What do the protestors want, as of today?

Stop the war? Ok, how? I mean, exactly how?

The protesters aren't necessarily out there saying stop. I for one know several who are just protesting to demonstrate their feelings. This war is wrong. That is what a demonstration is all about. I can't speak for the rest mind you, but I know that this is how at least some of them think.

I was just thinking about this today as I watched demonstrations on the news.

Now that the US has officially invaded Iraq, I feel that it's imperative to the future of Iraqi people that we stay until the region is stabilized. Last time, we left the Iraqi people to suffer severe and brutal consequences. If the United States leaves Iraq prematurely for any reason, I will be very ANGRY.

Is this really that different of a debate from this one? Rash of Protests.

I'll close this and if we (the Committee) can be convinced it provides something new to debate, we'll reopen it. Please PM us.

After a bit of discussion and since we were forced to close the other thread, we will reopen this one.

To clarify the debate, please discuss what you believe the protesters wish to accomplish by taking to the streets and what the protesters think should happen in the next few weeks and months.

(Did I word that ok, MusingfromtheMiddle?)

Yes you did, thanks.

I think its always useful to look forward, work to resolve the issue. We can, and should, look back and learn from the past but to get bogged down there does no good.

That's what makes me ask the question. We are where we are today, where do we go from here? What would those who are protesting have us do right now?

It isn't a question of the protesters telling the government what to do now. If a government violates an individual citizen's conscience, then that individual is morally bounded to oppose his government. Thoreau

During the 20th century, both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King quoted from "Civil Disobedience." It now begs us to quote from it as will: "How does it become a man to behave toward the American government today? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it."

In 2003, we will have to answer to our individual consciences for an American war that may extinguish the lives of thousands of innocent human beings. Thoreau himself, no doubt, would have chosen "at least to wash his hands" of it.

From Opinions: Capitol Times Newspaper, Madison, Wi.

Madtown

Madtown, I understand the 'looking back' points you make. But you fail to answer the question.

Where do we go from here?

I believe there is a point to be made both here and in another topic I started earlier asking what you would do if you were the President, today.

Neither topic generates much interest from those who have been so vocal in criticizing what we have done. When asked 'what do we do now?', the silence is deafening.

What's to be done? Darned if I know.

"But in the last paragraph of "Civil Disobedience," Thoreau gives us a start: "Is a democracy the last improvement possible in government? Is it not possible to take a step further toward recognizing and organizing the rights of man?" Imagining a government "not yet seen anywhere," he calls for a State at last that can afford to be just to all men and to treat the individual with respect as a neighbor."

From Opinions-The Capitol Times Newspaper, Madison, Wi.

Madtown

I don't think that anybody can stop Bush! That's why the demonstrations are totally useless.

Having participated in the 200,000 strong demonstration in London on the Saturday following the start of the American and British attack on Iraq, I can tell you that I marched with three main goals in mind.

Firstly, I wanted people across the world, especially in the Middle East and other Islamic regions, that there is a sizable segment of the british populace who do not support the actions of our government. I wanted the world, and the Islamic world in particular, that we are not all Western imperialists, just as I know that they are not all Islamic fundementalists.

Secondly, I wanted to send a message to the government telling them that the views of a significant portion of the electorate cannot be ignored with impunity. Blair cannot overide such massive democratic dissent by going to war in spite of it, and expect people to be silenced by jingoistic war-time patriotism. I wanted the government to know that democracy and the right to protest are just as valid and important in war-time as in peace.

Thirdly, I believe that these war-time protests serve as a reminder to the Blair administration that they are still accountable to the people who elected them. They knew when they went to war that the majority of the country was unhappy about the war itself and the lack of a Second Resolution. Whilst they have ignored those opinions, these mass demonstrations put pressure on them to act fairly and constructively in the Middle East once the conflict is over.