Don’t Attack Iran!
CANDLELIGHT PROTEST
Saturday, 24 Nov. 2007, 5-7 PM
Corn Market Street
(Carfax Tower End)
Oxford City Centre
Bring candles, signs and friends to show Gordon Brown and his warmongering cronies that the people of Oxford oppose any sort of attack on Iran.
Oxford Stop the War Coalition
Email:
oxfordstopthewar@hotmail.com
www.stopwar.org.uk
Location: Oxford
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
CANDLELIGHT PROTEST
Saturday, 24 Nov. 2007, 5-7 PM
Corn Market Street
(Carfax Tower End)
Oxford City Centre
Bring candles, signs and friends to show Gordon Brown and his warmongering cronies that the people of Oxford oppose any sort of attack on Iran.
Oxford Stop the War Coalition
Email:
oxfordstopthewar@hotmail.com www.stopwar.org.uk
Location: Oxford
it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests
Comments
Hide the following 5 comments
Doubtful
21.11.2007 18:50
Get a grip - the only thing that will derail this war machine is to create our own war machine, that does not have war as its purpose, but seeks to continually undermine and undo the centralised state's claim to violence as its own preserve.
Candle power - not a chance ... unless that's what you're going to light after an EMP bomb has disrupted all other forms of electric current first. Now there's an idea!!!
Thomas
Re: Doughtfull
22.11.2007 00:33
I find your comment rather childish. You know quite well this is a symbolic action. Of course a candlelit vigil probably won't change anything but people are making a statement about what they feel. And the statement is aimed at the local population and politicians not the White House. Of course it wont change anything but at least people are gettting involved.. Yes there are other ways of initaiting action but on a cold Novemer evening this is probably as good as it gets! Rather than make silly sarcastic childish comments ( which say more about you than anything else) perhaps you should get involved, go to meetings, present sugestions, etc etc. rather than just critisise
Jenny
Jenny
Re: Doughtfull
22.11.2007 00:35
Matt
Matt
A feel good symbolic action - how powerful is that!
22.11.2007 07:31
And this is the best the peace movement can come up with? Really Jenny (& Matt), this is pathetic - this is already a sign of resignation and defeat. The people of Iran, if they ever hear of this, will be grateful for all of the suffering you will undergo (it being a cold, wet November night, and all) and will be especially touched by the sacrifice made by anyone who burns their hands on the molten candle wax. No doubt they will think of this should the US begin raining bombs upon their heads.
These symbolic actions have their place - might even be useful - but this is usually as part of a larger, more thought through strategy. Instead, we have a symbolic action that won't change anything, and that's the end of the story ... we've done our bit, let's go home now and have a nice cuppa because we have let people of Oxford know how we feel. This is pathetic and inane. No wonder the "peace" movement isn't taken seriously any more. This is nice and safe and pedestrian ... and won't change anything, won't do anything except to assuage the consciences of a couple of hundred privileged people. It is the equivalent of the great consumer green wash for the peace movement. Won't change anything, but damn, it's good to offload some guilt!
Doubtful
Still Doubtful....
24.11.2007 15:38
But I agree, in the face of another war, candle lit vigils ARE NOT ENOUGH, no matter how cold it may be. Worse, it could result in people thinking they have "done their bit" and so going away feeling comforted, even smug, and having achieved nothing. It is easy for these things to slip from an expression of anger and grief (and hope!) into a grandiose means of appeasing our guilt and apathy.
On every action and protest I have been on for years, lobbying, petitions, marches, direct actions, whatever the issue from peace to the environment, I have always thought, "this is not enough.... this will not change anything.... what are my motives?" and I'm SICK of that. I believe change is possible, always, but I am lost as to HOW. a coupla million marching through the streets didnt have the slightest effect on the decision to go into Iraq. A friend of mine disarming a bomber did not effect the course of the war. the shift in public opinion, when it finally started, was largely ignored. I really would welcome some discussion on precisely what WOULD change something... anything. Cos I cant bloody well work it out.
I share a house with two people from Iran. I abhor the thought of violence against their country, or anyone. I have been trying to find some action on this issue, and to date, this vigil is all I have found.... and, whilst the vigil itself is fine, that is a shameful situation in a city such as this... and I include myslef in that.
So yeah, I'm going on the vigil. Maybe I'll spend the time mulling over the above questions and let it change ME instead. and maybe it can be an opportunity to inspre something more, because THERE MUST BE MORE! Whilst I think it wont change much, I know that not going will change even less.
Jangles