The Political Thread

[Arcadia]

Absolutely; but it can turn out messy. But I genuinely believe it was the long years of protests that finally led to civil rights legislation, the US withdrawal from Vietnam, more rights for women, environmental protection laws and probably some other things I can't think of right now. Oh, I know! The girls in my high school successfully protested the ban on girls wearing jeans to school. Those first two led to some pretty horrific violence before enough people started paying attention, though. Unfortunately, that's one reason those protests were successful; the violence focused attention on them, and created sympathy for the protesters.
 
I'm sure, though, that for every protest movement that achieved change, there are thousands that didn't. That level of passion is hard to sustain.

[Arcadia]

Oh, and governments have been toppled in other places, but as usual my knowledge of world history is fuzzy and I can't remember when or where. Oh, wait, wasn't there something to do with the Berlin Wall awhile back?  ;)

[Pseudonym]

Talking about ones in other countries has anyone watched the documentary The Square? I think it's mainly available on Netflix. 

[Arcadia]

 

Also early last year, it was reported that the majority of Americans supported the Muslim ban:

https://theintercept.com/2016/03/30/majority-of-americans-now-support-trumps-proposed-muslim-ban-poll-shows/

 

Oh, wonderful. Every day I discover a new reason to be embarrassed by my fellow citizens.

 

I've always known this horribleness lurked deep within the national psyche, but I always thought it would stay buried there.

 

OMG ... Pseud, your question about protests just gave me an idea. I've been largely non-religious for decades, but technically, I am a card-carrying member of the Baha'i Faith. As in, I literally have a card that says so. Maybe it's time to dig out my Baha'i pin and start wearing it again. Most people will assume it's Muslim, maybe I can spark awareness in a soul or two.

 

If they find me beaten to death and tied to a fence, well, it's been nice knowing you!

[Arcadia]

Talking about ones in other countries has anyone watched the documentary The Square? I think it's mainly available on Netflix. 

 

Haven't heard of it. Off to see what it's about right now.

[Pseudonym]

It's about the Egyptian Revolution, filmed and narrated by the actual people on the ground protesting. Very powerful, made me cry. 

[Arcadia]

Yep, just looked it up. Alas, that happens too. Tiananmen Square, anyone?

[J.P.]

The problems with protests being successful is that they are usually beeped up later. People think when they overcome the protested situation, the trouble is over. But in fact it usually starts at this point.

 

It took 10 years for Poland to get from the first successful strikes in 1980 to the first democratic election in 1989, with a very uncool interlude of the Martial Law times. And look what's going on there. They managed to stop the abortion law lately by protests though.

 

Look what happened in Ukraine. How long is it from the Orange Revolution and what it has become?

 

The German Reunion is a rare example. It happened without people being shot on the streets. It's actually a miracle.

 

And don't forget Ghandi.

[Arcadia]

But it's worth the effort, no? Maybe not, that's an easy thing to say when you haven't been through it yourself, I know. Americans as a whole take a lot for granted, and are pretty ignorant about everything else.

 

At any rate ... I see where the UK has collected over a million anti-Trump signatures. Thanks, UK! And no, I don't mean that sarcastically. I really, really hope the rest of the world holds the US to account for everything we do. (But a little pat on the head if we somehow manage to do something right will still be appreciated too. )

[Pseudonym]

Ah, but there lies the age old question - how do you pat someone on the head without it being patronising? ;)

[Arcadia]

Back. Pat us on the back. I knew there was something wrong with that sentence when I wrote it but I couldn't figure out what it was. :p

[Surelock]

 

  Maybe it's time to dig out my Baha'i pin and start wearing it again. Most people will assume it's Muslim, maybe I can spark awareness in a soul or two.

 

If they find me beaten to death and tied to a fence, well, it's been nice knowing you!

 

That isn't impossible you know. Sikhs have been mistaken to be Muslim because they wear turbans and have beards. Since 9/11 they've been targeted in anti-Muslim hate crimes. 

 

Honestly I can't believe people can't tell the difference between a Sikh man and a Muslim man. Sikhs always tie their turbans in a very specific way but Muslim men tie their turbans any way they like.

