Hi - Tech Protests
The March 2003 CNN story "Anti-War protesters Go Digital" brings back some fond memories. I remember very clearly the month of March 2003. Up until a few weeks before it started, I didn't actually believe we would go to war. It seemed like a distant horror. I was a senior in college, isolated in the frozen hell that is Ithaca, New York. I drank a lot of beer, rum, and vodka while smoking a hell of a lot of dope and was therefore generally oblivious to what was going on politically (since I wasn't on a campaign at the time, it didn't really matter to me) .
It was through internet activist communities that I really became aware, educated, and activated against Bush's war. Yes, Cornell is a pretentious university filled with a bunch of wannabee hippie snobs who protest everything the hear about by chanting in a drum circle . . . but that was really never my style. I'd rather do nothing than simply whine and complain about about an issue. I distinctly remember the moment I took action. It was when I got an email with a series of pictures attached to it. Each picture was of a mass protest from a different world city: London, New York, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv etc. . . and I realized how huge the issue really was. I forwarded the email to other apathetic friends. It was a small step, but still a step. Then I signed an email petition to my congressmen and Senators. Then I actually called.
I was always persuaded that the war was wrong, but was never persuaded to take action on it. It was the online community of activists that got me involved. I never text messaged anyone. I physically attended only 1 protest (and it was a counter-protest to the right wing pro-war rally), but I felt invovled. . . and all of a sudden. . . I cared.
it's safe to say that e-organizing has its uses. . . if I. . Mr. Anti-blog was persuaded to take action by the internet, through the internet, and on the internet I'm sure there is plenty more that can be done.
GOTV Text messages anyone. . . . .?
It was through internet activist communities that I really became aware, educated, and activated against Bush's war. Yes, Cornell is a pretentious university filled with a bunch of wannabee hippie snobs who protest everything the hear about by chanting in a drum circle . . . but that was really never my style. I'd rather do nothing than simply whine and complain about about an issue. I distinctly remember the moment I took action. It was when I got an email with a series of pictures attached to it. Each picture was of a mass protest from a different world city: London, New York, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Tel Aviv etc. . . and I realized how huge the issue really was. I forwarded the email to other apathetic friends. It was a small step, but still a step. Then I signed an email petition to my congressmen and Senators. Then I actually called.
I was always persuaded that the war was wrong, but was never persuaded to take action on it. It was the online community of activists that got me involved. I never text messaged anyone. I physically attended only 1 protest (and it was a counter-protest to the right wing pro-war rally), but I felt invovled. . . and all of a sudden. . . I cared.
it's safe to say that e-organizing has its uses. . . if I. . Mr. Anti-blog was persuaded to take action by the internet, through the internet, and on the internet I'm sure there is plenty more that can be done.
GOTV Text messages anyone. . . . .?
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