tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post1829707284628589027..comments2023-11-06T11:31:25.673-08:00Comments on Activist Teacher: The Activist WarsDenis Rancourthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16743375141824505606noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-79755744902194033392009-11-06T11:33:21.179-08:002009-11-06T11:33:21.179-08:00It really hasn't been made clear for me in thi...It really hasn't been made clear for me in this debate what kind of action we're debating. I tend to like Gwen's statement that direct action has a purpose beyond mere disruption, unless that disruption is strategic to your goal of shutting down what you disrupt. I guess Denis' essay is too vague, in that regard.<br />Because if the debate truly is about smashing bank machines or Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-72005488875946260552009-09-08T05:18:04.662-07:002009-09-08T05:18:04.662-07:00Gwen's opening paragraph seems to show the she...Gwen's opening paragraph seems to show the she's using a definition of action unrelated to Denys' article, and maybe illuminating some of the root of the mobbing problem: people in large groups associate things with their own situations to feel whether they are true or worthy or not.<br /><br />-Denys's definition of action seems to be (by the words he uses) disruption of the Jean Plehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18022336151549956581noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-46689128070467058212009-08-27T11:58:27.713-07:002009-08-27T11:58:27.713-07:00CJSymons said: "Tactically. It's the mass...CJSymons said: "Tactically. It's the masses who make history, not hooligans."<br /><br />Thanks for the chuckle. I'm not a fan of violence, but when the revolution comes, I'm sorry to say it will probably be violent. As for history: I'm pretty sure Louis Riel was seen as a hooligan and worse.<br /><br />When "the masses" are actually forced off their butts as Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-74426051154109430262009-08-22T22:02:25.128-07:002009-08-22T22:02:25.128-07:00Gwen makes a good point: if a successful direct ac...Gwen makes a good point: if a successful direct action is about bringing ourselves the results we seek, then once it's done and it worked as planned, there's not much left to debate.Arthurnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-75258010330382339592009-08-21T17:39:19.468-07:002009-08-21T17:39:19.468-07:00Props, Gwen.
As a combatant in the so-called &quo...Props, Gwen.<br /><br />As a combatant in the so-called "activist wars", I can safely say that the question *is* one of effectiveness... not out of worry that "we'll be made to look bad" (because we will whatever our tactics) but out of an attempt at objective analysis of the present conditions.<br /><br />I can think of a number of actions that were, sure, confrontationalNobody of consequencehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01096761254514511663noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-418581095311857454.post-71182087823915330612009-08-20T13:21:21.334-07:002009-08-20T13:21:21.334-07:00I have never heard anyone say that direct action o...I have never heard anyone say that direct action on the job or in community organizations makes the movement look bad or puts us at risk.<br /><br />The problem comes when people conflate militant action with direct action. The kind of "direct action" associated with anarchists and demonstrations can be militant, yes. But is it <i>direct</i>? Direct action means taking the shortest Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01299431016218793496noreply@blogger.com