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Eleanors38

Eleanors38's Journal
Eleanors38's Journal
January 24, 2017

A woman wanted to march. Weeks later, many millions did. Let us learn...

Who here has not dreamed of setting off the largest direct action event in the history of the human race? That is what happened last week end.

The legend (and it should be) has it one woman said she wanted to march in protest to the election of tRump. We have seen the public manifestation of her wishes, and of course reports of all the motivations, emotions, and rational reasons are still coming in. What ALL of us should do now is Learn how this came about, the people, networks, means of communications, the messages sent.

My god! millions in the street within a few weeks! That is some organization. Let better minds than mine report in on how it was done. It is our future.

January 24, 2017

The Demonstrations: Dispelling the bad air of hep-cat political neutrality...

For some years, I and several friends have despaired over the newcomers to Austin who have worn their un-involvement on their sleeves. These Militant Apathetics seemed to glory in their status, even as they prowled their new Austin environs, looking for some elusive authenticity, stopping only to piss on the political foundations that drew them here in the first place. Things changed last weekend.

I talked with just 3 folks who were in the 50,000k march, or the earlier Unity March. Each said it was their first demonstration, each said they had never been involved in politics before, each said they were NO LONGER AFRAID.

There is a lost alchemy in direct action and protest actions. Certainly this alchemy puts paid to hours of philosophical sophistry and silence. But it also rejuvenates the soul. All the talk of fear, of being scared, and of anxiety (sublime music to the ears of bullies) is suddenly, roundly pissed off in the sweat of a few miles and the shoutings of 50,000 marching beside you. Now, perhaps, the bullies and swaggering barroom fighters will listen to another refrain, from us, "the children of the night."

If there is a yin yang to politics, we saw it last week end. And we need more of it.

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: Austin, TX
Home country: USA
Member since: Tue Sep 18, 2012, 04:36 PM
Number of posts: 18,318

About Eleanors38

I have been on DU since 2006 under \"SteveM\" and later \"SteveW.\" Due to an account mix-up and a computer crash, I have \"rejoined\" as Eleanors38, but my history at DU includes the names cited.
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