The anarchist Proudhon once said (in reference to the 'religion' forming around Karl Marx)

"For God's sake, after we have abolished all the dogmatisms a priori, let us not of all things attempt in turn to instill another kind of dogma into the people.... Let us have decent and sincere polemics... But simply because we are at the head of the movement, let us not make ourselves the leader of a new intolerance; let us not pose as the apostle of a new religion - even though this religion is the religion of logic, the religion of reason."

This of course speaks to me in relevance of the upcoming RNC protests, which i support for a variety of reasons and KNOW those reasons:

1. It's arrogant to have the convention here, a political move by those who want appointments, sacrificing the security of our city and ignoring the democratic majority of our city's people and its many unrepresented minorities.

2. Right now while it's important to have galvinizing forces for our liberal, left, radical, and even moderates to rally together, it's also an important time to spread care and respect, not anger. New york is angry enough; about the infringements of our rights

A) As entertainment producers (laws against noise, parties, etc persist, even in remote areas pre-approved)
B) As owners of small family businesses (rapidly taken over by large Corporations)
C) In support of immigration and "melting pots" (it's becoming impossible to move, or even travel here)
D) As safe citizens, we've already been hit once; we need no more excuses to bring fear and violence here again

3. George W Bush does not belong here. He does not represent us. To call him a fool would mean to give him status as a wise man in disguise. No, he is a stupid man (with clever advisors), a liar, a thief, and I'm ashamed that millions of our lives will be disrupted with machine gun operators at subway stations, re-routed bus lines, and people in 'the red zone around Madison Square' forced to take vacation, many without pay, just to honor his presence.

4. The city's approach to protest organization has been un-democratic at best and more along the lines of fascist; they've consistently told organizers they don't know where they can meet, where they can walk, because of 'security' until the last minute when it is really too late to be effective.

Even so, remember Proudhon. Stay off the high horse of idealistic self-righteousness. Leave the temptation to be the demagogue of your organization and know why you are doing what you are doing. We need no more dictators, left or right (though perhaps we do and that's a discussion for another day). Right now we need to show our opposition as respectfully as possible, to rise above the lies and threats and fear. This is not 'to turn the other cheek' rather a suggestion to not fall into the traps and tricks to make us look foolish, violent and misguided. We need to be brave. We need to be sincere. We need to be careful... Injured, imprisoned,

inarticulate, and dead activists are only so useful. Don't hate the RNC. However useful hate might be in the short run (debatable) it has devastating long term consequences. Engage, discuss, and lead without quasi-religious empty, especially hateful slogans. Positive play always wins. Dogma kills.





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