Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Recently the wire has been abuzz with activity concerning the upcoming fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, mostly about the numerous and large protests that will recognize this event.
People have scheduled and organized gatherings and marches in major cities across the nation, our very own Lawrence included. As you read this, I am sure countless malcontents are formulating their witty, rhyming slogans. But, frankly, I doubt the effectiveness of these measures for two reasons.
The first is that U.S. politicians are already aware of the widespread discontent regarding the conflict. I mean, it’s probably one of the biggest explanations for the recent shift in both the Congress and state governerships.
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This manner of expressing dissenting opinions has had its time and place, and has now outlived its usefulness.
And a pulsing throng chanting outside people’s offices just reiterates this. It is redundant, and at best a nuisance. It will likely be viewed as the equivalent of having millions of 8-year-olds screaming “Are we there yet?” from the back seat of our fine nation.
The second reason is that it’s just frightfully clichè. People have gathered, picketed and yelled in unison for decades now. It’s kind of old hat.
This manner of expressing dissenting opinions has had its time and place, and has now outlived its usefulness.
It seems that most causes have almost had an intrinsic means of expressing themselves. Gandhi and his fight for Indian independence had hunger strikes, the American civil rights movement had long walks and bringing back old Coke had apathy-driven boycotts. These particular forms of protest are almost associated with their original purposes, and at worst just cheapen their original uses.
This is why it would be most effective for this particular movement to develop its own, new means of portraying itself to the people and policy makers of America and the world.
The contemporary satire of “The Daily Show” and “Colbert Report” have done a wonderful job of bringing social and political awareness to the public, so they might be on to something.
But it will take something original — and someone really intelligent — to take it the step further. And whoever it is, I wish them the best of luck in overcoming the traditional connotation of the heathen hippy currently associated with the anti-war movement.
White is a River City, Iowa, sophomore in journalism and Japanese.
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Comments
White: Stop protesting
"Cliche" is a noun meaning a trite or overused term or expression. I suspect you want the adjective form, "cliched," as in "frightfully cliched." Both should include the accents, however.
White: Stop protesting
Ok ok ok...so...protesting is old hat...but HOW DARE BIG BROTHER OUTLAW OUR FIREWORKS!!!?!?
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