[PAA-Discuss] More of Mikal's Thoughts

[lea mesa]

Mikal Hutto asked me to post the following message to the PAA list.  So here it is.  

Lea


 Kathleen,
  
 They are hijacking people's planned rallys and  outdoor events by appearing with their signs and banners, this isn't the  first time, and it is always in public.   If they wanted to work  the crowds at the Veterans Parade, maybe you can explain why they stood on a  street corner that was blocked off by police and there were no crowds, right  next to the VfP marchers for two hours?  Why weren't they out  amongst the crowds of people?   They seek the validation of the peace  community and the organizations that belong to it for their candidate by  association.
  
 Veterans for Peace, MFSO are 501C  organizations, furthermore Peace and Justice organizations are not  supposed to endorse any candidate, but rather insist that  ALL officials support peace and justice for all peoples, which Ron  Paul DOES NOT.  People that came to be with us at the parade, covered  their Kucinich buttons and hats out of respect for this, as Bill  stated.  When the Ron Paul supporters show up like this with all their  signs and banners it gives people the opinion that we support them.   
  
 The election year is coming up, perhaps we are to tolerate all  these candidates supporters waving signs, of all their candidates at  every public protest, march or gathering so that everything we do becomes about  some candidate and not the cause we organized it for? If it were  Perry or Pro War Republicans would they be tolerated in these  situations?  NOPE.  You'd be furious, but just because he is Anti War,  they should get away with it?  
  
 This is what they want.  It's got nothing to do with  whether they are nice people or whether or not we are "fluid".   It's  got to do with perceptions, and all these candidates and their supporters and  workers are very, very good at using "perceptions" and people.  It is  just another form of propaganda used against the public.
  
 My point is just because he claims to be Anti War he is NOT  for the people, and he is totally against women's rights, not to mention  all the other things that Bill enumerated so succintly.   I  absolutely will not be associated with ANY candidate that will work to make me a  second class citizen, and deny my daughters and granddaughters rights over  their own bodies.  I do not want them standing next to me with their signs  and flyering, while I am more or less trapped there working for another  organization.  Our organizations should not be part of  it.  These organizations should not have the public,  who have their eyes on us thinking that we support Ron  Paul.  I have rights too.  If they keep it up, I WILL make  ANTI Ron Paul signs to carry everywhere I go, and I will encourage  others to do so, or I will leave, no matter what job I am assigned.   In my opinion, that is what we are all about, standing up for what you believe  in.  I did NOT join these peace
 organizations to have my name and  countenance pandered by a man like Ron Paul or any other politician.  If I  choose to work for a politician that is a horse of a different  color.
  
 We should NOT be used, and I believe it is a mistake for any  of the organizations to allow Ron Paul supporters to effectively give the  perception that they are supported by said organizations, if in fact they are  not.  Once again I reiterate that Peace and Justice organizations are not  supposed to be perceived as supporting individual candidates, but are to insist  that ALL elected officials that represent the people abide by the laws of  protecting the people's rights, and are bound to point  out the injustices of all candidates and officials in, or running for  public office for all peoples, including women. 
  
 Roe vs. Wade is being attacked on every front, and to assume  that we will maintain these right without working against those who would take  them away from us, is a gigantic mistake.  We have made this mistake over  and over with other civil and human rights, and now we've had them  removed.  Will we EVER get them back?  I have my doubts.
  
 By the way I DID say we had to be bold enough to disengage  from them.  I said nothing about barring them from functions.  I stand  by that.  Politely asking people to remove their signs is not barring  them from functions.  Explaining that you do not support their candidate,  and do not want to appear that way is not wrong.  It is right, and it is  our duty.
  
 Mikal




Silence in a Time of Torture is Complicity
    The World Can't Wait Drive Out the Bush Regime

       
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