted, (2) should 
>> classes
>> be disrupted, (3) should businesses be disrupted, (4) should 
>> administration
>> disrupted, or (5) any aspect of anyone's life be disrupted. Please 
>> keep all
>> protest actions safe and professional.
>>
>> dr. doug rokke
>> combat veteran
>>
>
> no disruptions?  why?  because lives are already disrupted enough in 
> iraq?
> why bother disrupting any more lives, especially those whose lives are
> comfortable enough to be able to ignore what we're doing to everyone 
> else
> in the world.  perhaps that's why people think protests are sideline
> activities, whereas wars are things to get behind (more action, less
> standing around).
>
> I think disruption is necessary, especially for change.  a system 
> changes
> when it can't accept a disruption into it's normal workings.  not
> that the disruption needs to be violent in terms of bloody or 
> physically
> damaging (as bush is trying to do in iraq).  of course, the disruption
> needs to be well thought out, and planned ahead.  civil disobedience 
> and
> forethought are powerful allies.
>
> just another view, not a proposal.
>

Preferred email: brussel at uiuc.edu


Morton K. Brussel
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Urbana, Illinois, 61801-6203
Tel. 217 337-0118

Preferred email: brussel at uiuc.edu