I missed this point by point challenge to conventional anti-war propositions from Nick Cohen in last week's Observer. Is being "stuck with cold war slogans" a barrier to understanding as well as to effective argument? You bet it is.
Here's a good bit:
'There must be a better way.'The imaginative failure of an anti-war movement which includes nearly every artiste in the country is a symptom of Britain's cultural impoverishment. My favourite protesters were the Royal Shakespeare Company actors who informed the world that their forthcoming performances of the Merry Wives of Windsor in Michigan would in no way imply that they supported war. Perhaps they will be able to imagine the desperation of Iraqis when they come to play Macbeth.
THe main problem with an anti-war movement is that by its nature it is peaceful and is challenging those who are not. The Iraq war has showed the world that peaceful protest no longer works. The time must be taken for action against america, or at least its government, i turned out with many others to denounce the Iraq wwar and our cries of protest went unheard as hundreds of british troops died just so that the Bushes could grow even richer, surely they have enough money by now? and surely enough people have died. I call for a revolt, a revolution against the capitalist government oppresion in america, and end to the world of fear through which george bush rules the world, an end to the bullying of other countries and innocent people.
George Bush tries to bring 'freedom' to Iraq, the americans themselves arent free! Who will take away his weapons of mass destruction?
Posted by: A concerned englishman at April 22, 2005 03:30 PM