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February 05, 2009

Protest or Parade?

Posted by Elaisha Stokes at 12:19 PM ET

When I was a teenager I spent a lot of time at public rallies and protests. Back then I really believed that if I raised a little hell the world would become a better place. I travelled all around North America, mobilizing other youth and standing up for what I believed was right and true. I've been shot at close range by rubber bullets (painful) pepper sprayed until my skin started to rot (very painful) and hit by flying canisters of tear gas (extremely painful). I don't go to protests any more, not only because they've proved to be physically painful experiences, but also because I view them as contextually ineffective. Naomi Wolf agrees. She argues that protests always work when they raise the stakes, but that today's protests can't due to the "Disney-fication" of political dissent. Check out her nine minute clip above to learn more about what she views as the end of democracy as we know it. Is the end of true political dissent and discourse upon us?

More entries on: Resistance

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Reader comments:

I have to agree with Naomi on this one, with the caveat and hope that we reflect on this criticism and respond with more creative forms of protest. While I can't endorse his thoughts outright, Stephen Duncombe's book Dream gets at this failure, and begins conversation about what could be a constructive response, and ultimately a more effective approach.

Posted by: James David at February 5, 2009 02:34 PM

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