Oh you mean into the port...gotcha.

One of the great non sequiturs of the left is that, if the free market doesn't work perfectly, then it doesn't work at all-- and the government should step in.

Thomas Sowell

Thank you, Guglielmo, for this astute reply.

To all of those at Olyblog who have registered complaints against PMR for one reason or another, I strongly request that you view this video of Phan Nguyen's speech at a rally on the port plaza on Nov 6, 2007. The USNS Brittin had arrived the previous day and was unloading Strykers and other equipment in the background as he spoke. The blockades would begin the following night. The video is just under 10 minutes.

Again, I strongly request that you watch the entire video, as I think Phan's words go a long way toward responding to PMR's critics.

My apologies for not knowing how to create a hyperlink. Maybe Bert, or another docent can fix it for me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3hsDZHg71g

Unfortunately, the PATRIOT ACT has made it a crime - conspiracy, which carries a minimum of 10 years in federal prison - for unions to co-organize with activist groups against the government. This was a major blow to democracy, and binds the hands of many who would be effective organizers for change.

I agree completely.

If there was a vote in Thurston County, I'd suggest that the minority would lose and the shipments would continue.

The only folks that think the PMR "protest" was civil (I mean peaceful) is the PMR.

EDIT: my statement above is too strong.

I'm wrong in making a blanket statement here...and I do not want to be dismissive of the work and support that PMR manifest, and in short I want to say that while I don't support the tactics, I do support the activism and do support reform, and am almost proud of the fact that Oly has such strong, dedicated folks that are so fierce in the face of what I consider an almost "hopeless" situation.

Not "the only folks", pls read: "To me it seems like lots of folks here in my neighborhood (and among my small circle of friends), think...

A surprising number of folks in our neighborhood associate the activities of the PMR to "domestic terrorism", do not understand blockade tactics employed on returning shipments, and do not support interference with troop support.

Thanks for posting your perspective.

I attended my grandfather's funeral last weekend in Vancouver. All of the brothers and sisters he was close to were there (these were all people that were basically my extended family growing up) with white carnations on, sitting in the back of the church. It was nice to see them all again.

Absolutely I support grassroots organizations.  I don't believe I support radicals, though.  B&R and Camp Quixote I wouldn't describe as fringe or radical.

Can you say without a doubt that PMR's tactics will do nothing to advance the cause to end the war?

Of course not.  I'm not blessed with powers to see into the future.  I am able to see the polarizing effect it has had on the community in general and I find this to be a lost opportunity.  In this single thread you've heard from 3 or 4 people who would support, or advocate, for PMR if they were a different organization.  Why can't these folks see that a slight change in tact will broaden their support?  We need numbers to end this war, not property damage, not temporary roadblocks.

The lesson we can take from last November is that the police response is unpredictable.  It's unpredictable for a reason - to always have the upper hand.

You're right, I could be indifferent to PMR and their message.  But, fortunately, I believe in law and support law enforcement.  I support folks who drive trucks for a living.  I may not support them directly but I don't hinder their ability to do their jobs.

By the way, I'm not much of an activist but if I were, I don't believe I'd subscribe to your theory.  I think I would take a different approach all together.  I wouldn't be scattered in my efforts, I don't think.  I would organize around a specfic approach with some room for contingency and go at it long and strong.

Thanks for this comment, Rob. I very much agree that we need a variety of tactics in this struggle.

People still debate over the impact of the various factors which eventually ended the war in Vietnam. The same is true now. The effects of various strategies and tactics can never be fully known or measured, despite all the current debates about which actions are most "effective." Each of us must make our own best assessment of what must be done and get busy doing it, recognizing that no single strategy or tactic alone is likely to bring about the change we seek.

Some people have said here that they know of absolutely no one who supports PMR's campaigns. Well, for starters, as Keith pointed out, the ILWU in the Bay Area is very supportive. Also, Ehren Watada cited the PMR actions in May 2006 as having played a role in compelling him to refuse deployment. Numerous peace groups around the country and leaders in the national peace movement have voiced support for PMR and have invited our members to travel to their cities to give presentations. In my personal life and at work, I hear many supportive statements.

PMR may not appeal to everyone, but many people have been inspired by PMR's actions, here in Olympia and around the world.

It is important to note that PMR does not necessarily strive to change the minds of people who support the war, or people who think it is wrong to protest the war. Our primary audience, I believe, (speaking for myself) are those people who seek ways to actively resist an illegal and immoral war and are ready to look beyond the usual sign-holding and letter-writing. Blocking Stryker convoys is only one example of many possibilities.

And finally, I'd like to respond to a point-of-view I often encounter on Olyblog which goes something like this: No matter how peaceful the vast majority of protesters and their actions might have been, and regardless of how much more violence there might have been without PMR's presence, PMR was tainted and discredited the minute someone threw a rock – an action which ran counter to the PMR Nonviolence Statement. The conclusion seems to be that if PMR cannot control everyone in the vicinity of an action (which obviously they cannot), then PMR should cease such actions, since rock throwing and such is always a possibility.

Well, how convenient for those who oppose PMR – granting rock throwers the power to shut us down.

This same kind of thinking is evident in remarks about the use of the F-word directed at the police. I remember various criticisms posted here directed at people at the main gate who eventually shouted "F... the police!" after a prolonged police attack with batons and pepper spray. Below is a link to a video taken on Nov 10, which shows a line of protesters standing in front of the gate. It opens with one of them stating her purpose for the action: “I want to physically, in any way possible, using nonviolent means, stop the use of our port as a tool for perpetuating the war in Iraq.”

Shortly thereafter the police ordered the protesters to leave. When they did not move, the police pepper sprayed everyone in sight, not just those at the gate. They then spent several minutes thoroughly dousing the line of protesters at the gate with pepper spray, then shoved them with batons, dragged them to the side of the road and tossed them aside. Medics were blocked from assisting these people.

Throughout this traumatic ordeal, the crowd chanted things like: “The people united will never be defeated!” “Whose streets, our streets!” “Human rights violations!” “Illegal use of force!” “Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!”

Finally, after nearly all of the protesters had been brutally removed from the gate, a couple of them, thoroughly traumatized – eyes, throats, and flesh burning – started screaming “Fuck the police!”

I arrived on that scene shortly after this all played out. I saw how traumatized people were – physically and emotionally. So the first few times I saw the video, I was moved to tears by the sense of purpose and courage and moral fortitude demonstrated by those young people taking the abuse, as well as the discipline of the crowd to chant pertinant messages throughout most of the duration of the traumatizing ordeal.

Yet some of you, who say you oppose the war but do not support PMR tactics, saw that event or watched it on YouTube and came away only with criticism that those who finally shouted “Fuck the police” were not duly attentive to Public Relations concerns. Some of you opponents-of-the-war write these courageous, purposeful young people off as “attention-seeking thugs.”

This war and occupation has gone on for several years. The vast majority of people are ready for it to end. I am long since past the point of worrying about people who only see the rock or who only hear the F-word.

A little perspective please!

Here the video taken at the gate the morning of Nov 10:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgi5ESpueX8