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To some extent you are all right about the Selma march, but it's more complicated than that.
First, keep in mind that this wasn't an isolated incident, by any means. There were acts of violence happening all around the American South both before, during and after the Selma march. In 1961 there were the Freedom Riders, with the accompanying violence and in 1964 there was the deaths of the three civil rights workers in Mississippi. Add to that a host of lynchings, intimidation and other examples of violence both large and small. Something had to be done if for no other reason than to end the violence that was rocking the region.
Second, the source of the movement was a very solidly entrenched community, that of the segregated African-Americans. They had a secure location to plan and arrange protests as well as a very strong common heritage.
Third, the federal goverment was on the side of the protestors. Both Kennedy later in his administration and Lyndon Johnson wanted very much to end segregation and make the south tow the line.
Fourth, many, many people were suffering under segregation and were powerfully motivated to stop it and had the proximity to do so.
Now, to compare that to protests in our time.
There is no central community that is organizing these protests, just an uncomfortable amalgamation of people(without even the cohesion in the US of the hippies during the Vietnam protests).
The federal government is most certainly not on our side on this one.
In the US at least, most of the people who are suffering are "out there". Unlike with segregation in the deep south, there is no very close and large group that is suffering, or at least not suffering enough to do something about it. Most of the people that are really suffering are outside of the US.
When planning any type of action, one must realize the circumstances you are in. Currently protests are a waste of time as they are marginalized by the media and as of yet have yet to really change policy. There are other methods, however. Satellite and cable hacks, inciting theological wars(particularly good when dealing with Dominionists), and community and consensus building across countercultural borders are just a few alternatives we have to standing around with signs in a "free speech zone".
Cassius23 |
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