?

[Disflux]

protests never actually get anything done. it's always just a bunch of jobless hippies spewing some nonsense about "corporate America". it's just a waste of time.

Negative. I live in Madison, WI, where you might have heard on national news a couple of months ago with the MASS amount of recalls of Republican House members due to protests against them because of the "Budget Bill" that Governor Walker introduced illegally. Protests do a SHIT-TON when you have the momentum behind them.

However, protests against Corporations are a different thing than a protest against Government. Government members get their jobs from the people, whereas Corporations, well, it doesn't matter if you protest against them, nothing will happen to them. Corporations have become way too smart by dividing their companies into smaller entities and controlling the media. Go here for instance http://www.cjr.org/resources/?c=disney . (betcha you didn't know Disney owned 80% of ESPN) Although it may be media related, the same is true for almost every other corporation.

One person that holds up a "Fuck the Troops" sign in a protest WILL become the image of that entire group due to the media's focus on that one thing. The common American is not smart enough to divulge the information needed to realize that one person does not define an entire group of individuals.

Edit: Oh, and btw, the recall of Governor Walker is starting 11/15/11. Although I don't think he'll get recalled, and if he does it'll be ridiculously close, it'll still be a national momentum shift in Democrat-Republican values.

[Blackmage]

First off, I'd like to say, Fuck the Troops is not why I'm against OWS. I mainly don't think they're going far enough, but I'm also somewhere around anarchist politically. I had not heard about FTT in OWS until this thread, and what I can find on a quick google is saying it probably wasn't from this rally. I've also been led to believe that if it happened, most protestors would be vehemently outraged. What I see is them doing this exactly right, showing it's falsified and saying they don't agree in any case.

However, an organization is responsible for the actions of it's members, as members are what make an organization. If they disagree with some actions, they should do something about it. If it's small enough, they can stop it and make sure it stays a isolated incident. However, if it's a hot topic, as FTT would be/is, they will be forced to either agree or disagree with it being part of their image. If they agree, they can do whatever they want. If they disagree, they need to tell the masses. Ignoring it would be ignorant, as perception determines what you're saying, what you believe, what you allow. While it does not define the members within, it does define at least one aspect of the group. It's why most groups disavow anyone who kills in their name or while doing their work, but are forced to deal with the repercussion that come with it.

As with any movement, more so with political movements, people are often required to take what they believe is best between bad options, support the parts they agree with, and oppose and try to change, live with, or ignore the rest that the movement stands for. A problem with this lies in that, while the main purposes of these organizations are obvious, it is little things that help you figure out what the whole of an organization is, and many people don't wish to research. As such, to an extent, the individuals ARE defined by those they support. Unfortunately, you don't always know what you are supporting until it's too late. Godwin's law.

[Steamer]

I work in DC about every day. Most all these organizations are made to occupy spots together and it becomes one big fucking mess. The cut in between C street and PA ave. (Capital / Senate building) was closed down and guarded because of a walking movement. Freedom plaza was occupied by FOUR different protesting groups last Monday. The park at 16th street was occupied by two groups. Another park at around 12th and K was occupied by OWS alone with a small group. I could pick out the separate groups easily, what the media will have you believe and focus on is another story. I have noticed a heavy decrease in Diplomatic travel because of this, not to mention the "package" found on C/PA a few days before.

[StarsMine]

DC and the protests on pennsilvania were always entertaining
And that jackass that said protests do jack shit should get out of america. Honestly, Protests are the only way we have gotten shit done. Do the majority of protests fail? yea, but so what? You still have many that work.

[Steamer]

Protest do or lead to nothing... I'll just name one... Boston Tea Party. Please,... don't be fucking retarded.

[Jiggy]

Protest do or lead to nothing... I'll just name one... Boston Tea Party. Please,... don't be fucking retarded.

steamer what are u talking about lol

[maynard]

steamer what are u talking about lol

try reading a book once in a while...

[Jiggy]

try reading a book once in a while...

na i dont read books that much anymore!

[Osage]

Protest do or lead to nothing... I'll just name one... Boston Tea Party. Please,... don't be fucking retarded.

that wasn't a protest, that was a damn riot/vandalism. BIG difference. a bunch of hippies on a street corner yelling and whining about a bunch of horseshit accomplishes nothing.

edit: this doesn't mean they should start doing that. i'd be down there with my 12 gauge in an instant if they did.

[Chikun]

Cry_Wolf was the one holding the "fuck the troops" sign...


lol