[Peace-discuss] Fwd: Take the Pledge of Resistance to War on Iran

Wed Mar 21 18:10:34 UTC 2012

Of course, if you took Emma Goldman’s remarks, quoted by you, seriously, then by implication, one has to logically wonder why you are so concerned and/or involved in the electoral process and who is running for what, what their positions are, and who people should vote for?  I fail to see how taking a pledge is anything more than another symbolic way of protesting similar to demonstrations, slogan spouting, sign waving, article writing, or the like; I also fail to see how you think that it will be any more effective.  

I would think a general strike which shuts down the country and prevents doing business as usual would be much more effective than signing a petition or taking a pledge; but we all know that that will not happen in the US because - despite all the claims to the contrary -  a majority of the population supports the establishment and its policies and positions as long as it does not directly impact on them and their lives and livelihood.   There are even some who think it is a good thing to jeopardize the lives, health, and physical well-being of their children and spouses as well as themselves in the name and service of patriotism, god and country, moral values, etc. (the better dead than red culture).  Those who do not actively support the establishment and its policies and practices are unwilling to actively take actions in opposition which could put themselves in jeopardy.  There will be no American Spring in the form which has taken hold in the rest of the world where people are willing to risk everything to bring about change; there will only be more talk and discussion, more media events, and more symbolic protests where the majority of protesters seek to be responsible and respectable and acceptable to the establishment  and perfectly willing to cast aside, point out, and condemn those among them who take any sort of effective actions.  Unfortunately, some of those who do engage in more effective actions tend to do it either as agent provocateurs for the establishment or as persons on ego trips concerned with their own self interests  rather than from a real concern for achieving the collective goals or the purposes of the movement they claim to represent.

From: C. G. Estabrook 
Sent: March 21, 2012 7:23 AM
To: peace ; Peace-discuss List 
Cc: sf-core 
Subject: [Peace-discuss] Fwd: Take the Pledge of Resistance to War on Iran

The Obama administration and the mayor of New York made clear the other night how they intend to put down any opposition to their military and economic policies this year. They're using police-state tactics to insure that 'politics' be confined to the farcical presidential election. "If voting could change things it would be illegal," said Emma Goldman during the WWI crackdown. This administration is brutalizing people to be sure that extra-parliamentary methods won't work either. Here's a way to resist.

  WarIsACrime.org

  Take the Pledge of Resistance to War on Iran
  On the anniversary of Shock and Awe in Iraq, it's time to stop the next war now: Take the Iran Pledge of Resistance

  The Iran Pledge of Resistance (IPOR) is a coordinated grassroots campaign to build an emergency response network capable of preempting any escalated U.S. intervention in Iran or the Middle East.

  Over the past few months there has been escalating talk about the possibility of a U.S. war with Iran. Israel, the U.S.'s closest ally in the region, is threatening attacks which could pull us into war. President Obama and the Republican presidential candidates are saying that "all options are on the table" to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear weapon. This is despite the fact that top U.S. intelligence officials have made consistent statements that Iran does not have a nuclear weapons program nor is there proof they intend to establish one.

  Let's stop this war before it starts.   

  On Feb 15, 2003 millions of people marched against war in Iraq.  What if millions of us again join together to say no to war, but this time organize a mass horizontal direct action network?

  Take the Pledge

  "If the United States applies increased sanctions, invades, bombs, sends combat troops or drones, or otherwise significantly escalates its intervention in Iran or the region directly or through support of its allies, I pledge to join with others to engage in acts of legal protest and/or nonviolent civil disobedience to prevent or halt the death and destruction which U.S. military actions would cause to the people of Iran, the Middle East, our communities at home, and the planet itself."

  By signing the pledge you will be connecting with 100,000s of others who are receiving this email; but signing up is just the first step. This will only be effective if we organize at the grassroots level. While the Pledge itself is online and there will be effective actions to do from your computer, it will be important to connect with others in your community to start building out this network. We will be able to connect you with others in your area who sign the pledge to coordinate local actions and engage in emergency response.  The structure of the Iran Pledge of Resistance is a simple on e: local affinity groups formed by those signing up will lead to local spokes councils and coordinating bodies. Those spokes councils will be part of the national conversation to figure out next steps, plan days of actions and much more. Now is your chance to take the first step. Go to iranpledge.org to take the pledge now.

  Working together, we can be a powerful force that can change the course of history. Sign the Pledge of Resistance and start organizing now!

  P.S. Find us on facebook and twitter to help spread the word!

  UPCOMING EVENTS:

  http://warisacrime.org/content/upcoming-events

  Please forward this to everyone who might be interested!

  Join us on Facebook and Twitter:

  ##

  Support WarIsACrime:

  Donate with Paypal or creditcard through Paypal.

  Please help us inform you of activities in your town by logging in at
  http://afterdowningstreet.org

  Then click on "My account", on "Edit", and on "Personal Information," and type in your state and zip code.

  If you receive this from a friend, you can subscribe by registering at
  http://afterdowningstreet.org/user/register

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Peace-discuss mailing list
Peace-discuss at lists.chambana.net
http://lists.chambana.net/mailman/listinfo/peace-discuss
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.chambana.net/pipermail/peace-discuss/attachments/20120321/1b85c421/attachment-0001.html>