Why I didn't go to the protest today
Yah, so I haven't left my neighborhood yet to go to any demonstrations today. You know why? They just are not sexy. Same old activist ghetto. How do we make "the movement" something that people want to "join?"Do we really have to organize on the level that the Christian Conservatives have organized on? How can we do that? I think we can't - they have organized to KEEP the system as it is, but we (my people) want to have something else altogether. No voting in an election in which you can't find a candidate who represents you, no voting and not having your vote count...but ugh, what is the alternative, consensus? Seems like no is the answer, because you can't really participate in a well-facilitated meeting unless you have had consensus training yourself. Autonomous organizing that respects each participant, and then coming back together in big meetings where we use consensus?
They say that about 50% of the people who did vote voted for Bush, so this would imply that 1/2 of the American population wanted him to be president. We have to remember that 100% of the population did not vote. So there is that. And that mobilization of people for Kerry, that is so sad- they tried so hard to get the voters to come out, and it just wasn't enough...which I think is ok- Kerry voted for the war, he voted for the patriot act, he is not about to overthrow capitalism and the state or anything.
I went and covered a demonstration yesterday whose goal was to get out the vote against more police in Oakland and for a limit to three strikes statewide. Story and photos
And today I wrote an election update, so at least I am doing something and not overwhelming myself by doing too much.
I'm coming down with something, so for the last two days I have tried to take more care of myself than the country.
posted by mahtin @ 5:53 PM
