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This site last updated on:
May 14, 2004

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Letters

Dear Editor:
Of all the editorials that I've seen in The Advocate, none are more truthful than "Nonsense Slogans have got to go." It highlights the reasons why many of the serious activists have stayed home, instead of
joining the large protest crowds which share their ideas.
Why is it when we go to rallies, all we hear are the same nursery rhymes of "One, two three, four..." or "hey hey, ho ho?" The banners at these rallies portray a false sense of unity among the demonstrators.
Just because I am opposed to the occupation of Iraq doesn't mean I'm opposed to the occupation of Gaza, as the banners "Free Iraq and Palestine" suggest.
Instead of confronting Bush with intelligent dialog, what do we see? Puppetry and effigy statues. If we want the world to take our anti-war message seriously, we must appear serious and determined. Costumes and puppets are a delightful sight, but they're distracting attention away from the real messages behind the rallies.

Sergio Kadinsky,
CUNY City College

The Advocate replies: We both agree that the demonstrations should retain their focus on the events at hand—on the war in Iraq, instead of broad invectives against policies which certain groups may perceive as being part of some larger “imperialist” package. But we certainly have nothing against costumes and puppets! Far from distracting attention from the “real mesage,” they are a vibrant and effective way of drawing attention TO these issues. It’s naive to believe that Republicans or middle America will take us seriously, if we only don sweaters and march in straight lines.