September 30, 2002
El Pueblo Unido...
Yesterday I took part in one of the largest anti-war demonstrations in Britains history. Organiser estimates of up to 450,000 people turned up [1], an amazing number for a country that never has taken the right to assemble in large numbers to criticise the government very seriously. The atmosphere was simply magic. It was so rejuvenating to see the nearly half a million demonstrators from many different organisations so unified in working towards resisting this impending futile war.
We sadly missed many speakers, but arrived when Scott Ritter (though I never heard him introduced) was attacking Blair for publishing that rather pathetic dossier of 'evidence' (reminded me of the other equally weak dossier against Osama Bin Laden). Scott said there was nothing new in it, and that it was merely 'propaganda'. He also attacked various groups in the demonstration who were criticising the United States, saying that the American people were 'noble', but that it was who they are ruled by that was to blame. I agree with this only to a certain extent, because one should assume at least some responsibility for the attitudes and deeds of your Goverment. If you just say 'the people are great', when it was those people who in some way enabled that Government to enter office, then who is to blame? Fine, you can say that the Government (e.g. Bush & Co.) did not actually win the elction, but enough Americans voted to get him close enough to the finish line so that he could cheat his way into first
position. Just like many Britons, many Americans don't understand the feelings of the majority world, and blaming the Government and media for everything denies us any responsibility. Right or wrong, I know it is very complicated to assign culpability in these situations, but saying NO citizen in a democratic state is ever responsible for the deeds of it's Government seems as fallacious as extremists saying all tax-payers are equally responsible for the crimes of their Government.
[1] Police estimated 150,000 - in this case the police were WAY off the mark...
Posted by Ian at September 30, 2002 01:03 PM
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