Can someone help me find a protest?

[manitou]

I'm I child of the 60's and have never protested anything! I'd love to do so at this point in time re: the I can't breathe movement.

 

I live about 30 mile south of Youngstown, OH - I'm specifically trying to find a protest on 12/7, Sunday - should be a decent day weather-wise here. I'd like to find something in Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Youngstown, Weirton WV, Columbus, Cleveland - anything a reasonable driving distance away.

 

I'm a member of the NAACP but can't find anything on their national website, although I do have an email in to them.

 

I know if there's anything organized for Sunday, it would be reflected on Twitter. I just don't know anything about Twitter - I get on there and get all confused. I'm a techno-dinosaur.

 

Can anyone help? I'd be really grateful.

 

Barbara

[GreytoWhite]

Sorry, wish I could. Typically all the protests I hear of are by word of mouth from my poetry friends or it's announced on the local news.

[manitou]

Sorry, wish I could. Typically all the protests I hear of are by word of mouth from my poetry friends or it's announced on the local news.

Thanks, GreytoWhite - yes, there in the Sacramento / Bay area I would think it would be easy to find them. But I'm pretty remote here - in bubba-land, in fact. Not a lot of interest around here. I suppose I could just drive an hour into Pittsburgh tomorrow and hope that one pops up. Or I could walk around with a sign that says I Can't Breathe, in which someone would probably come up behind me and give me the Heimlich maneuver.

[BaguaKicksAss]

Check facebook. These folks also list protests in each area, even when not related to their main thing: http://www.march-against-monsanto.com/

[manitou]

Thanks, BKA - I don't know how to do Facebook either, although someone did set up an account for me, I've never used it. I'll click on your link. And maybe I'll stick my toe into Facebook, but it makes my hands tremble just thinking about it

[Vmarco]

I'm I child of the 60's and have never protested anything! Barbara

Rallying for peace,...is war.

 

 

"If you want to awaken all of humanity, then awaken all of your self." Lao Tzu

Edited December 7, 2014 by Vmarco

[manitou]

It actually does change things over here, Vmarco - they have to listen eventually.

[Vmarco]

It actually does change things over here, Vmarco - they have to listen eventually.

 

Your Nationalism is noted. Yes,...war does appear to change things....from one atrocity, to a more palatable atrocity. Only truth can end change.

[idiot_stimpy]

Manitou, I don't understand your reasoning to protest. Instead of holding deep convictions about something then deciding to protest, you are deciding to protest for the sake of protest itself?

 

Why do you feel the need to protest before knowing what you're protesting about?

 

Have you ever been ordered to a protest and been on the other side?

[Vmarco]

Manitou, I don't understand your reasoning to protest. Instead of holding deep convictions about something then deciding to protest, you are deciding to protest for the sake of protest itself?

 

I should be an expert in protesting because of deep convictions,...from Vietnam protest in Wash DC in the early 70's, to fighting authoritarian Austin Cops,...years and years attempting to right wrongs,...and never once (after thousands of hours, and thousands of dollars) getting any satisfaction.

 

Even Buddha appeared to leave because attempts to uncover truth were futile. Buddha purportedly said that he discovered something profound and luminous beyond all concepts. He tried to communicate that something with words, but few understood.

 

Very few will stand on the shoulders of the enlightened,...these are times of self-centeredness. Even the rallying for peace is self-centered,...the desire to right wrongs, or obliterate all bullies, pivots from ego.

 

The only genuine protest or activity to show strong disapproval, is remonstrating underlying falsity,...that is to say,...the core of the falsity one desires to protest.

[manitou]

I've decided what I'm going to do, and it will get it off my chest. I'm going to the Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh - the scene of previous peaceful protests - and just stand there (close to the ladies' room) with a sign that says WE ARE ALL ONE.

 

Perhaps that will remonstrate the underlying falsity.

[manitou]

Manitou, I don't understand your reasoning to protest. Instead of holding deep convictions about something then deciding to protest, you are deciding to protest for the sake of protest itself?

 

Why do you feel the need to protest before knowing what you're protesting about?

 

Have you ever been ordered to a protest and been on the other side?

 

 

Yes I have, Stimpy. I've worked the other side as a cop.

 

My motives are selfish. It is a step in the direction of weeding out any residual bigotry that may remain within my own heart. For too long I 'was' the white person with their foot on the neck of the black man to keep him down. This is something I feel compelled to do. I feel that the reason the white folks in this country still do their best to keep the black man down is because of the lurking karma that has been unpaid for all the horrors that were done to them. Fear is at the base, fear that the black race will rise up and give us our due. My own ancestors built slave trading ships in Massachusetts in the 1700's, and I suspect I am acting on their behalf as well.

 

I feel that 'We are all One' is neutral in tone, and does get to the underlying. And yet, within the context of everything that's going on, it may reach one or two within this context.

