monte reported that of the three protests that night,
the most well attended was the catholics against the war in cathedral park, with maybe 300+ in attendance. even as far as traditional parade style marches are concerned, this was a very tame affair, but it was also much more well attended. while this action offended no one, it also seems to have attracted almost no direct attention at the time.
not only did it not attract the same attention it would have if there had been yelling and noisemaking on a busy corner, but some participants were left with a feeling akin to disempowerment and futility.
i wish others who felt that way had also attended the Brady street action, but they were mostly oldsters at the cathedral square, and the stand for peace on oakland and capital.
i did see many younger people honking thier horns and flashing peace signs at the stand, but there were few involved with either of the other scenes.
while there is something to be said for activities that aunt edna can attend w/out fear of getting her hip broken, there has been very little in the way of expressing outright rage in milwaukee for decades.
alien responded,
I also went to the Catholics for Peace and Justice Vigil. Don't underestimate them, they can be just as hardcore as you.
Look for Aunt Edna as she carries the fight for Peace, Justice, and the Workers' Paradise to Fort Benning.
Update: Here's the "SOAwatch" info and signup at our Archdiocesan web site.
According to the faith tradition of some of us, we have the responsibility to each other for loving correction.
And love it they do.
On the bus,
Larger luggage will ride below, along with any posters etc. you may bring.
At the hotel,
Free continental breakfast is available every morning 6:00am – 9:00am.
Not a Central American breakfast?
During downtime,
Reading poetry or writings by Central American martyrs or leaders develops focus.
If you prefer fiction, try Rigoberta Menchu.
Remember, you are your brother's keeper, but not his travel agent.
If you plan to do high risk civil disobedience you should be prepared to make your own arrangements to get home.
I wondered about what happened at Cathedral Sq., since I saw nothing about it in the paper or on the news. I would take the 300 number with a grain of salt, since I've noticed leftists routinely overestimate the turnout for their demonstrations. Not that I doubt that 300 long-in-the-tooth Catholic pacifists in the Milwaukee area exist,...,
ReplyDeleteI have to say, though, I was pleasantly surprised at the 8 a.m. Cathedral mass this morning, when Bishop Sklba spoke a few words against embryonic stem cell research, because that's the first time I've heard a "social justice" topic not having to do with either the war or poverty mentioned in a homily there. (Of course, I don't go to every Mass at the Cathedral, but based on the ones I have attended, I had concluded that abortion and stem cell research were back-burner issues there.)