Ivan
I hope this is a different type of protest day than you proposed last week,
what with blockading a Federal building and all, or is it still your
contention that
acts of civil disobedience are going
to help us get funding for this bill? Or are your simply proposing we get
out and show ourselves? If it's the former you're not playing with a full
deck. If it's not - GREAT!
Below was my response to your original proposal last week - and I
stand by it. BTW, what DID you mean by this phrase, from that same message:
>>At this point I am ready to wear black leather and flowers
in my hair and
>>blockade the Federal Building,
>>get arrested in non-violent civil disobedience, or WHATEVER it takes.
I know you're hurting - more than most of us - but I sure hope you were
being melodramatic and were not then also advocating, or even hinting at,
violent disobedience.
You had commented on the success of the AIDS protest movement and I said,
>Yeah, I'm ready for something else to do to fight for my health back. As
>poorly as I am do physically right now, I would jeopardize my job and be
>part of something bigger. But we have to face it - civil disobedience ("or
>WHATEVER it takes," ???) is NOT going to happen. The demographics of PWP
>are much different that those with HIV, who are much younger, less patient,
>less conservative - and thus more likely engage in civil disobedience.
They
>also had the attention of the media because the disease was sexual in
>nature, it came out of the blue, is fatal, and afflicted many of their
>fellow media types. There #'s are also MUCH GREATER because they have the
>strong backing of all the homosexuals (+ hemophiliacs & other groups) in
the
>country (world!), not just those afflicted. We only have us, the
afflicted,
>and our families.
>
>Beside being a colossal waste of time and energy, acts of civil
disobedience
>would be counterproductive. There is less tolerance for breaking the law
>for any reason since the AIDS protests. We would be a pretty pathetic
bunch
>out there "blockading the Federal Building." They would probably just have
>the oldest janitors in the place out to clear us away. Suggesting these
>kinds of actions are going to do us any good are..........., well, let's
>just move on!!
IVAN, I DO UNDERSTAND YOUR DESIRE TO GET OUT THERE AND BE SEEN. I THINK
JULY 4 AS A DAY TO GO TO WASHINGTON TO BE SEEN AND HEARD IS A GOOD ONE.
AND I BELIEVE SOMEONE HERE WILL STEP FORWARD TO BE YOUR CAREGIVER WHILE
THERE. BUT I THINK YOU WILL HAVE GREATER SUCCESS GETTING PARTICIPATION IF
IT IS PLANNED WITHOUT BREAKING ANY LAWS IN MIND.
Bruce Anderson (52, 3+, feels like 30+)
Schooley's Mtn., NJ
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