Ron Evans, via e-mail
EDITORS: Bradley Steinbacher's "Peace Protest" brings up some very important points. Those who oppose the actions of the United States are going to have to devise new and more appropriate methods of getting their message across. Indeed, "No War" is irrelevant at this point--and actually, according to U.S. foreign policy, it always has been.
Mayli, via e-mail
STRANGER: I had to double-check the masthead, just to make sure this was The Stranger I was reading and not Rush Limbaugh's newsletter. That's a compliment. Never in my entire time living in this liberal state did I EVER imagine running across such an accurate yet liberally empathic view of the protests in downtown Seattle ["Peace Protest"].
Bradley Steinbacher is a god among men. He has managed to zero in on exactly what's wrong with all of these protests, which come off more like fashion statements than serious attempts at reaching a mass of people regarding important issues.
None of these peace rallies ever offer substantive, comprehensive solutions. The only (lame) solution offered at these rallies is a call for a legal, United-Nations-type court procedure to try, convict, and indict the perpetrators of the September 11 attacks. This tells me nobody on the Left is bothering to really pay attention to the entire context of this war.
This ain't no party, this ain't no disco. This is a war we've never experienced before. Approaching it the same way we would Vietnam or WWII is a sophomoric mistake. Bravo to Mr. Steinbacher for pointing out the obvious, in such an insightful way.
Carol Banks Weber, Lynnwood
TO THE EDITOR: Bradley Steinbacher's article "Peace Protest" [was] one of the most insightful things about politics in the United States I've read or heard in years. As an activist and artist, the Polly Protester model has become exceedingly frustrating and sad to me over the past decade or so.
Thanks to Bradley Steinbacher for so eloquently calling for a much-needed "media upgrade." As much as some may despise corporate concepts such as this, it is exactly what Leftists must do if we are to see any shifts in the status quo. In order to be heard, one must speak the language of the listener.
Katie Kadwell, via e-mail
HELLO: Thank god for Bradley Steinbacher's article on the peace movement. It's about time someone pointed out that the Left is digging its own grave with unfortunate speed and dexterity. We on the Left have a tendency--no, a downright penchant-- for thinking that everyone who doesn't agree with us is a complete moron. Sure, we like our exotic cuisines, our crazy haircuts, our trendy clothes, and our various piercings, but that's as far as it goes. And when it comes to political or philosophical disagreement, watch out, 'cause we're about as dogmatic as the Religious Right. And that's too bad.
Those of us on the Left will recognize the pattern: (1) Complain loudly. (2) Lose the battle for the initiative, law, candidate, or whatever. (3) Blame Big Money, the System, the Man, or something. (4) Contentedly wallow in the knowledge that we're smarter than everyone else anyway. Repeat.
Ivan Wood, via e-mail
BRAD: Thank you. It is nice to have an eloquent liberal writing down what so many of us have wanted to say. I want the Left to be true to themselves, and feel a great amount of sympathy for the opinions and statements of the protesters--however, it is aggravating to watch people you agree with shoot themselves in the foot. I could not agree with you more that alternatives need to be presented, rather than the typical rhetoric.
Alex, via e-mail
EDITORS: Bradley Steinbacher's article "Peace Protest" really hit home for those who share the views of many protesters, but cringe and shake heads at their outdated and ineffective tactics. Protests regarding this "war" have to be inherently different than those against the Persian Gulf and Vietnam. On September 11 we were deliberately attacked based on what we as Americans represent. Bombing Afghanistan back to the Stone Age in order to usurp the anti-women, anti-non-Muslim Taliban regime may not be the best way to smoke out al Qaeda or bin Laden. However, marching down the street in outlandish outfits, with the same signs and the same chants, is not going to change any opinions on the issues, particularly [those of] the vast majority of the population.
Convincing people that what we are doing in Afghanistan is wrong is a HUGE undertaking--considering 90 percent of the country is for it. I have a feeling [that], like with the WTO, most people will look at the protests with annoyed indifference. As Steinbacher points out, "Making Our Voices Heard" through the media is a must, but the package needs to be wrapped differently. If you want to educate people, it has to be presented in a manner that it will be accepted, [or] no one's going to buy it. Great article, Bradley.
Rob, via e-mail
EDITORS: Last week's "coverage" of the demonstration in Seattle in support of a U.S. peaceful response to the attacks should only reinforce the Bush administration's call for us to "go about our daily lives." I suggest Bradley Steinbacher go about writing the same tired film reviews he usually does. Granted, his piece was loaded with hyperbole and sparse on facts, as usual. I just think it would behoove him and Stranger readers to avoid writing pieces like this, which seemed driven by the need to be biting and sarcastic rather than informative.
Garrett W. Jackson, via e-mail
BRADLEY STEINBACHER: I find it ironic that your non-article berating protesters for offering no solutions itself offers no real solution. That "MOVH" ["Make Our Voices Heard"] suggestion was so vague and general, it only served to let you off the hook for not having an answer. To a person attending a protest, there is an incredible feeling that comes from knowing that others share your beliefs. War and election fraud fill me with great dread--and it feels good to know that I'm not alone. Not all protests hit the mark, but when they do, amazing things can happen. Protests are good therapy for people who feel like they're getting fucked by the Man. I personally find stale patchouli and Birkenstocks annoying, but those judgments fall petty in heavy times like this. Protesters may not change the world, but at least they know what they stand for... which is more than I can say for you.
Donald Rodriquez Carter, via e-mail
BRADLEY STEINBACHER: As a hobby, criticizing the Left must leave you frustrated. The disorganized, media-dumb plebes just won't listen to reason, will they? Have you tried swallowing flaming swords? The risks are greater, but the cause and effect is more readily apparent.
Personally, I'm grateful for the protest marches, which at the very least consume resources that might otherwise be devoted to racial profiling and harassing the homeless. Further, I'm confident that today's freshman protesters will be tomorrow's experienced protesters.
Jason Osgood, via e-mail
EDITORS: Bradley Steinbacher was right on about the tactics of the Left in this country. They're less tactics than they are archaic, masturbatory, feel-good sessions--and I say that as a gay Hispanic with seriously Lefty views. The stupid shock tactics, the alienation of middle America, the antagonism toward religion in this very religious country, the refusal to recognize, much less utilize, the religious Left in this country, the tired slogans, and the seeming total inability to organize anything more long-term than the same tired protests attended by the same people saying the same thing will continue to ensure that the values the Left and I share will always be secondary to the values espoused by right-wing nuts who have the common sense to put on a suit and speak quietly.
Gitai Ben-Ammi, via e-mail
DEPT. OF CORRECTIONS
In our October 11 issue, in Bradley Steinbacher's article "Peace Protest," we mistakenly used a photo from the wrong protest. The young woman in the "Peace Protest" photo was attending the "Reclaim the Streets" protest on August 25--not the "No War" protest on Saturday, September 29. We regret the error, and sincerely apologize for any misrepresentation.
