Protests Are Counterproductive

Protests hurt our cause for several reasons:

1. They do not persuade people to change sides and can cause further division. Those who disagree that action needs to be taken will not be persuaded by people shouting slogans and holding signs. Due to the innate aggressive nature of protests, it might even further reinforce their beliefs and make it harder to bring about reconciliation.

2. It does not promote an understanding of the idea. People may see the protests and become aware of the issue and become interested, but then when they turn on the TV and read, they will see people saying so many different things that they become confused. “Is this really an attack on privacy or is it just an political attack on Obama?”

3. It gives us a false sense of action. Protests give an outlet for our thirst for action. As well, some those who already support us will see it and think that they don’t need to take care of it as other people are. This energy can be diverted to constructive actions.

4. It does not empower us. We protest in hopes of getting media coverage and so we absolve ourselves of the responsibility to inform others. We rely on the media to inform others, when we can do it yourself easily. The best way to support any movement is at the grass roots level. That means your family. Then your friends. Then your neighbors. Speak to them and personally explain to them what is going on.

Instead of a symbolic one-day protest, I propose a continuous door-to-door campaign. Let us prepare for the election season now. Imagine a million people setting out to go door-to-door to inform others on a daily basis. Not a few months before the election, but immediately. Not in the promotion of any candidate, but in promotion of an idea.

The Media Is Not Our Friend

In order to get anywhere, we must understand the real issues. The media is not your friend. FOX News, MSNBC, CNN, they’re all owned and controlled by the establishment who are looking out for their own interests. They serve to divide us by pitting us against each other.

There are many tactics in their playbooks concerning political movements. One is to transform it into a partisan issue, thus FOX NEWS will promote it and MSNBC will criticize as in the case of Tea Party Movement. Good cop and bad cop. One side will act disingenuous ways, the other will call them out on it, in such a way, they maintain their own credibility. Another is to frame it as a dangerous movement with associations of violence so that people are afraid to associate with it.

No matter how careful we are, we cannot avoid their tactics. Invariably, attempts to remain partisan are hampered by focusing on extreme elements in a protest. They may even send actors in as provocateurs.

The goal is to keep us divided. They do so by pigeon-holing us into two separate camps and confusing the issues so that we are distracted and fight among ourselves while they carry out their true plans. For more information: https://unityreconcilation.wordpress.com/2013/06/09/reconciliation-of-the-american-public-bringing-clarity-to-the-issues/

We must educate ourselves upon the tools that they use to manipulate and control us. How the use of implicit censorship serves to block discussion and keep us hating each other. True censorship is ineffective as it is enforced by law and requires surveillance, but implicit censorship is enforced by the people. Every time you’re afraid of speaking your mind in good conscious because you fear offending someone and being associated with hate, that’s implicit censorship.

This is Not a Question Of Legality, But a True Threat To Freedom

A biggest problem we have is that despite all the evidence to contrary, people still believe this is just an argument about law and constitutionality.

It’s not. If you delve down deep and examine was has happened these past years, you will see a continuous trend of attacks on civil liberties in the name of security. From the introduction of the TSA, the jailing of civilians who report on the threatening activities of the government and now this, all in the name of supposedly stopping terrorism?

And yet, no one dares to openly question the motivations behind all this. No one dares to speak out against the possibility of a true attempt to establish a tyranny because they fear being called a conspiracy theorist. This is implicit censorship. The 1st Amendment may still exist in law, but not in spirit.

This is a serious and scary matter, yet the media is making jokes and talking lightly about this. They try to frame it as question of law and reassuring us that it is not a problem because all branches of government are for it, as if that were the issue. They try to frame it as partisan by stating that this an attack on Obama by conservatives who were for it too, as if that really mattered. They will try to convince people that these actions are not dangerous and are for our own good.

And the saddest thing is, is that they are succeeding. They succeed in doing so because of all the years of preparation they put into dividing us. They create fictional enemies so that we do not see who the true enemies are. Environmentalist fear the corporate oligarchy that has no morals and seeks to destroy the environment for dollars. Union members fear the repression of the rich who seek to exploit them. Feminists fear men and patriarchy that seeks to control them. Christians fear Islamist who seek to rule the world and implement Sharia law. The list goes on and on. And so, when we try to bring out the real issues and dangers of tyranny, they dismiss it and defend it, in fear of hurting the cause that they’ve been manipulated to support.

This is not to say that these people are not fighting for valid issues. But there is more common ground to them then you would think based upon how heated arguments become.

Let’s take the issue of global warming. I think the preservation of the environment and the world is very important. I think everybody wants to live in a good non-polluted world. The point of contention is what the problem is. Whenever someone states something against the possibility of global warming. Those against it dismiss it as being a climate denialist in league with oil corporations. But that’s exactly the type of behavior that breeds contempt and what I mean by implicit censorship. Even though we all want to save the world, no one bothers to try and bring people together. They simply repeat their talking points as if that would convince anyone to change their minds.

The Solution Begins With You

The Internet is a godsend and will remain the ultimate tool against tyranny so long as it remains free. It should not be taken for granted. In truth, I would still be lost and confused if not for the availability of information and good-natured activists who understand the threat.

It could be used as a tool to bring about reconciliation and restoration of dialogue. That means you have to be an ambassador of peace. Whenever you see implicit censorship, call them out on it.

If you’ve fallen out with any friends or family due to political differences, speak with them. Apologize. Acknowledge that you’ve both been victims of manipulation and explain to them of the true issues.

We must come together as a people, united against this tyranny. We must utilize all our resources and talents to break the hold they have put over us and bring people together. Step up and do your part.

On the Issue of Revolution

Calls of violent action should be rejected. They are born out notions of the hopelessness instilled upon us by the media. It may be true that we were hopeless before the internet, but now, we CAN make a difference in the political system but only if we understand the problems and help solve them.

So I call on those that advocate violent action to direct your energies towards peaceful solutions. However, make use of the 2nd amendment, and arm to deter aggression.