Is the anti-war crowd in America as strong

[Chiak47]

now as it was in the '60's?
This is for the people who were there in the 60's.Redstar2000 etc etc.

Honest opinion's please.

[Sabocat]

I guess I would have to ask what the definition of strong is.

Certainly protests are more organized now thanks to the internet. It has enabled worldwide protests to be coordinated and implemented faster, so in that sense I would say they're stronger.

I think the whole story will be told when we see if the protesting dies down at the completion of the Iraq invasion or not. If in traditional fashion (here in the US at least) people lose the passion about the issues and just give up and move on (let's hope not), I would same it's the same as the 60's. If they continue on, pressing for a change, and sticking with their beliefs, then I would say it's a stronger group.

I think it all comes down to longevity.

[Chiak47]

The protests in the 60's shut down schools and politicians called out for the National Guard.
I have not seen that yet.

The 60's brought the US to it's knees.With the blacks rioting at the same time.It was a mess.

I just wanted to hear what the old timers had to say.

[Sabocat]

I am an old timer. :wink: In fact, I would venture that I am in the top 10 in age on this site.

I don't think that the media will ever show the civil unrest like it did in the 60's. Even when schools now have large protests (like the walkout at MIT, Harvard, BU, and most of the other universities in Boston), the media does very little in the way of coverage. It's media manipulation to the nth degree. Even when the media does mention the protests, they deliberately underestimate the size of the crowds.

As far as the National Guard being called out, I think we're close to that in some instances. Keep in mind however that most police forces are more paramilitary in nature than they were in the 60's, and their forces are much larger. The police have become the main line. I think you will find that the National Guard will only be used in extreme cases now, because everyone is afraid of the press it will bring and the statement it will make.

I think the protest in Oakland the other day demonstrates the polices' willingness to assume the role that the Guard played in the 60's.

We'll have to wait and see how the political conventions do with the protesters. I'm sure that there are going to be 10's of thousands, probably more than there was in the 60's and 70's, but how it's portrayed on the evening news will tell the story. My guess is that it could be the largest ever and you won't hear that.

[Chiak47]

Disgustapated,

I was not sure who the "old Men" were on this board.I appoligize.

This war in the gulf can get real ugly any time now.We have big head troops who believe they are GODS of war and a population that has no idea who there next leader is going to be.Not to mention several countries such as Iran,Turkey,and Syria who are looking at moving into Iraq.It could get real ugly even though the US has seen success thus far.

If the body count starts to rise I fear you may be right as far as more of the "masses" on the streets.It could be a turn and with more people loosing there jobs everyday it could turn real fast.

BTW...I'm sure you know this but I'll state it again
more police=police state.Hell my local police officers have full auto MP-5's and I live in a town of 20,000 outside Chicago.

[Xvall]

Of course not. In the 60's you were attacking Vietnam. That is far worse than the actions going around in Iraq. 2,000,000 Vietnamese were killed in that war, and you backed Dictator Diem. I hate Diem.

[Sabocat]

Quote: from Chiak47 on 1:59 am on April 11,

BTW...I'm sure you know this but I'll state it again
more police=police state.Hell my local police officers have full auto MP-5's and I live in a town of 20,000 outside Chicago.

Yeah...that's what I'm talking about. That kind of police presence will only lead to death, violence and chaos.

I grew up in a town of 2800 southwest of Boston. When I was growing up there, there was maybe 4 cops all very cool guys, older, laid back. When I go back now I see the same thing as you. A force 10 times the size with full auto weapons, tons of cars and equipment and "scene management" trucks...

For christ sake, it's a dairy farming community that's been yuppified over the years. There may be 10,000 people that live there now. You'd think these guys were waiting for an invasion themselves.

A police state is a dangerous thing. Who controls the police is also potentially very dangerous as well. Unfortunately politicians are all too eager to use the police to their will.

[Chiak47]

Drake,

It was a messy war on both sides.
It was a test in the cold war that failed and brought mistress bad luck to all.

Thanks,
agreed

[Umoja]

Vietnam was long and drawn out. We knew this war was going to be short, and it is proving so.

[Sabocat]

Quote: from Drake Dracoli on 2:29 am on April 11, 2003
Of course not. In the 60's you were attacking Vietnam. That is far worse than the actions going around in Iraq. 2,000,000 Vietnamese were killed in that war, and you backed Dictator Diem. I hate Diem.


Diem got what was coming to him. Good enough for him. Betrayed by the Jackals that set him up..Hahahahaha

[Chiak47]

Umoja,

It is going good.I hope it stays that way.They need to get order in the streets before it turns into another Lebanon.
Yesterday in the streets of Baghdad some men were holding large pictures up of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei...Interesting to see where thay are going with that.

Thanks,
Eric

(Edited by Chiak47 at 9:55 pm on April 10, 2003)