 

Back. Pat us on the back. I knew there was something wrong with that sentence when I wrote it but I couldn't figure out what it was. :P

 

I'd give Attorney General Sally Yates a pat on her back. She defied Trump's Muslim ban and refused to enforce it.

 

Know how Trump responded? He fired her.

 

This is the official letter of her removal:

 

 

It looks like Trump is going to be firing a lot of people in law enforcement who disagree with him. Looks like the US is on its path to being as much of a democracy as Turkey is at present.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Here's a question for you all, do you think protesting can ever really make a difference?

Political reason, as far as I know, it's possible, but never without blood.

 

  

 

If they find me beaten to death and tied to a fence, well, it's been nice knowing you!

Walk with me. Betwen two of us we shall be able to take down a few before that happens.

 

  

Ah, but there lies the age old question - how do you pat someone on the head without it being patronising? ;)

Hard. Or with something big and loud. It works with my sibling. :p

 

I am half disgusted and half amused by linear way of thinking of most people. Does history teach us something? Apparently not. Never.

[Fantasy Lover]

I'd give Attorney General Sally Yates a pat on her back. She defied Trump's Muslim ban and refused to enforce it.

 

Know how Trump responded? He fired her.

 

This is the official letter of her removal:

 

 

It looks like Trump is going to be firing a lot of people in law enforcement who disagree with him. Looks like the US is on its path to being as much of a democracy as Turkey is at present.

I heard about that, there will be a coup at this rate.

[Arcadia]

Heading to a rally this morning to protest Trump's actions. Wearing my Baha'i pin. If you don't hear from me by this evening, send bail. And a sandwich.

[Pseudonym]

Good for you. I've just been watching reports on all the protests going on at airports and there have been loads of protests here. Crazy it's not even February yet. 

[T.o.b.y]

Heading to a rally this morning to protest Trump's actions. Wearing my Baha'i pin. If you don't hear from me by this evening, send bail. And a sandwich.

 

And you should send us a few words when you're back home to let us know you're still with us...

 

Good for you! Give an extra shout from me. There haven't been any protests where I live but that's because I live in the middle of nowhere.

 

[Surelock]

Heading to a rally this morning to protest Trump's actions. Wearing my Baha'i pin. If you don't hear from me by this evening, send bail. And a sandwich.

 

Good luck.

 

Remember to refute all of Trump's arguments. They're not that difficult to refute.

 

Even a random guy on twitter can do it.:

 

[T.o.b.y]

Why do people even bother to reply to these tweets? First rule of the internet: Don't feed the troll! Not even if he's your president...

[Arcadia]

Well, it was a small but enthusiastic crowd, and we got quite a few friendly honks and waves from passing motorists, so ... I don't feel like I accomplished anything, actually. :P But I still feel better. It's a start.

[Arcadia]

Why do people even bother to reply to these tweets? First rule of the internet: Don't feed the troll! Not even if he's your president...

Well, as I posted on my Facebook page ... sometimes you post things not to change people's minds, but to show solidarity with those that agree with you. But I agree, it's hard to know where to draw the line.

[T.o.b.y]

Well, it was a small but enthusiastic crowd, and we got quite a few friendly honks and waves from passing motorists, so ... I don't feel like I accomplished anything, actually. :P But I still feel better. It's a start.

 

Glad you got back safely. And thank you for going. You did accomplish something. Hearing about protests, rallies etc and seeing the pictures from them is a great source of consolation for people like me, for example. I dread reading the news every morning these days.

 

[Arcadia]

Which is why I went ... it's too depressing to just sit here and watch it happen.

[Van Buren Supernova]

Just be careful. Some risk comes not from the two opposing sides, but from third side who just wants to create chaos and provocations to their benefits by pitting both sides against each other.

 

I went to some rallies, there were peaceful internal ones but when we took it outside it's not as clear cut, some of people I knew were shot. Then hell broke loose. It was years after before evidences were found that it was done by neither opposing group.

[Surelock]

Have any of you seen the videos on YouTube that compare Trump to Biff Tanen in Back of the Future?

 

 

It's both funny and scary how similar the two of them are.