tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703390.post5184902990636887414..comments2023-07-20T13:08:25.645-07:00Comments on Hastings on nonviolence: American activists and the art of self-sabotageTom H. Hastingshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17098260278363929190noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703390.post-62891767819148376842012-05-23T05:43:55.899-07:002012-05-23T05:43:55.899-07:00Fair enough. But what you do when you wear masks i...Fair enough. But what you do when you wear masks is to elicit the predator-prey relationship with the police and the government, and the image you project, like it or not, is that you want to be safer to pull off some anonymous destruction. Openness is far more effective. If you want to be safe safe safe just stay home. If you want social change, be open and public and vulnerable. You'll find you win faster and with fewer costs and are far safer in the end.Tom H. Hastingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098260278363929190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703390.post-3638585256221104952012-05-23T00:47:48.255-07:002012-05-23T00:47:48.255-07:00Please, don't think that everyone dressing in ...Please, don't think that everyone dressing in black is always looking for violence or chaos. It is a tactic adopted as a reaction on camera-surveilling, it gives security to masses. Sometimes the police tries to get you even if you did not do anything, if they can't recognize you and you are safer.<br /><br />So please stop with always comparing black-dressers with violence.Sanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15923808630044666805noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703390.post-18171519571921724802012-05-19T12:05:21.721-07:002012-05-19T12:05:21.721-07:00Yes, the target audience is most often not the opp...Yes, the target audience is most often not the opponent directly, but the grassroots that can exert political change, just as you say. Thanks for your observations.Tom H. Hastingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17098260278363929190noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10703390.post-54691254520886952342012-05-19T11:28:18.428-07:002012-05-19T11:28:18.428-07:00I have heard several people my age (the close to r...I have heard several people my age (the close to retirement crowd) make comments about demonstrators, labeling them as deadbeats or spoiled brats. The visual imagery overpowers the message. When I participate in a demonstration, I want the media to pick up the message, not highlight photographs of the non-conformist attire or video footage of vandalism and taunting law enforcement. We need the support of the majority to achieve change. I have to question the motivation of some protestors. Are they just looking for a reason break things? If they truly seek political change, they must act in ways that will encourage more people to support the cause.Ginahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06069823854666933242noreply@blogger.com