Re: demands, was re: Washington, DC.

[Macdonald Stainsby <mstainsby@xxxxxx>]

> We need to keep in mind that, if people from so different political
> perspectives and demands join THIS particular movement in THIS particular
> moment, it is because of THIS particular issue.  Those diverse forces are
> successfully assembled because of THIS particular issue.  If we forget that,
> we won't serve THIS movement, or others.  Seeing the same (or similar) faces
> in these demonstrations -- from free Mumia to Solidarity with Palestine, to
> Navy Out of Vieques to Free the Cuban Five, etc. -- gives people the
> impression that this is all one and the same blob.  But it is not.

I thought this question had long ago been settled.
Sigh.
There have been three basic components that have been and must remain not "tag
on" demands or planks, but the basis of unity for any and all groups anywhere
in North America, particularly in the field South of the 49th Parallel.

Out of Iraq
Free Palestine
Stop attacks on civil liberties and immigrants at home.

These points cannot be diluted, and frankly it's rather disturbing that we are
still revivisting this. There isn't one of these planks that can be seperated,
for simply most people (whether at home or at the demos, in opposition or in
support of the war) already know the connections. If you are against one
occupation, you should be opposed to both and certainly anyone can make a
movement based on humanitarian impulses... but it is simply not okay to leave
out what is happening in our own backyards.

The Canadian army is doing their part for the occupation of Iraq by freeing up
troops in Afghanistan, and thus must be a major part of the organizing north
of the 49th parallel.

At any rate, it's clear things are improving in the movement, but the attitude
or the energy/'vibe' if you will grant me such a term, was not so impressive
for the demo here in Vancouver, which I would have to qualify a minor failure.
This has to do with internal politcs in the coalition here for the main part,
and I'm going to leave that to them.

Nonetheless, what was a coalition of multiple groups has become less so and
more of a labour-led grouping to funnel demands in the direction of official
social democracy, the NDP. People knew exactly why the speakers list was the
leader of the federal NDP Jack Layton, NDP MP Svend Robinson and others. Of
the speakers, the main focus was upon feeling really sad. One woman cried
while giving her talk. The NDP is gearing for an election soon, and this will
probably be repeated for some time. Unfortunately, the anti-war movement is
going to be sacrificed for the fortunes of the NDP, rather than the principled
need to reverse that in its entirety.

Unfortunately, there is no way this will motivate people, in fact it is wholly
disempowering. This was to a crowd of only (at best) 1000; yet while I was
standing in this thin and too short march, one of the organizers was trying to
tell me-- while standing right there-- that there were well over two thousand.
I am starting to feel that it is clear these numbers games are now the only
thing that some people are concerned with. Only one of the speeches had an
education content to it, that was simply based on what had been Canada's role
in working for empire now and in the past.

While trying to tame a movement into a somber, funeral-like procession, people
don't leave motivated to go into their neighbourhoods and do the kind of work
that needs to be done. There was not much energy to the march, but was instead
based on an energy level and vitality that must have been like the crowd that
welcomed the New York Yankees off of the plane:
"Good for you, boys! Hey, we tried. There's always next time..."

Fortunately, as I alluded to at the outset, I'm fairly certain that the
majority of this has to do with sectarian intrigues, splits and purges going
on in the Stopwar.ca coalition. The amount of distrust and sideways glancing
on the march was overwhelming-- but since the coalition banned individuals
from having input without being representatives of a group, I'm uncertain how
they will overcome their urgency for fresh blood and new ideas and energy.
It's the first time all semester I've been happy that my attempt to finish my
degree has seriously limited my ability to directly participate in their work.

Good people have too much sense than to get involved in these kinds of games,
especially when there is real work to be done. Something has to give.

Macdonald.



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