Last fall, after the last big national antiwar event, we read a lot of discussions about message: are profanity, obscenity and Anti-American rhetoric counter-productive? Some of us had a problem with the tone of ANSWER, if I recall. Along with some contempt for "giant puppets" and "circus-like" costumes, which I
tend to like as you can see, if you scroll down.
But back to my example.
My local Peace & Justice group does two vigils a week at busy intersections in Seattle: 8-20 members participate on Sundays in a Yuppie shopping area, and 3-6 on a weekday afternoon in my modest neighborhood with many immigrant and non-white residents.
At both locations, we usually have a good deal of support from passing drivers & pedestrians; lots of honks and approval.
On a blustery day this week, I noticed a difference.
Continued below...
I make a lot of signs for the group--pictured
HERE on my
Citizen Artiste website--and some members make their own. You can see I do NOT prefer mild-mannered "Visualize Peace" type messages. I like strong ones. Yet...
At the small vigil this week, the expressions of approval were much less than usual. Most of the drivers ignored us; honks were few & far between. One non-white pedestrian hollered her approval; the rest ignored us.
Looking at the photos afterwards, I see that "Betty" had a new sign, reading "STOP THIS RACIST WAR". Just wonderin'...Last week she carried: "STOP THIS FASCIST WAR."
In my experience, our average neighbor is very uncomfortable with the word "Racist". The other words that cause them to avert their eyes are "Fascist" and "Imperialist".
Many of us grew up hearing such rhetoric from Communists & so on, people labeled as our country's enemies. Do those words provoke a knee-jerk reaction, make us appear extremist and confrontational, more like the ANSWER folks? (Even from a person who appears far from threatening: a 5-foot-tall middle-aged woman, like Betty and me.)
Yes, I had brought the flag as well--causing cognitive dissonance perhaps, so they ignored us...
Even though WE know our present government's actions DO fit the definitions of those words...I wonder if different words and phrases might be more likely to show our neighbors that we are NOT "America-hating extremists and revolutionaries" (well, you know what I mean) but rightfully outraged citizens with high ideals of peace, justice and fairness.
I CONFESS: those words hit even me, at least one part of my mind, the early conditioning, like a nasty slap...even if I agree. Words that would have (before I became politicized) had me quickly heading in another direction, before these people attempt to lure me into their cult, where I will be indoctrinated and soon find myself handing out their revolutionary Manifesto on street corners in the wind and rain...
I had a big bold sign too that day--similar to the one pictured--reading "IMPEACH for Lying and Spying". But I've used the word "Impeach" on signs many times before. "Impeach" generally provokes a lot of support.
I also had "End This Insane War" which I think is okay...it was prominently pictured in the Seattle P-I a few months ago. Had it featured one of the "Three Words".... I don't think it would appeared there. (Remember how George Carlin had the routine about "The Seven Words you can't say on TV"?)
The "Dissent is Patriotic" sign is almost universally admired. People like their kids to see it. I will make more of those, small ones for the neck, and wear them every time...so they appear along with our anti-Bush messages. What do you think? I don't want to step on anyone's toes...or be a control freak about the messages.