2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumPhiladelphia Freedom Summer
For centuries kings, priests, feudal lords, industrial bosses, and parents have insisted that obedience is a virtue and that disobedience is a vice. In order to introduce another point of view, let us set against this position the following statement: human history began with an act of disobedience, and it is not unlikely that it will be terminated by an act of obedience.
The prophets, in their messianic concept, confirmed the idea that man had been right in disobeying; that he had not been corrupted by his sin, but freed from the fetters of pre-human harmony. For the prophets, history is the place where man becomes human; during its unfolding he develops his powers of reason and of love until he creates a new harmony between himself, his fellow man, and nature.
-- Erich Fromm; On Disobedience: Why Freedom Means Saying No to Power; 1963.
The dissension within the Democratic Party in 2016 has created a divide of historic proportions. As the national convention approaches, both the Clinton and Sanders campaigns believe that they have proven that their candidate has earned the right to be the partys nominee for this falls election. The hostility between the two campaigns has apparently created a level of emotion that prevents any possibility of finding common ground before the convention in late July.
Thus, it begs the question: will it be possible for the Democratic Party to hold together for the November election?
The historic example that some are eager to compare 2016 to is the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. This has been especially true since the events in Nevada. Several of the establishment Democrats engaged in Chicken Little, knee-jerk response, lying about chairs being thrown, and claiming they feared for their safety. The corporate media, being firmly in the Clinton camp, has been all to eager to breathlessly report that the Sanders campaign is attempting to bring down the sky.
There are unconfirmed reports that suggest that other forces -- not from either campaign -- may be attempting to increase the sense of paranoia, by making threatening phone calls to an establishment party official. If true, Im confident that the police will soon identify and hold that person responsible. Clearly, such behavior -- if it happened -- is unacceptable.
It is true that there are ingredients that could combine for a convention as ugly and brutal as Chicago. It would be a shame if that happens. While events from Chicago are an important chapter in our history, it is not because what happened in that city, or the results, were positive. Quite the opposite: it was a display of the authoritarian violence unleashed upon people who were simply exercising their constitutional rights.
Perhaps a better model for Philadelphia to follow would be the 1964 convention in Atlantic City. An important group of Democrats had created the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party, to challenge the gross violations of party rules by the establishment in their state. Now, there were very real tensions leading up to this. Earlier in the year, while the MFDP had been making its plans, James Forman, of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, had said, If we cant sit at the table, lets knock the fucking legs off. (See the PBS series, Eyes on the Prize.) And the MFDP was in close contact with Minister Malcolm X that summer.
This made the Democratic Partys establishment mighty nervous. The establishment attempted to discourage the MFDP from coming to Atlantic City, despite the fact that they had every right to. In fact, were the partys rules followed, they would have been seated and recognized as the legitimate representatives of their state. They had won, fair and square, while the state establishment had cheated to try to deny them their voice.
The MFDP said No to power. They were coming to the Democratic National Convention. They refused to accept the establishments outright lies, or their promises for a rosy, ill-defined future voice in the party. Instead, they demanded power. This scared both President Lyndon Johnson and VP Hubert Humphrey -- two politicians that Hillary Clinton compared herself to in the 2008 primaries.
When the establishments lies did not get the intended results, they resorted to the old reliable tactics of fear and guilt. The MFDP could be responsible for electing that mad man Barry Goldwater, if they showed up in Atlantic City. But the MFDP was beyond fear: they didnt feel that stick. They came to Atlantic City by the bus loads. They exercised militant non-violence. They gained power. And they made progress.
Now, think about all the states that Bernie Sanders has won this year. Think about how many people have been dedicated activists in the Sanders revolution. Yet the establishment is paranoid that we plan on attending the convention in Philadelphia! They have attempted to make the same false promises -- also known as lies -- to us as their counterparts made to the MFDP. Since that hasnt worked, they resorted to fear and guilt, talking about Donald Trump. That doesnt cut it: if Hillary cant beat Trump, then we are definitely correct that the establishment is wrong to select her as the nominee.
We are coming to Philadelphia. You have no reason to fear us. Lets all conduct ourselves in a civilized manner.
bigtree
(86,016 posts)...the convention.
Coming to the convention to petition for rights or redress is one thing, promising to disrupt our convention proceedings, before anyone has even presented any grievance to the party officials involved is another, if true.
And let's not start exaggerating the parallel between black petitioners protesting poll taxes, literacy tests and comprehension tests administered by whites, and other means to prevent blacks from registering and voting, and disputes with state parties and their process of advancing delegates to the convention.
The convention will have a democratic process for establishing its agenda and platform. I full expect the committee which decides all of that will be as evenly matched as the Nevada credentials committee which was comprised of 5 Sanders reps and 5 Clinton reps.
If people want to come to the convention to participate in that Democratic process they'll be welcomed, if the come to disrupt that process in an epic pout, they may well find themselves outside of the gathering of Democrats. Those protests should not be designed to pose a threat to safety or to impede other Democrats from attending the forums and events.
