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BSO

Saturday, January 10, 2009

UMass 2009 Peace Protest


So I'm waiting for the bus in downtown Amherst this afternoon, when I see this lady with a peace sign.





It turns out she's on her way to a big rally in front of the UMass Fine Arts Center against the violence in the Middle East. Of course my nose for news compels me to attend. When I arrive I'm surprised by the size of the crowd.





I recognize a lot of my fellow crazies from the pro-panhandling crusade. The whole event is constantly being photographed and filmed.

 



Some protesters are obviously pro-Palestinian, but the majority I think are just peacers who are opposed to all warfare and who condemn the use of violence under any circumstances. 





The other day Israel stopped fighting for three hours in order to let international relief agencies in to help the wounded. The Palestinians responded by showering Israel with bombs for the entire three hours. How can Israelis deal with such opponents, who completely reject peace as an option?

The whole mess is made only more complicated by religion, which is no surprise since religion seems to figure into most wars. The religious angle turns everybody who gets killed into a martyr, and of course then martyrs must be avenged, and so the cycle of violence goes on and on. The world doesn't need any more martyrs, even the ones that die looking incredibly sexy, like Saint Sebastian.





Seriously, why are we still behaving so primitively in 2009? That's the real question. 

 

I've decided to take a break from the vault material for awhile. Before I do, here's a few loose scraps from the recent excavations.

This is my mother's PTA membership card from the World Famous Thomas M. Balliet Elementary School. Notice how the PTA leaders all use their husband's name rather than their own. 





Here are activists standing outside the Pine Point Library on Election Day in 2005. That is former state rep Dave Vigneault with the Ryan sign.





Also in 2005, this is former State Rep. Paul Caron with WAIC host Tony Gill.





Valley appliance baron Manny Rovithis relaxes at Salvatores on Boston Road in Springfield.





On a Northampton mailbox is some useful information for the future.





Finally, don't let me sink too deep. 



9 comments:

marginalutility said...

I'm *not* gonna comment on the Gaza stuff. It's Gaza commentary moratorium for me.
But what is it about St Sebastian and almost all gay male authors? What was his name, the right wing Japanese gay writes Fukio Mishima (approximation of what I remember his name is) was for example, totally obsessed with him. Really came out in his novel about being closeted. (He later led a fringe post-WWII militant extremist movement & killed himself through hari kari.)
& I love Edie Brickel but I can't stand that song.

Anonymous said...

These "peace" people drive me crazy. They should stop abusing the word and get a damned dictionary. One added benefit of having a dictionary is that it provides "helpful hints" on spelling. This woman might figure hot to spell "Palestinian".

I'm not even that passionate about the endless conflict in Israel/Palestine that has been going on since (at least) 1948. I just find it dishonest that people who take one side of the conflict--namely, the terrorists' side--think that they're for peace and everyone else for war.

BEN DUFFY

tony said...

Although I broadly agree with the protest against Gaza.I have to admit some people seem to be serial-protesters.This happens here in Hebden Bridge a lot.....People will "Protest " at the drop of a hat (working on the theory that they have "done their bit" & can then drop the subject?)
Over the years local shopkeepers have started complaining & banning such folk from outside the shops......Candle-Light Vigils = dried wax on the pavements = the risk of slipping = a Health&Safety Hazard !
Democracy Moves In Mysterious Ways..........!

Mary E.Carey said...

I also wonder where you dug up THAT pic of Saint Sebastian. I'm going to go through my Life of the Saints book again and see there are more saints like him.

marginalutility said...

Whoa, I just read the Juryzinski (sp.) profile in the 1981 advocate & he would definitely have had my vote.

Don Schneier said...

Two side comments on Edie--Check out 9/20/93 (I was there) at the Internet Archive to hear her scatting during deep Space, and staying on as the bus comes by; also note how old Paul Simon suddenly began looking after he married her; a cautionary tale?

marginalutility said...

Personally, the song of hers I most enjoyed was "Circle of Friends".

Anonymous said...

Bomb & Kill, it gives me a Thrill.
Kill a Hamas Terrorist,
instead of an unborn Baby. (Would make a good Bumper Sticker)?

Isn't it Ironic, all These Peacniks everywhere. They want "Peace".

Stop the Bombing they say. They want to protect strangers.
But abortion is Okay! And the Babies are our own.
How much more innocent can you find than the "Unborn"?
I don't get it.
Larry

Anonymous said...

noho protesters, the real lunatic fringe, total fuckin losers