Conghaileach
7th March 2003, 17:19
THE POWER OF PROTESTS
---------------------------------------------
[Col. Writ. 2/16/03] Copyright 2003 Mumia Abu-Jamal
"But now everyone is cashing in on the 'war against terror'. When
Macedonian cops gun down seven Arabs, they announce that
they are participating in the global 'war on terror'. When
Russians massacre Chechens, they are now prosecuting the
'war on terror'. When Israel fires at Arafat's headquarters, it
says it is participating in the 'war on terror'. Must we all be
hijacked into America's dangerous self-absorption with the
crimes of 11 September? Must this vile war between
Palestinians and Israelis be distorted in so dishonest a way?"
-- Robert Fisk, "The Lies Leaders Tell When They Want
to Go to War," *Independent*, UK (3/30/02)
There was something glorious about the millions of people around the
world, from Britain to Bombay, from Moscow to Minneapolis, from Paris
to Pittsburgh, over 600 cities according to some reports, all united
in opposition to the war aims of the Bush Regime in Washington.
There could be little question that to most of the peoples of the
world, the Bush Regime's arguments have dismally failed. Even with
the support of the Administration's most trusted member, General-cum-
'Foreign Minister' Colin Powell, the claims of the government have
fallen like leaves in Autumn. Indeed, the reports to the United
Nations by weapons inspectors, Drs. Hans Blix and Mohamed El-Baradei,
delivered a slap to the Americans, causing the usually calm Sec.
Powell to adopt an uncharacteristic non-diplomatic tone in clear
frustration at the gist of the reports.
Even with the considerable closet support of the corporate mass
media, and the residue of Sept. 11th, the Bush Regime has to go back
to the drawing boards, to find some key that will (in the words of
Shakespeare) "let slip the dogs of war!".
The U.S., driven by the petro-hunger of the vast reserves under
Iraqi lands, threatens to break the UN, and indeed fracture NATO, in
order to achieve its imperialist, 'sole Superpower' objectives: which
is to destroy any entity that does not openly acknowledge its
hegemony. Only the power of the People, as demonstrated by the vast,
militant, funny, and vibrant protests around the world, can place a
stopper into the bottle of War for Empire.
It is a splendid beginning; but it is only a beginning.
For the Bush Regime that is in 'power' is not representative of the
people; if we are honest, we have to acknowledge that *none of them
do!* They are protecting the interests of the Money Power that rules
in the closed rooms in Washington. There, one need not pretend to
be a part of a 'democracy'-- for the ruling hand in Washington, in
both Democratic and Republican administrations, is 'corporatocracy'--
the unrelenting rule of capital. If people really want Peace; if
they want to transform this infernal addiction to war that drives
every administration, then they must begin to organize to deeply
transform this political order, starting from the bottom, ending at
the top. That really means the end of the 'strategy' of 'the lesser
evil' in American politics. It means voting, yes; but voting for
what people really want, and really need. It means seeing both major
parties as traitors to democracy, as wards of the same corporate
interests who want, not only war-- but War Without End-- for
generations, to protect their swinish wealth and opulence.
It means Change. In a word, revolution. It means that, or it means
nothing.
It means washing away the deep American addiction, not only to oil,
but to hierarchy, the need to obey one's 'leaders'. It means--
social transformation.
The mass demonstrations around the world were more than a
rebuke to the Bush Regime in D.C.; it was a tacit rejection of the
U.S. media, which, through its heated repetition, martial music, and
strategy of demonization, served as a whorish handmaiden of
political, corporate elites. It meant that millions rejected the
programming pumped through the propaganda mills owned by capital.
That too, is a good beginning. But it can't be an end.
Media that serves the wealthy few, and ignores the daily
tragedies of working people, and non-working people, who are
suffering in every state of this alleged 'union', should be left
alone, to wither on the vine.
To quote an 'unelected dictator' (King Dubya); '...it's either for
ya, or aginst ya.'
A true Peace Movement must do more than march; it must
fight!
It must fight for a better world against the forces of greed and
narrow interest; it must fight for the Right to Peace, in a nation
deeply dedicated to war.
Copyright 2003 Mumia Abu-Jamal
=======================================
MUMIA'S COLUMNS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO INSPIRE
PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND HELP CALL ATTENTION TO HIS CASE.
The campaign to kill Mumia is in full swing and we need you to
**please** contact as many publications and information outlets as
you possibly can to run Mumia's commentaries (on-line and
**especially off-line**)!! The only requirements are that you run
them *unedited*, with every word including copyright information
intact, and send a copy of the publication to Mumia and/or ICFFMAJ.
THANK YOU!!!
These are VERY SERIOUS TIMES for political activists in this country
and around the world. Get full details and keep updated by reading
ACTION ALERTS!! at www.mumia.org and www.moveorg.net.
