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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
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