Activists Planning Mass Civil Disobedience If U.S. Attacks Iraq

www.sfgate.com / San Francisco Chronicle ^ | Monday, December 23, 2002 | Martha Mendoza, AP National Writer

[American Preservative]

If a major war breaks out in Iraq, the first thing Rev. Stuart Fitch plans to do is pray, sending love to everyone from Saddam Hussein to President Bush. Then he'll call his congregation to church for a service.

And then, perhaps, the 78-year-old Episcopalian clergyman will get himself arrested.

[Walkingfeather]

I think experts are correct that we as americans need to exercize more. And I believe you have developed just the program we are looking for!!!

[Crusher138]

Can you say "Sedition?"

Can you say freedom of speech?

SteveTuck signed up 2002-11-22.

'Nuff said.

[MindBender26]

No, my underinformed friend, I suggest nothing of the sort.

Democrat FDR and Laborite Chamberlain enabled Hitler, just as Democrat Bill Clinton allowed and encouraged the current unstable ME.

Had he to do it again, I thing Bush Sr. would have taken more positive steps to eliminate Saddam in 91. His error was to think the UN would follow up on its promises and disarm Saddam.

Clinton, on the other hand, knew what Saddam was doing in his development of WMD and chose to prevent this country from stopping Saddam.

The reality is what the reality always is; knee-jerk liberals think their pie in the sky plans can promote world peace, then the conservatves have to come in at the last moment and save that same world from the explotis of the Hitlers, Saddams, USSR, etc.

One would think you would learn.... but when you know everything, as liberals do, I guess there is nothing left to learn < /experiential sarcasm >

[Sir Francis Dashwood]

We in the 17th Congressional District are "represented" by Sam Farr (D-Carmel).

Yes, the seditious traitor, Rep. Sam Farr (D-Carmel) who pontificates about his interest in representing and improving the third world dung heap his sister died more than in actually representing his own home district he was elected to represent in the United States House of Representatives.

Have you noticed that our local papers are just as much bastions of virulent anti-America Leftism as some of the comments describing the San Francisco Comical?

Of pariticular note is the weekly tabloid snot rags. These cat box liners, from sea to shining sea, are owned by two "non-profit" front organizations that promote the most illogical anti-USA propaganda possible.

[mandible]

Bravo! Freedom of Speech an underlying tenet of this nation. Anyone who thinks differently is either insecure about their own beliefs, or suffers from profound idiocy, or prescribes to a political system that makes a mockery of this very forum.

[mandible]

Are you suggesting that attempted murder is a good idea?

[dighton]

Do you oppose all anti-war demonstrations after we invade Iraq or just the more extreme elements within the peace movement?

Though the question wasn't directed to me, I'll answer it.

For various reasons I oppose anti-war demonstrations after our (presumed) invasion of Iraq, but as long as they're within certain limits -- "the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances" -- I wouldn't call for their prohibition. Throwing a city out of gear (e.g., blocking traffic in the business district) goes beyond those limits, and calls for dispersal and arrests, with swinging billyclubs if necessary. Disrupting military activity invites a reponse up to and including gunfire.

[aculeus]

Disrupting military activity invites a reponse up to and including gunfire.

Let us hope our military has the leadership ... and the ammo ... to handle such a situation.

[Poohbah]

"All ready on the right! All ready on the left! All ready on the firing line! Shooters, you may commence fire when your dope-smoking hippie comsymp peacenik targets appear!"

[mandible]

I believe these people are doing just what their government demands:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."

Sound familiar?

[Poohbah]

Yes, it does. Comparing these pieces of seditious filth to the Founding Fathers is insulting to the heroic ideals the Founding Fathers upheld.

[mandible]

Do you contend that the police power of the state supercedes the rights of its citizens?

[dighton]

I contend that if you try to disrupt our military, too ******* bad if you're shot for it.

[Poohbah]

Does the rights of its citizens include willfully disrupting military operations or damaging military equipment?

[Teacher317]

I always knew that the comedic practice we all got as rambunctious teens ("200 points for hitting a guy with glasses! 50 points for anyone in a Raiders jersey!") would pay off... now where's that cow-catcher I picked up from the rail yard? ;^)

[Teacher317]

Exactly how does protesting qualify for "alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government"? I think you give them far too much credit. If they acted to secede, institute a new government, or leave the country, then I could see the connection. Whining en masse in public hardly qualifies.

[mandible]

Do you understand that our founding fathers practiced the same type of protests, aimed at crippling the economic power of an illegitimate government? The Boston Tea Party is the most famous example. Do you know the definition of 'sedition'? Sedition is the act of rebelling against lawful authority. According to the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, authority is given by the consent of the governed. Peaceful protest is, by definition, a constitutionally protected act.

[Chancellor Palpatine]

So now our government is illegitimate? Sorry, a**hole, but there are a lot more of us than you who think it is legitimate.

Being cool and trendy, with a bunch of piercings and a job at Starbucks doesn't make you wiser than everyone else.