Quote:
Originally posted by ironweed
Right. And I don't accept that position. I don't know the girl any better than you did. Maybe she was a fruitcake. Maybe we wouldn't enjoy having a drink with her. But the difference between her and suicide bombers is pretty clear. Suicide bombers (try to) kill people.
And it doesn't matter whether she or anyone else puts themselves in danger because they have a "truly righteous moral stance" or because they "need to have a cause." Maybe the Americans who joined the 15th International were emotionally needy, misguided, or just assholes with nothing to do. The point is they were fighting fascism. You can agree with the cause or not (I deliberately picked one I think most of us can agree was a Good Thing), but their individual motivations don't make the cause any better or worse.
You either think bulldozing Palestinian houses is a Good Thing or you don't. But whether Carrie was the kind of person who Really Meant It, or was Just There For Shits And Giggles, or Really Really Hated America, the fact remains that she was protesting peacefully and died for it.
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No doubt. Your description is correct. As I said, my criticism is with the wisdom of the thing. I agree bulldozing a house is bad, but I'm not sure lying in front of the bulldower when you don't know if the driver can see you is the way to do it.
But do think the Why is an important consideration. You know as many people as I do who join protests sheerly to belong. I have sort of a gut dislike for that. And I think I have a right to maintain that dislike. Doing something out of need, rather than true commitment, is creepy. Reminds me of those kids at Phish shows who just needed to belong to something...
