Skip to content or view screen version

The clown blocs must go!

Voltaire | 08.07.2005 13:23 | G8 2005 | Analysis | Culture | Globalisation | Social Struggles

A critical look at the "Clown Bloc" because not everybody loves a clown.

Are the clown blocs supposed to be catering to children? I know they're not supposed to be taken seriously, but who can take them seriously?! We're dealing with issues of life and death, war, famine, terrorism, etc. and these people are dressing up like clowns?! I guess it's a good thing to keep one's sense of humor, but some things aren't funny and these clowns, who are literally clowns, make for photo-ops that allow everyone involved with any part of progressive protest to be painted with the same trivializing brush. Beyond that, I have noticed that they often seem to moan and groan a lot, not unlike zombies, which is almost what I thought they were supposed to be at first -- now I know why some people are so scared of clowns! But these protesters need to make up their minds -- are they clowns or zombies? Really, I think the walking "collateral damage" would be a better use of makeup and ragged clothing. Do these clowns really think they put as much pressure on the G8 "organizers" as the black bloc or even dignified passive protestors doing a sit-in in the middle of the road? I wonder about this anti-globalization movement sometimes, really I do.

Voltaire

Comments

Hide the following 3 comments

AAAwwww

10.07.2005 13:32

Cheer up!

People need to be encouraged to unite, I think this means remembering what makes us all human....yes we all feel pain and we can express solidarity with others who suffer....
BUT WE ALL FEEL LOVE AND WE ALL LAUGH, black bloc included....
Lets encourage new people to join the movement not intimidate...

xxx

Me

rebel clowns: ha! ha! ha!

11.07.2005 10:51

Dear friends and fools:

The most dangerous Errorists of the world’s eight richest countries (G8) met in Gleneagles, Scotland, and attempted to distract the public from the real causes of terrorism, poverty, and climate change i.e. themselves. Oh how we delighted in the sight of eight men shaking hands and smiling to the cameras! Oh how we sighed with debt relief, and celebrity worship! Oh how we were amazed at their exceedingly eloquent and empty promises!
The clown 'operations' (brown nose; mass distraction, and ha.ha.haa) mixed clowning and direct action, satire and situationism. CIRCA’s Advanced Intelligence Team received irrefutable information about bown-nosing politicians coopting our demonstrations; the precise location of weapons of mass destruction ( right under our red noses in Scotland); and which roads to blockade; which fences to tear down; which forces of oppression to ridicule. So...that's what we did, while spreading a little joy, energy and positive vibrations in the process. The tears of this clown threaten to make my make-up run, when I comments by supposed allies who seem not to recognise that 'a world of many worlds' also includes how we engage in resistance to the errorists.


General Panic

Clowns are cool

11.07.2005 14:59

If you don't like or understand the relevence of clowning that's OK. I'm sure it's not for everyone - though a lot of people do understand it and like it. One of the great things about this movement (now better called anti-capitalist or alternative globalisation) is the fact it embraces diversity. Instead of focusing on the bits you don't like focus on those you do. Slagging of others efforts is a waste of your energy.

steve