Demonstrating Wisely.
Recently there has been what seems to be a crackdown on protests. While protests or gatherings of this kind do require certain conformities in the interest of safety and legality, the issue of free speech should not be lost to bureaucracy. Free speech is important and a recent demonstration in London against what is taking place in Gaza has been one more in a line of what appears to be unwise authoritarianism.
Unfortunately the present government has made it possible to be criminally prosecuted by showing any support or association to a legitimate cause. Any sign of public backing for the name of a place that was being displayed on posters has become a contentious dispute of its own. Being labelled violent or anti a certain religion has become a weapon wielded by some and it serves to cause disarray and divert attention. It does not enable people to have free speech or feel that they have a right to speak out for a whole nation of civilians who are being violated.
Many people may be of the mind that using a steam roller to crack a nut is not the best way of treating the British public. The Home Secretary gave an interview in which she stated if the general public knew what plans this organisation had they would have a totally different idea of the aims and support the government in its action. Meanwhile in Gaza six members of the press have been murdered and left to be the latest victims of what has become a brutal authoritarian and extremist rule. It does not look proportionate or in the interest of what matters.
Given the atrocities and unfair events that are happening across the world, many feel that they have to show opposition to what is taking place. I think it is important not to lose sight of what the aim is and why people have been moved to protest. Of course assessing actions are imperative and given the recent protest, the law enforcement seemed to far outweigh any unrest. For that reason, a large number were arrested even though all they had been doing was carrying signs and collating to show their distress for a dire humanitarian situation. It is the responsibility of the governing body to tell the public clearly why measures are being taken and listen to concerns. It appears as if neither of these aims are being fully met, allowing for messages not to correlate with action or representation.
Demonstrations have been important and integral throughout history. It is through people power that policies have been shifted, actions avoided and lives saved. I think it is fair to say that many people would like action for Palestine but if the name is a legal bureaucratic challenge, it could possibly be circumvented by picking a name that reflects demonstrators views and circumnavigates the controversy, such as Palestine hope. The name has a wide scope of meaning. I hope for Palestine people in Gaza there is a much better prospect than the proposed full occupation and what that entails. I hope for humanity there is a far more positive way forward.
There are many areas wherein protests done wisely can work. Lobbying for change, improvements and for people in power to listen does take some people power. At the moment, neither mass protests in Israel or the UK seem to have struck those in rule but they have with the hearts of the public. People are what matters and protests can be a vehicle for other people to think and assess.
Unfortunately the present government has made it possible to be criminally prosecuted by showing any support or association to a legitimate cause. Any sign of public backing for the name of a place that was being displayed on posters has become a contentious dispute of its own. Being labelled violent or anti a certain religion has become a weapon wielded by some and it serves to cause disarray and divert attention. It does not enable people to have free speech or feel that they have a right to speak out for a whole nation of civilians who are being violated.
Many people may be of the mind that using a steam roller to crack a nut is not the best way of treating the British public. The Home Secretary gave an interview in which she stated if the general public knew what plans this organisation had they would have a totally different idea of the aims and support the government in its action. Meanwhile in Gaza six members of the press have been murdered and left to be the latest victims of what has become a brutal authoritarian and extremist rule. It does not look proportionate or in the interest of what matters.
Given the atrocities and unfair events that are happening across the world, many feel that they have to show opposition to what is taking place. I think it is important not to lose sight of what the aim is and why people have been moved to protest. Of course assessing actions are imperative and given the recent protest, the law enforcement seemed to far outweigh any unrest. For that reason, a large number were arrested even though all they had been doing was carrying signs and collating to show their distress for a dire humanitarian situation. It is the responsibility of the governing body to tell the public clearly why measures are being taken and listen to concerns. It appears as if neither of these aims are being fully met, allowing for messages not to correlate with action or representation.
Demonstrations have been important and integral throughout history. It is through people power that policies have been shifted, actions avoided and lives saved. I think it is fair to say that many people would like action for Palestine but if the name is a legal bureaucratic challenge, it could possibly be circumvented by picking a name that reflects demonstrators views and circumnavigates the controversy, such as Palestine hope. The name has a wide scope of meaning. I hope for Palestine people in Gaza there is a much better prospect than the proposed full occupation and what that entails. I hope for humanity there is a far more positive way forward.
There are many areas wherein protests done wisely can work. Lobbying for change, improvements and for people in power to listen does take some people power. At the moment, neither mass protests in Israel or the UK seem to have struck those in rule but they have with the hearts of the public. People are what matters and protests can be a vehicle for other people to think and assess.
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