Friday, February 28, 2003

Protestors have a pajama party 

Sometimes a foul mood takes over me (remember, I'm twisted) and I decide to put the needle to people on our campus' listserv. Our campus leftists, the same ones that brought PETA to campus, are taking part in the "sleep-in" and boycott of classes on campuses around America next Wednesday, replete with a sleep-in at the student union the night before. This is a national effort being organized by the National Youth and Student Peace Coalition, whose front page lists the usual mishmash of socialist, communist and environmentalist groups. I pointed this out in an email on a campus email discussion list, and immediately was accused of fostering guilt by association. The howls of protest were loud.

But listen to the purpose of this boycott:

During the One-Day International Student Strike, students will walk out of class to oppose the war, and make anti-war demands on Bush, Congress and their local administrators and officials.
Local administrators and officials? I didn't realize the mayor could declare war.
We hope to shut down our schools for a day to demonstrate our power to disrupt our institutions if we go to war.
Yeah! You'll show them! So why a sleep-in? To disrupt the institution of peaceful sleep?
We also hope to promote real democracy and display our voting power by casting our votes against the war and for education in a nationwide Anti-War Election, and mail the ballots in to our Congressional Representatives.
Yet the instructions on the back of the ballot (already filled out for you, comrades!) have you fill in your personal information and send it to NYSPC. They will send it to your representatives for you.

As to my colleagues' complaints of tarring them using guilt by association, it really is quite simple. We've all heard of the KKK's filing an intent to assemble to support Augusta National's right to exclude women from the site of the Masters' golf tournament. "It is not a surprise that the KKK supports Augusta National Golf Club, since the club embraces and flaunts discrimination,'' said Martha Burk, chair of the National Council of Women's Organizations. "It must expect support of a like-minded group.'' I've pointed this out as well on the discuss list, but some think I just wanted to say "you too". But the people at Augusta National demonstrated the proper response:

As a result of the controversy created by political activists, a number of organizations -- some of them extreme -- have sought to voice their political views. Anyone who knows anything about Augusta National Golf Club or its members knows this is not something that the club would welcome or encourage.
When will the pajama party at Atwood choose to distance itself from the peace protestors holding signs asking to free cop killers or supporting the destruction of Israel? Don't hold your breath.

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