Government involved in protest marches

Paul Watson

Today the ANC, the majority party in SA, has organised a rally/protest/march/toy-toy outside the US consulate against Bush's Go To War policy. Now the major opposition party has come out saying that the government should not get involved in organising rallies and protest marches. At first blush I agreed. Then I started thinking and have now changed my mind. Surely the majority party represents the majority of the people (please remember: We are talking ideals here. How it should be, not how it is) and so is perfectly right in being allowed to organise a march like this? Also this march just reinforces the official stance of South Africa towards the war. If nobody attends the rally, then we can see that the majority parties views on the matter do not represent the people. If it is attended well then they are. What is wrong with it? * This is not a war post, m'kay? Don't yell at me because SA is against the war.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Roger Wright wrote: Using a feather is kinky; using the whole chicken is perverted!

Lost User

You could call it democracy in action..... The tigress is here :-D

KaRl

Paul Watson wrote: the government should not get involved in organising rallies and protest marches. :wtf: why not ? Paul Watson wrote: What is wrong with it? Nothing IMO.

Angels banished from heaven have no choice but to become demons Cowboy Bebop

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Paul Watson wrote: Today the ANC, the majority party in SA, has organised a rally/protest/march/toy-toy outside the US consulate against Bush's Go To War policy. That's novel. Heck, why not? Can you imagine if that happened in the UK? I can just see the headlines "Government organises Protest against rising Taxes". Hang on a sec... :laugh: On second thoughts, it'll probably never happen here. We're just too apathetic in this country. :rolleyes: Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Rohit Sinha

Also remember that the government did not participate in the rally, technically. The members of the party currently running the government did. People often fail to distinguish between the government and the party running it. If tomorrow the government changes, ANC will still protest the war. But the stance of the government may change depending on the new party in power now. The people who rallied also have a right to their opinions, and the right to rally and protest, so what if they are currently in office? They are a political party, and citizens of the country, so have the same rights as everyone else. If the government wants to protest, it can write letters, issue memos, take official stances, and so forth. But a government can't rally. LOL! What am I saying? Does that make sense even to me? Guess I'm too messed up in the head right now.
Regards,

Rohit Sinha

Character is like a tree, and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
- Abraham Lincoln

The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going.
- Anonymous

Megan Forbes

Paul Watson wrote: toy-toy :) Seriously, it's nice to see them standing up for what they believe in against someone so much bigger than us. Any links? Perhaps we could organise a simultaneous one here, outside SA House in Trafalgar Sq :cool:

A pack of geeks, pale and skinny, feeling a bit pumped and macho after a morning of strenuous mouse clicking and dragging, arriving en masse at the gym. They carefully reset the machines to the lowest settings, offer to spot for each other on the 5 lb dumbells, and rediscover the art of macrame while attempting to jump rope. -Roger Wright on my colleagues and I going to gym each day at lunch

Jason Henderson

Kind of reminds me of a George Orwell story I read once.

Jason Henderson
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi

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Paul Watson

Jason Henderson wrote: Kind of reminds me of a George Orwell story I read once. In other words: This is not a good thing. :) thanks for the reply.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Roger Wright wrote: Using a feather is kinky; using the whole chicken is perverted!

Dy

Anna-Jayne Metcalfe wrote: We're just too apathetic in this country Hang on a sec Anna, I'd contest that. I was at the last don't-attack-Iraq demo, and there were over 200,000 people there, hardly apathey (sp?). I'll be at the next one on the 15th too, and we're looking forward to a (hopefully) huge turn out, despite the UK weather in Febuary. I don't think it's true that us brits are apathetic, okay, it's a little easier for me because I live in London, but I would still get there if I lived in the Shetland Isles! Does this mean we won't be seeing you there? (Hint, hint)

Dylan
Boycott Bush
Punch GWB

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Fair cop guvnor. :rolleyes: Whilst I know we are capable of getting off our bums and doing something, I think it takes a lot more to get us to do so than the population of many countries. Let's face it, when the British population do a demo, it usually means they're seriously pissed about something! Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Lost User

Just out of curiosity: If the current US/UK threats against Iraq somehow manage to disarm Saddam without war will the anti-war protestors give us any credit at all? My guess is no. Instead they'll claim victory "See, we didn't need to go to war!" while ignoring the power/pressure of the threat of war. In the end we are in a "no win" situation. Mike Mullikin :beer:

Some mornings, it's just not worth chewing through the leather straps. - Emo Philips

Anna Jayne Metcalfe

Somehow I doubt it Mike. :confused: Some people never want to give any credit to anyone but themselves. Anna :rose: www.annasplace.me.uk

"Be yourself - not what others think you should be"
- Marcia Graesch

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Rohit Sinha

Mike Mullikin wrote: If the current US/UK threats against Iraq somehow manage to disarm Saddam without war will the anti-war protestors give us any credit at all? Many, if not all of them will, I believe. I myself am personally against a war, but then I am against any war, but let that be, that's just me. But if Iraq is disarmed, I realise fully well that it'll only be because of the war threat. And kudos to US/UK. Some things cannot simply be achieved without some arm twisting.
Regards,

Rohit Sinha

Character is like a tree, and reputation like its shadow. The shadow is what we think of it; the tree is the real thing.
- Abraham Lincoln

The whole world steps aside for the man who knows where he is going.
- Anonymous

Paul Watson

Mike Mullikin wrote: If the current US/UK threats against Iraq somehow manage to disarm Saddam without war will the anti-war protestors give us any credit at all? No, you are right most won't. Hopefully though we can progress towards not even needing to threaten people. War is an ugly stick to use.

Paul Watson
Bluegrass
Cape Town, South Africa

Roger Wright wrote: Using a feather is kinky; using the whole chicken is perverted!