Viewpoints Making history? | Making history? |
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I went to that Anti-War march on Saturday 15th in London. I've never been on a march before so I thought this one ("we're making history") would be a good one for a first-timer. Saturday 15th February 2003 had to be coldest day on earth. Still, there's a possible threat of war – what's a bit of cold weather, I thought. An hour later, dragging my husband out of bed (there's no way I'm facing thousands of strangers on my own), got my warmest jacket on; we headed out of the door and took the train to Charing Cross where we met up with fellow marchers. Have I mentioned why I have never been on a march before? It's not that I don't feel strongly about issues (sometimes I think I feel too strongly about things – massive arguments with friends over a beer about war, religion, music, mention anything and I'll have a strong opinion on it). I've always thought that marches never really achieve anything other than social unity and making people feel better that creates an "us" and "them". They don't do much for the actual cause except to fill newspaper columns and keep the issue (whatever we are fighting for/against) in public knowledge. The real reason I went on this march was because I had nothing else in my diary (I tried to sound more pc before when I mention why I wanted to go to the march). I do not feel the need to go on a march to blow whistles and chant "No War" to feel better or to feel I am doing something for the cause (the fact that I am on the march should tell people how I feel). To me, the march was like Notting Hill Carnival except in the cold. Once we reached Hyde Park – I thought it was impossible to feel colder but I was proven wrong. The first few speeches were good (politicians, celebrities, ex-leaders of countries) but after the first hour, and hearing the same speech by different people over and over again – the cold just got the best of me and I had to head for the warmth of my flat. I mean, we are on an Anti-War march – what do you expect people to say? Course it's going to be everything that we want to hear so thousands of people will cheer and clap and feel united. I am not saying marches are a bad/useless way of protesting but for me personally, (I hear people shouting, "marches do work; look at the poll tax". That wasn't a march – people just refused to pay it, that why it was abolished) I really don't think they achieve much except piss drivers off. From reading newspapers, watching TV, I also get the impression that the majority of the world doesn't agree with Bush and Blair. But do you really think marches from around the world are going to stop it? C'mon, Bush is dumb enough to want it (hey, he didn't care that people didn't vote him in as president – he doesn't care about small matters like that) and Blair is stupid enough to follow his lead because he is the PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. What needs to be done is if 2 million people go to 10 Downing Street – demanding Blair to get out (the people voted him in to run our country but not to go to war) because we won't go to war or pay taxes to pay for war. Imagine, if almost 2 million people marched to Downing street and didn't move (the police cannot arrest 2 million people) until Blair listens to his people and reminds him that we live in a democratic country so don't go to war if you want to remain as Prime Minster. That I think he will listen too and I will definitely be joining the thousands for that march.
Do you agree? |
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