Friday Assignment #3

 

 

What are the primary emotions that the Anti-American War movement appears to encourage in its members? Does the “face” the organization puts forth to the public differ from that presented to members or potential recruits?

 

In the Anti-American War movement, many emotions are involved externally and internally. Although the public is angry by reason of the economic situation, the movement has done a great job in trying to maintain peace, if not outside, most definitely inside.  There are indeed various dimensions of emotions that are felt and they differ quite very much. Outside the movement, anger is plenty present. However I do not feel it is the organizations that are implementing this. The lists of emotions felt by civil society exterior to the movement are endless and some are similar to those who are within. These include suspicion, grief, loss, sorrow, shame, anger, mistrust, defiance compassion, pity and sympathy. The similarities in the few emotions that are shared between both inside and outside the movement further made this movement a success. Nonetheless the impression is given that the majority outside this movement feels mistrust and anger. “Generalized trust in the political system, furthermore, affects political behavior, usually dampening protest because of an assumption that the government will fix things without public pressure.” (Goodwin & Jasper). On the reverse end of this quote an increase of civil society involvement occurred due to the government not addressing the ever failing situation in Iraq.  The people of the United States saw this issue developing into a poorer situation and took it upon themselves to do something about it. Within the movement there appears to be multiple organizations that are inducing analogous emotions. Many are focusing on sympathy, compassion, grief, loss, and sorrow. Loved ones have been lost and families broken. Take into account that it is not just U.S soldiers and their families who are receiving sympathy as well as empathy. What of the people in Iraq (and the rest of the Middle East)? Many seem to be focusing on this issue. Advocating awareness and visuals are extensively used. Although the economic situation was a large reason to pull the troops out of Iraq by June 30, the movement is attempting to use a less heated emotion. Can you imagine if the center of this anti-American war movement was the downturn of the economy? How much anger would be evoked? Let alone what various forms of protest would have been used? This movement could have easily moved into that of an enraged one. Violence could have been widely present. However I feel this movement used very positive and successful tactics. Civil disobedience, advocating awareness and visuals were the tactics used by this movement, I would say quite lucratively. The matters of violence, health, poverty, and human rights were used to evoke emotion from people external and internal to the movement. Therefore it took a more peaceful attempt in protesting the war in Iraq and it helped them immensely in recruiting. I found a very interesting a website (http://www.afsc.org/eyes/) of which belongs to an organization opposing the war in the Middle East. However this group was initially one comprised of friends with identical religious backgrounds. They chose not only to form an organization opposing the war in the Middle East, but also to also not associate it with their religion. I found this very intelligent, compassionate, and especially flourishing. Below are a few websites that are examples of the tactics that I claim this movement uses:

 

http://www.iraqaction.org/

http://www.j-n-v.org/

http://www.gsfp.org/

 

 

 

In regards to the Clothesline Project protestors of University of Maryland….

 

I believe, although a serious issue, that the school administration was in their right mind to prohibit such actions. I feel that the university was not denying the students of their right to protest against such horrible acts of violence, only trying to prevent more Perhaps these students were only attempting to prevent this to happening to others by demonstrating the offender’s name. However I would believe this to cause more violence. . I do not feel that all college students are mature enough for this (and that is a given when someone comes up with the idea to wear the offender’s name on your t-shirt). The method that would have been more effective is raising awareness about it as well as constructing seminars for safety and self-defense.