I used to believe in the confrontational tactics used by the likes of black bloc, I also believe in non-violent direct action such as property damage. This system I oppose is built on exploitation and suffering and therefore I do not recognise its manufactured laws or respect its protecters namely the police and am therefor going to be drawing into conflict when confronted by these guardians of the state.
I hold no respect for those in authority though I also hate the true criminal scum who prey on the vulnerable be it robbing from houses or armed robbery, their motive is to capitalise on others losses. (In the case of armed robbery it’s the poor sod who had the gun or what ever shoved in their face that makes it despicable not the loss to the bank or what ever.)
That said I do believe in moral law and I also respect the wishes of others and if 95% of protest do not wish to be involved in confrontational tactics surely this should be respected.
Also other than to let out the understandable anger, this sort of action is I’m afraid fruitless, It alienates more people, it doesn’t effect the cogs of capitalism, it only lets them see how angry we are. To talk of sacrificing ourselves, as if a street battle is some major final conflict is to be blunt pathetic… do u really think we will overthrow the system with rocks and fire crackers????? I’m afraid it only provides them with the excuse to clamp down on us and to justify their actions by portraying the protesters as violent yobs. (Public order section 5/criminal justice act/terrorism bill)
So what way then, become an MP change the system from within??? Putting aside the fact that by its very nature all government is wrong, this method is not destined to work. There is many a decent MP (well 1 Dennis skinner and 1 ex MP Tony benn) who I’m sure are/were there with the very best of intentions, however benn has said he has left parliament as he is more effective working outside of it!!
The only way forward is revolution. Yes REVELOUTION a social revolution and its happening now, we are all part of it. Protesting is only a very small piece of it. I have and do participate in protests and demonstrations. I think they are good as a show of unity and solidarity they are not a means of changing the world, they are not the battlefields. The battle field is our every day lives organising boycotts, high lighting abuses and injustice, creating alternatives to the system, simply being a spanner in the works whilst coming together. Throughout the 80’s (and probably b4 but I’m not that old) protest marches and demos were exactly that, which to me was a bit like going cap In hand and asking the establishment. Nowadays its more like a carnival of resistance a huge big fuck off to the establishment and a celebration of our togetherness. It is also more damaging and more of a threat to them than smashing plate glass windows. Together not working class not middle class but people. I am a skilled manual worker u maybe a doctor, I’ll fix your heating and if I cut myself u can stitch my hand where’s the problem? It doesn’t matter to me where u were born, it only matters were u are now and were u are or want to go to next.
A young boy fell down a well, help, help he shouted. Hearing his cries his friend thru down a length of rope. It’s not long enough yelled the boy. Someone else thru down some rope, not long enough he yelled, further attempts proved to be to no avail. In his frustration the boy yelled for fucks sake tie the pieces together.
Together we are strong divided we are defeated.