Direct Action Against War

national | miscellaneous | news report Saturday November 09, 2002 15:44 by Brian - Anarchist Federation contact at afireland dot cjb dot net 07951 079719

In 1991, when bombs rained down on Iraq, we marched and listened to speeches. In 1999, when bombs rained down on Yugoslavia, we marched and listened to speeches. In 2001, when bombs rained down on Afghanistan, we marched and listened to speeches. What are we going to do this time?

This was taken from this month's issue of Resistance the monthly agitational bulletin of the Anarchist Federation.

This issue of resistance can be downloaded in pdf format or plain text format from the following page;
http://www.afireland.cjb.net/resistance/index.html

This months issue covers the War on Terror turning it's ugly face on the people of Iraq, On the Frontline looks at anti-McDonalds day events just gone, a member of the AF reports on the recent IAWM protest at Shannon Airport and Time bomb (our monthly look at working class history, currently looking at workers council's).

Here is one article from the latest issue of resistance:

Direct Action Against War

In 1991, when bombs rained down on Iraq, we marched and listened to speeches.

In 1999, when bombs rained down on Yugoslavia, we marched and listened to speeches.

In 2001, when bombs rained down on Afghanistan, we marched and listened to speeches.

What are we going to do this time?

Today there is significant level of popular opposition to the war in Ireland, in Britain, across Europe and even in the United States. The question is how is that discontent going to express itself ? With marches and speeches? Which do what exactly? Does anyone really think that it makes the slightest bit of difference, that all of a sudden the rulers of our world, fattened on the blood of a hundred countries, will suddenly turn heel at the sight of how ever many thousand protesters!

What does marching do?

(1) Those of us who have been around the block far too many times know only too well that the purpose of such events is nothing to do with stopping war and everything to do with building the membership of leftist political parties. If you don’t believe me go to one and see if anyone is trying to collect your name and address, and see what they do with it.

(2) Furthermore such events are actually functional to capitalism, relying as it does on ideas as much as force (which is always the last resort). Legally, marching, much like standing for election, is merely helping to promote the illusion that we live in some kind of free society -one where we choose our rulers, and where our rulers will respond to petitions and assemblies of persons asking them gently to stop this or that or to do this or that (of course an actual free society would have no kind of rulers). As the organisers of these events know that this is not the case (they claim after all to be revolutionaries), this is further evidence of the truth of the first point.

(3) Thirdly such events re-produce the hierarchy of capitalism, with a passive mass receiving the wisdom of a few chieftains on a podium.

What can direct action do?

(1) Get results! Anyone that doesn’t believe me, ask yourself this question: Why is that both halves of the adult population have the vote ? (for what it’s worth). Enough people in Shannon, enough times, inflicting enough costs on the government and there would be no more military re-fuelling. Just as enough people not paying the water charges had them scrapped.

(2) Empower people, rather than disempowering them through the sort of hierarchy described above. A free society can only be created by millions, and not only when millions have the desire, but when millions have the confidence. Through small victories won through our own hands (i.e. direct action) we gain such confidence.

What we do not mean by direct action are those actions which are not open to mass participation, and which relegate people to the status of spectators watching individual heroism. We do not think you need training to participate.

Some leftist groups criticise direct action as elitist. The same ones that follow the teachings of the man that wrote: “The revolutionary party (vanguard) which renounces its own dictatorship surrenders the masses to the counter-revolution . . . Abstractly speaking, it would be very well if the party dictatorship could be replaced by the ‘dictatorship’of the whole toiling people without any party, but this presupposes such a high level of political development among the masses that it can never be achieved under capitalist conditions.” (Trotsky, 1937) Elitist! Beside me at both of the two recent actions at Shannon were people who had never taken part in ANY demonstration ever before, what an arrogant condescending attitude these leftists have.

The call has gone out for a demonstration at Shannon, on Sunday, December the 8Th., at 2pm. A Grassroots Network for Peace is in the process of establishing itself, as a means of communication for people into direct action, democracy, and kicking Washington’s legions out of county Clare. See the event guide on the back page for more info.

Check out the what's new section on the Anarchist Federation website for recent updates and additions, the address is http://www.afireland.cjb.net/new.html