Edited December 7, 2014 by manitou

[Brian]

I like this approach and this message, manitou.

 

_/\_

[Michael Sternbach]

I think that you, having been a representative of law and order, you need to experience what it's like to be on the other side. Astrologically speaking, you were formerly manifesting Saturn's energy, now you're going Uranian. Uranus tends to break up overly rigid and obstructive structures. Rather than breaking windows and demolishing cars, you want to do it in a constructive way. Kudos to you, and good luck.

[idiot_stimpy]

You're not your past

[Michael Sternbach]

You're not your past

 

Your past to a significant degree made you what you are as a personality. You need to understand and integrate certain themes at different times in your life. Better you do it consciously than in unreflected ways.

[thelerner]

I like this approach and this message, manitou.

 

_/\_

exactly, balance. You'll be a good reflection out there, for all sides. Hope it goes well. Let us know.

good luck, bring cookies.

 

really, few things allow you to bond faster and humanize people then giving a bit of food or candy.

 

Edited December 7, 2014 by thelerner

[Vmarco]

I've decided what I'm going to do, and it will get it off my chest. I'm going to the Ross Park Mall in Pittsburgh - the scene of previous peaceful protests - and just stand there (close to the ladies' room) with a sign that says WE ARE ALL ONE.

 

Perhaps that will remonstrate the underlying falsity.

"we are all one" is merely a concept,...until one can recognize that "I am the One"...and as there is only one, One,...and no actual "we," no Other, because all is One, then there is a shift.

 

So,...in the mall,...by the Ladies Room,...try singing.

 

To the tune of We Are the World,...sing something like:

 

I am the One, I am the certain,

I make the World a brighter day

As I start giving, all will be giving

The choice is recognizing what we're making

We're uncovering our real lives

thus true we'll make a better day

The I that's you and me

[manitou]

So we did it! It was actually a wonderful experience! First of all, the Mall that we went to were tolerant of protestors yesterday - but unbeknownst to us there had been an article in the Pittsburgh paper that protesters wouldn't be welcome today. So we didn't know we weren't supposed to be there doing that.

 

But there we were - Apache Joe on his geezer-scooter wearing his Geronimo 'Fighting Terrorism Since 1492' t-shirt, and both of us going slowly around the mall, upstairs and downstairs, with our We Are All One signs - they were just small signs.

 

The amazing thing was the different reactions we got! Some people would refuse to look at the signs, or look quickly away with their noses in the air. Other times, we'd get big smiles or thumbs up. But the best part was when I was holding my sign in the line at the Starbucks kiosk, and there was a 5 year old girl being held by her mother. The little girl asked me "Why are you holding that sign?", and before I could say anything, her mom said "Remember what we were talking about yesterday? That no matter if you're big or small, fat or skinny, or what color your skin is....we are all equal". Then the little girl asked me if she could hold the sign, and I gave it to her. She held it up for everyone to see. It was adorable!

 

Well, we were escorted out by Security about two hours after we got there. The mall cop was a bit 'in your face' when he first approached us, but by the time he had escorted us out to the car, we were all laughing about things, and actually had a very nice conversation about how he too (like Joe) had neuropathy, and couldn't feel anything in his lower legs.

 

And then - to top the day off - our GPS took us through the back roads to Pittsburgh and on the way back, we drove through a few Amish towns which I didn't know were even there - we were dodging a few horse and carriages, I imagine because they were coming back from church.

 

A wonderful day!

 

OK - now I'm back on my silk cushion, for any non-activists that may be reading this,

Edited December 7, 2014 by manitou

[Vmarco]

OK - now I'm back on my silk cushion, for any non-activists that may be reading this,

 

Oh,...you could have brought your silk cushion, and detoured it through High View, WV.

[thelerner]

the best part was when I was holding my sign in the line at the Starbucks kiosk, and there was a 5 year old girl being held by her mother. The little girl asked me "Why are you holding that sign?", and before I could say anything, her mom said "Remember what we were talking about yesterday? That no matter if you're big or small, fat or skinny, or what color your skin is....we are all equal". Then the little girl asked me if she could hold the sign, and I gave it to her. She held it up for everyone to see. It was adorable!

Nice

perhaps a future rebel/protester is born.

 

To me, the 'side' your on is less important then your wah; the air around you, what you project. Is it aching for a fight or is it looking for a solution? Separating or seeing that we're in this together? Winning over a 5 year old is nice but your approach was so good it even won over the surly security guards.

[manitou]

Nice

perhaps a future rebel/protester is born.

 

To me, the 'side' your on is less important then your wah; the air around you, what you project. Is it aching for a fight or is it looking for a solution? Separating or seeing that we're in this together? Winning over a 5 year old is nice but your approach was so good it even won over the surly security guards.

Thank you, Lerner. No, it isn't about sides at all. We are all One - your nice remark made my heart melt.