Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 6/24/83 v7 ucbtopaz-1.5; site ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!vax135!cornell!uw-beaver!tektronix!decvax!ucbvax!ucbtopaz!bitmap From: bitmap@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA Newsgroups: net.politics Subject: re: re: grass roots politics, antinukes Message-ID: <408@ucbtopaz.CC.Berkeley.ARPA> Date: Sat, 3-Mar-84 22:11:32 EST Article-I.D.: ucbtopaz.408 Posted: Sat Mar 3 22:11:32 1984 Date-Received: Mon, 5-Mar-84 00:25:48 EST Organization: Univ. of Calif., Berkeley CA USA Lines: 69 Rex (sanders?) recently wrote a couple of articles about his experience at Diablo, and commenting on some of the mail he received. He said that he'd received 7 replies to his original posting, and had replied to each. As he apparently missed my article (maybe he means 7 replies by personal electronic-mail?) I'm posting it again, prefaced by a remark on his latest articles. from sanders@menlo70.UUCP >>Mr. Sanders, if you are flamed for your actions, might it not >>be because a portion of the intelligent, ethical, educated people >>on the net thnk what you are doing is WRONG? (Keith Lofstrom) >You are entitle [sic] to your opinion - don't speak for others. Although I probably wouldn't use those words, he's speaking for me, too. Sam Hall, UCB ________________________________________________________________ (2nd posting) from Rex at menlo70!sanders: >In a few days, I will go down to the Diablo Canyon nuclear power >plant in central California and try to stop the workers from >getting to their jobs. >The people who are making a difference are the ones taking power >into their own hands, denying "the system" the power people have >been giving to the system for far too long. >This new way of making decisions and making social change has >transformed my life. Well, force and violence have their attractions, apparently. Since reason and logic can't seem to change peoples' minds, Rex & Co. are going to "stop the workers from getting to their jobs". In this case, it may even be questionable that reason or logic were ever attempted. Rex, are you thus disavowing any allegiance to the democratic process, or to the use of reason to persuade, as opposed to force? If I don't like your political beliefs, would you say that I'm morally justified in blocking your driveway on Election Day, in order to stop you from casting a "politically incorrect" vote? Please note that, as opposed to, say, Henry Thoreau, you are advocating using force against other people. If I recall correctly, there was an initiative in California a few years ago pertaining to nuclear power. The "anti-nuclear" position lost handily. You can't even claim to be "vigilantes", where the majority is being terrorized by a few. You seem to be saying that if you can't get the results that you want by using the ballot box, it's O.K. to use brute force. >For this, I will likely be arrested and sentenced to 4 days in >jail. I have never been arrested or put in jail before. Apparently, you recognize that using force against other citizens is not well thought of. Your tone, however, seems to indicate that you're getting some sort-of pleasure out of anticipating being arrested/put in jail: a pre-show enjoyment out of anticipation of being a "martyr"? a feeling that you'll have the esteem of your co-conspirators? something you'll be able to brag about (without really bragging, of course) during late nite rap sessions? Your thoughts/actions are to morality as Agent Orange is to trees. Sam Hall ucbvax!ucbtopaz!bitmap