We have been posting this idea for a few weeks.
It has the REAL potential to stop this war (and, whether we don't succeed, or even if we do succeed, to stop the next one, too).
But also, something more: to scare the HELL out of Bush. Because, not only does it go around the "media information blockade" and thus make it easier to stop a war on Iraq, it also threatens the media information blockade that Bush depends on for pushing other foreign and *domestic* policies too..it threatens the entire program..read on!
SUMMARY: Why the world-wide protests were great, but not enough -- and what needs to be done now to STOP THE WAR.
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FACT: Bush is annoyed by protests -- but will keep going.
It is only when millions in mainstream America vocally (not passively or shyly) oppose an attack on Iraq that he'll stop. Millions of red-blooded Americans already have serious doubts -- but they are quiet, afraid to question, afraid to appear unpatriotic. They need to be empowered to speak out.
On the one hand, protests, marches, and demonstrations can be a great way to energize, educate oneself, make contacts, and get inspired.
FACT: It's also true that demonstrations get distorted coverage (if any) from the Corporate Media for a sound-bite or two, or at most a few minutes in the "Best" cases in mainstream corporate TV and newspapers. Or they cover the "events", how many marched, who was there, who spoke, etc WITHOUT covering the key points and facts and arguments of the people demonstrating!
All that work, to receive that little coverage, and that's assuming the message isn't distorted, which it often is.
THINK OF THE NUMBER OF HOURS SPENT!
Take 100,00 demonstrators. Each needs to prepare their posters, flyers, and ready themselves, then travel to the demonstration, demonstrate, and then travel back. That's probably 10 hours on average.
Ten hours times 100,000 people is ONE MILLION PERSON-HOURS.
We had well over 600,000 demonstrate in the U.S. alone, that's over SIX MILLION PERSON-HOURS. Yet, the media gives very little or negative distorted coverage of this -- even American with serious concerns about an attack on Iraq still are still fed disinformation.
* * * WHAT COULD WE DO WITH SIX-MILLION PERSON-HOURS in the U.S.? * * *
Between and after protests, could some of that time be used in going door-to-door, holding local events, local town meetings, Town Hall style debates, teach-ins, etc, that will reach out to the rest of America?
This was the suggestion we made earlier. At this late hour, while each citizen-activist and patriotic peacenik and group needs to judge for itself how it can be most effective -- at this late hour, we suggest a massive door-to-door.
GIVE IT A NAME.
Maybe "Talking to America" or give it more than one name -- but have a series of WEEKENDS with specific DATES across the USA.
WHAT COULD WE DO WITH SIX-MILLION PERSON-HOURS?
We could go door-to-door in PAIRS for three million hours.
Each hour, we could reach 5 to 10 families (spending 6 to 12 minutes at each) -- leaving a powerful leaflet and website contact information if they are not home.
THAT WOULD REACH 15 TO 30 MILLION FAMILIES! There are only 100 million households total!
And that is in just one weekend!
Imagine the outreach. If we even get them to call the White House and Congress and it's a million callers this time! Let alone those who would continue their civic activism and join with other groups in their area.
* * * ACTION IDEAS: * * *
1 DISCUSS THIS IDEA AFTER THE DEMONSTRATIONS AT MEETINGS/LATER ACTIONS DISCUSS IT WITH ORGANIZERS OF NATIONAL GROUPS DISCUSS IT WITH ORGANIZERS IN YOUR AREA LEAVE WITH AN ACTION-PLAN LEAVE WITH CONTACT INFORMATION -- WORK WITH THEM TO PLAN THE NATIONAL DOOR-TO-DOOR OUTREACH IN *YOUR* AREA
2 TAKE ACTIONS IN YOUR AREA TO PREPARE:
A. EDUCATING OURSELVES TO HAVE THE FACTS AND THE CONFIDENCE SO WHEN WE GO DOOR-TO- DOOR IN PAIRS WE ARE READY TO TALK (SEE LINKS BELOW FOR TALKING POINTS)
B. TRAINING SESSIONS ON HOW TO TALK TO PEOPLE. IT'S ONE THING TO KNOW THE FACTS. IT'S ANOTHER TO KNOW HOW TO MOST EFFECTIVELY SPEAK WITH FELLOW AMERICANS (cutting their arguments to shreds in the second sentence may not win you any friends!) and how to respond to hostility.
C. FORWARD THIS POST WIDELY, AND DISCUSS WITH THOSE YOU KNOW HOW TO
PLAN THIS EVENT SUCCESSFULLY IN YOUR AREA, HOW TO COORDINATE WITH OTHERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
**************************************** Other ideas and other resources: ****************************************
* Anti-war talking points:
http://economicdemocracy.org/wtc/talking-pts-ii.html
The Lies -- and Logical Fallacies -- of Bush's Rhetoric:
http://economicdemocracy.org/wtc/mass-distraction.html
How to Get Rid of Saddam without A Bloody War on Iraq's People:
http://economicdemocracy.org/wtc/goodbye-saddam.html
More resources, information, activist strategies, etc:
http://economicdemocracy.org/wtc/
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Other sites:
International ANSWER against the war: http://www.internationalanswer.org/
Not In Our Name: http://www.notinourname.net/
Vote No War: http://www.votenowar.org/
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