========================================
To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit
www.prisonradio.org or www.fsrn.org
---------------------------------------------
[Col. Writ. 2/16/03] Copyright 2003 Mumia Abu-Jamal
"But now everyone is cashing in on the 'war against terror'. When
Macedonian cops gun down seven Arabs, they announce that
they are participating in the global 'war on terror'. When
Russians massacre Chechens, they are now prosecuting the
'war on terror'. When Israel fires at Arafat's headquarters, it
says it is participating in the 'war on terror'. Must we all be
hijacked into America's dangerous self-absorption with the
crimes of 11 September? Must this vile war between
Palestinians and Israelis be distorted in so dishonest a way?"
-- Robert Fisk, "The Lies Leaders Tell When They Want
to Go to War," *Independent*, UK (3/30/02)
There was something glorious about the millions of people around the
world, from Britain to Bombay, from Moscow to Minneapolis, from Paris
to Pittsburgh, over 600 cities according to some reports, all united
in opposition to the war aims of the Bush Regime in Washington.
There could be little question that to most of the peoples of the
world, the Bush Regime's arguments have dismally failed. Even with
the support of the Administration's most trusted member, General-cum-
'Foreign Minister' Colin Powell, the claims of the government have
fallen like leaves in Autumn. Indeed, the reports to the United
Nations by weapons inspectors, Drs. Hans Blix and Mohamed El-Baradei,
delivered a slap to the Americans, causing the usually calm Sec.
Powell to adopt an uncharacteristic non-diplomatic tone in clear
frustration at the gist of the reports.
Even with the considerable closet support of the corporate mass
media, and the residue of Sept. 11th, the Bush Regime has to go back
to the drawing boards, to find some key that will (in the words of
Shakespeare) "let slip the dogs of war!".
The U.S., driven by the petro-hunger of the vast reserves under
Iraqi lands, threatens to break the UN, and indeed fracture NATO, in
order to achieve its imperialist, 'sole Superpower' objectives: which
is to destroy any entity that does not openly acknowledge its
hegemony. Only the power of the People, as demonstrated by the vast,
militant, funny, and vibrant protests around the world, can place a
stopper into the bottle of War for Empire.
It is a splendid beginning; but it is only a beginning.
For the Bush Regime that is in 'power' is not representative of the
people; if we are honest, we have to acknowledge that *none of them
do!* They are protecting the interests of the Money Power that rules
in the closed rooms in Washington. There, one need not pretend to
be a part of a 'democracy'-- for the ruling hand in Washington, in
both Democratic and Republican administrations, is 'corporatocracy'--
the unrelenting rule of capital. If people really want Peace; if
they want to transform this infernal addiction to war that drives
every administration, then they must begin to organize to deeply
transform this political order, starting from the bottom, ending at
the top. That really means the end of the 'strategy' of 'the lesser
evil' in American politics. It means voting, yes; but voting for
what people really want, and really need. It means seeing both major
parties as traitors to democracy, as wards of the same corporate
interests who want, not only war-- but War Without End-- for
generations, to protect their swinish wealth and opulence.
It means Change. In a word, revolution. It means that, or it means
nothing.
It means washing away the deep American addiction, not only to oil,
but to hierarchy, the need to obey one's 'leaders'. It means--
social transformation.
The mass demonstrations around the world were more than a
rebuke to the Bush Regime in D.C.; it was a tacit rejection of the
U.S. media, which, through its heated repetition, martial music, and
strategy of demonization, served as a whorish handmaiden of
political, corporate elites. It meant that millions rejected the
programming pumped through the propaganda mills owned by capital.
That too, is a good beginning. But it can't be an end.
Media that serves the wealthy few, and ignores the daily
tragedies of working people, and non-working people, who are
suffering in every state of this alleged 'union', should be left
alone, to wither on the vine.
To quote an 'unelected dictator' (King Dubya); '...it's either for
ya, or aginst ya.'
A true Peace Movement must do more than march; it must
fight!
It must fight for a better world against the forces of greed and
narrow interest; it must fight for the Right to Peace, in a nation
deeply dedicated to war.
Copyright 2003 Mumia Abu-Jamal
=======================================
MUMIA'S COLUMNS NEED TO BE PUBLISHED AS BROADLY AS POSSIBLE TO INSPIRE
PROGRESSIVE MOVEMENT AND HELP CALL ATTENTION TO HIS CASE.
The campaign to kill Mumia is in full swing and we need you to
**please** contact as many publications and information outlets as
you possibly can to run Mumia's commentaries (on-line and
**especially off-line**)!! The only requirements are that you run
them *unedited*, with every word including copyright information
intact, and send a copy of the publication to Mumia and/or ICFFMAJ.
THANK YOU!!!
These are VERY SERIOUS TIMES for political activists in this country
and around the world. Get full details and keep updated by reading
ACTION ALERTS!! at www.mumia.org and www.moveorg.net.
========================================
To download Mp3's of Mumia's commentaries visit
www.prisonradio.org or www.fsrn.org