Posted on 03/23/2003 3:01:19 PM PST by I_Love_My_Husband
Protesters' tactics alienating even those against war Experts question effectiveness but organizers see success
Joe Garofoli, Chronicle Staff Writer
San Francisco -- As a few hundred anti-war demonstrators marched past white-collar workers and hard hats along Market Street on Friday, some chanted, "It's only a matter of time before you join us, join us."
But after the disruptions in San Francisco last week that led to 2,133 arrests over two days, and with activists promising more civil disobedience Monday and Tuesday, it's becoming harder for many people to sympathize with the demonstrators -- even for those who support their cause.
"The protesters are acting like sore losers," said Aitan Melamud, a retired urologist, as he watched a protest outside Bechtel Corp. headquarters Friday morning. "Like if they can't have their way, then we can't go on with our lives."
Dejah Dorantes was dropping off an overnight package near Montgomery and Bush streets Friday afternoon when she was caught between demonstrators coming one way and police the other. One officer told her and others to get inside a Walgreens or risk arrest and asked the manager to lock the door.
"Chrissakes, I feel like a war correspondent, and all this really is is just a civil disobedience-riot zone in my own native city of San Francisco," Dorantes said.
Those familiar with the peace movement say that if activists want to transform the protests into a lasting political force, they have to reach out to those who cannot see past their tactics.
Tonight, organizers with Direct Action, the loose-knit network that coordinated last week's civil disobedience, will meet to map out their next steps.
"It's kind of an empowering thing for people -- 'Wow, we shut down the Financial District of San Francisco,' " said Stephen Zunes, an associate professor of history at the University of San Francisco and an expert on social movements.
"But," Zunes said, "they have to get a general strike called or something like that before these kind of tactics can turn into a political power. Often, these type of movements peter out quickly."
----rest of commie bs snipped------
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
Now, please explain how Viagra, and the implications associated with someone who takes it, has anything to do with what I was saying. I am old, but unless you die young, like some of our brave warriors are doing on our behalf in the deserts of Iraq, you will quite probably experience a decrease in your libido.
But, I have fathered six children, three of which have already died and gone to heaven. How many offspring can you claim, my little friend?
I was under the impression that you had...er...performance issues that made you want to kill 1.2 billion people you don't even know.
BTW, I recommend reading the account in Genesis of Abraham bargaining with God to prevent the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah.
The terrorist actions against America were undertaken by an infinitesimally small minority of Muslims. Are you saying that all 1.2 billion must die for the sins of a few?
By your standards, Bill Clinton would have been justified in exterminating White Christian males after the Oklahoma City bombing.
Call me whatever name makes you feel tough, kegler4. I just see the writing and it's scrawled in Arabic. It says,
Allah is our objective.
The messenger is our leader.
Quran is our law.
Jihad is our way.
Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope.
If you really think this kind of rhetoric is limited to only the radical Muslim groups, then go ahead, roll over and go back to sleep. As for me, I'll be keeping an eye on the tent flap. Asan Akbar
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