This is how you stop a war

I actually welled up a little when I read this. This type of thing hasn’t happened, I think, since World War I. (Maybe Vietnam, but nothing comes to mind.)

ILWU Shuts Down Docks for May Day – Socialist Worker

Comments (3) left to “This is how you stop a war”

  1. Tim wrote:

    Interesting. I dunno, as of late, my interest in this issue has declined significantly. While I’ll admit that action of this variety is much more likely to have an impact on policy than watching 56 people march around shouting into megaphones in Iowa City, I’m not totally positive that the policy protestors want is best. I protested the war before it began, back in high school with Ben, Pat, Sam and others, I even showed opposition during the first few years.

    But now? I’m hard pressed to state that full withdrawal is a solid plan. Now if we’re just stating that our issues and man power and financial burdens trump an Iraqi civil war, ok. That’s a legitimate argument. Otherwise, assuming that we can pull out and everything will “work itself out” is pretty idealistic thinking. SERIOUSLY idealistic. Its just a matter of asking what’s more important, American military lives and trillions in funds, or quasi-iraqi security. If you’ve got that issue all worked out in your head, awesome. I don’t, and I’m hard pressed to side with anyone, conservative or liberal.

    THAT ASIDE, we should definitely celebrate International Workers Day. Seriously.

  2. patrick wrote:

    This article comes to mind Tim. http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=6001af15-399f-4b11-b7fb-6f52baca6bcc

    I also agree with you, I disagreed with this war from the start, but now I have no idea what we should do, except that staying the course isn’t working. That’s why I don’t feel that bad about Obama not wanting immediate total withdrawal from Iraq.

    Also we do celebrate a worker’s day, we just do it in September so it isn’t too socialist.

    Finally, this is kindof nit-picky, but the ILWU has a pretty long history of this sort of thing to try and influence America’s domestic and foreign policy, including US Death Squads in Central America, and protesting Apartheid. Like Tim, I have a hard time believing any real change will be enacted even if the Dems win next year, see the article above and Pelosi’s voting record.

  3. patrick wrote:

    I feel like I should add however that one of the main reason I caucused for Obama was he was against the war from the start.