Spring Break
The Daily OrangeStudent protests become disrespectful
By Al Ortiz
Posted: 3/28/08, 12:52 AM EST Section: Opinion
Having someone you love serve in the military and perish at the hands of faceless cowards is something very few of us can grasp. Having that tragedy occur and then witness people in your neighborhood, church or campus act out these events is even more unbelievable.
I can't imagine the pain. Neither can certain war protesters whose efforts transcend beyond the fine lines of peaceful protest and enter into the territory of disrespect.
On March 19, there were 17 anti-war advocates stood in front of Hendricks Chapel holding signs such as "Bong Hits for Peace" and "War is a failure of government," according to an article published in The Daily Orange March 20. The event was followed by another protest that took place the same day, one during which 22 people were arrested for disorderly conduct while they blocked off traffic in downtown Syracuse. Both protests included people laying down in the streets pretending to be dead soldiers.
"I think its fine," said Marshall Henry, a member of the Student Peace Action Network and an organizer of one of the protests. "A lot of students have been accused of being apathetic around campus; that most students don't care. It really shows the students' dedication, whether you believe it or not, to be out there on the quad laying out there on the ground. It's just a great way to show it."
Henry said he did not plan the dead soldier act.
Carmen Craft, a participant at both protests, has a boyfriend currently fighting in Iraq.
"I feel she's entitled to say whatever she wants because she has a loved one currently serving right now," Henry said. "I don't believe she has lost anyone close to her in the war, but she's certainly connected to it. I'm sure her boyfriend has served with people who have died."
Despite how a number of the protestors were participating for warranted reasons, there has to be a more effective way to display your dedication than taking such an extreme measure. Perhaps signs and chants in an appropriate place would have been effective and less offensive.
I can't imagine the pain. Neither can certain war protesters whose efforts transcend beyond the fine lines of peaceful protest and enter into the territory of disrespect.
On March 19, there were 17 anti-war advocates stood in front of Hendricks Chapel holding signs such as "Bong Hits for Peace" and "War is a failure of government," according to an article published in The Daily Orange March 20. The event was followed by another protest that took place the same day, one during which 22 people were arrested for disorderly conduct while they blocked off traffic in downtown Syracuse. Both protests included people laying down in the streets pretending to be dead soldiers.
"I think its fine," said Marshall Henry, a member of the Student Peace Action Network and an organizer of one of the protests. "A lot of students have been accused of being apathetic around campus; that most students don't care. It really shows the students' dedication, whether you believe it or not, to be out there on the quad laying out there on the ground. It's just a great way to show it."
Henry said he did not plan the dead soldier act.
Carmen Craft, a participant at both protests, has a boyfriend currently fighting in Iraq.
"I feel she's entitled to say whatever she wants because she has a loved one currently serving right now," Henry said. "I don't believe she has lost anyone close to her in the war, but she's certainly connected to it. I'm sure her boyfriend has served with people who have died."
Despite how a number of the protestors were participating for warranted reasons, there has to be a more effective way to display your dedication than taking such an extreme measure. Perhaps signs and chants in an appropriate place would have been effective and less offensive.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Pat O'Malley
posted 3/28/08 @ 9:10 AM EST
It sounds like Al prefers his protests to be neat,clean and polite affairs. Al, sometimes protests need to get progressively more robust in order to provoke change. (Continued…)
James Howison
posted 3/30/08 @ 11:00 AM EST
Soldiers die and the government forbids even showing their returning coffins on television. They want the public to see this as a sanitized war, a smart bomb and drone war, rather than the street level chaos it is. (Continued…)
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