Meatspace,

[Jim Choate]

On Tue, 10 Jul 2001, Faustine wrote:

> Can you see a fundamental difference between activism/protest/resistance 
> that makes a difference and "illegal operations on the street in an 
> environment full of police"?
> 
> What's the point of putting yourself into a situation where you have no 
> chance of accomplishing anything besides getting arrested(or killed)and 
> making some sort of symbolic statement--that doesn't fundamentally affect a 
> single soul beyond whoever gets their property damaged? 
> 
> Why does pointing out the myriad ways it's possible for unarmed people to 
> get swatted like flies by provoking people with superior gear and training 
> automatically mean one in any way identifies with the swatters? 
> 
> Do you really think being an idealist should preclude you from reasoning 
> like a realist? 

Ghandi. Womens Sufferage (US). Jim Crow Laws (US). Vietnam. Civil Rights
in the 60's.

The point being, there are plenty of historical precidence where this sort
of behaviour has led directly to the change desired by the protestors
against a much better armed and entrenched foe.

Highly heirarchial defence mechanisms, such as you tout as invincible,
work just fine when faced with that sort of competition. When faced with a
more distributed and idealistic confrontation they eventualy fail.

The question is not one of tactics, but of spirits.

Sun-Tzu should be added to your summer reading list.


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