So, hopefully, everyone will behave responsibly. The party is not inexperienced in making certain its deliberative process isn't disrupted, and no one should be under any delusion that violent or disruptive behavior will be tolerated inside of the event, or outside, for that matter. This isn't the modern Democratic party's first rodeo.
---the Shadow
Demsrule86
(68,788 posts)three hots and a cot awaiting these spoiled pampered BSSers.
bigtree
(86,016 posts)...and provide that access to the convention isn't disrupted.
I'm more inclined to rely on the comity of protestors than expecting sensitivity and accommodation from police.
Just like in Nevada...the Bernie people are looking for trouble in my opinion. The only hope is if Bernie concedes and endorses before the convention. They are going there to disrupt...have said...so. I have protested. I have been arrested at protests...but I do not vandalize nor do I threaten people...completely non-violent. They get out of hand, they deserve to be arrested. They ruin it for the rest of us.
pinebox
(5,761 posts)Really? You honestly believe that?
Tell us, how are Bernie supporters pampered and spoiled when they are swimming in $100k of student loan debt.
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)H2O Man
(73,692 posts)Even though some are "warning" us about lions and tigers and bears! Oh my!
hootinholler
(26,449 posts)Nemo Me Impune Lacessit seems to be stubborn in the DNA.
HUZZAH! There's ratfuckery afoot! Tally Ho and HUZZAH!
Perhaps a wee faery behind the curtain as well.
mmonk
(52,589 posts)msanthrope
(37,549 posts)in place for the Papal visit. It will be the pretty much the same.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)security protocols look like. This community lacks all understanding of such practices. Because of that lack of understanding, this community is regularly deceived by persons of malicious intention. To me it is getting boring to watch.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)I expect no less during the DNC.
The nearest residential neighborhood to the stadium is not a neighborhood I would protest in or fuck with.
H2O Man
(73,692 posts)As I've stated on earlier OPs, I have family in Philadelphia, and am able to stay there. My cousin knows Philly quite well. She can get me into the convention. (In fact, she could have gotten me in to see the Pope last year. Irish-Catholic on my father's side.)
It's fair to say that no residential neighborhood is going to want demonstrators coming to disrupt their streets. And some would be less welcoming than others.
Also, while there are non-violent organizations planning the rally, it's certain that the police are aware that other groups often look to exploit non-violent demonstrations. This is a factor that has to be taken into account.
msanthrope
(37,549 posts)antigop
(12,778 posts)Last edited Fri May 20, 2016, 11:05 PM - Edit history (1)
Oh, that's EXACTLY what's going to happen.
The stage is being set. The media frenzy/hysteria over what didn't happen in Nevada is an attempt to paint Bernie supporters as violent, out of control, and dangerous.
Outside groups will cause problems and Bernie and his supporters will get blamed.
Reminds me of union-busting techniques...
brooklynite
(94,950 posts)It'll be in South Philly by the stadiums (in Cahrlotee it wa as three block perimeter)
I suspect the Bernie Brigade will have permits to march on the Parkway, protest at Independence Hall, and bunk down in Franklin Square (no hotel rooms).
eastwestdem
(1,220 posts)They need to encourage Hillary supporters who are not delegates to stay far away.
If the only people there protesting outside the convention are Sanders folks, it will be easier to 1)control them, 2)have the DNC give the local police instructions on how to handle them and 3) arrange good media coverage of any violence to use against them.
This could actually be a huge win for Hillary in showing that she was right all long, and that she and her followers have taken the high road...all in front of a national audience. It will serve to squelch the Sanders movement for many years to come.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)guess what, that is what happened in '68
jpmonk91
(290 posts)Also there are many other conventions were the police were violent. Amy Goodman was even arrested at one I think.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)and while ours have remained relatively peaceful, in the recent past, we always have that in the back of our minds
jpmonk91
(290 posts)The police and the dnc were completely out of line.
timmymoff
(1,947 posts)You are already trying to spin an action that hasn't happened? Absolutely amazing, you would've been Benedict Arnold without the good stuff. Kind of odd someone who is for democracy and things looks for ways to " control them" your words. I am kind of ashamed I belong to a party that has supporters like yourself.
hollowdweller
(4,229 posts)H2O Man
(73,692 posts)jpmonk91
(290 posts)My advice to HRC supporters is to please have the courage to dream higher.
To me this quote sums up our revolution for Bernie:
Here's the thing, kid: We don't get to choose how we start in this life. Real 'greatness' is what you do with the hand you're dealt."
Victor Sullivan to Nathan Drake
We Bernie Supporters have every right to stand up for ourselves especially when we keep getting bullied.
nadinbrzezinski
(154,021 posts)that the first response to this was fear... TERRA!
I will be watching,
Pro tip kids, do not rely on CNN. Anybody intends to stream? Give me a holler.
ProgressiveEconomist
(5,818 posts)who want to riot--certainly NOT civil rights workers. How Orwellian.
highprincipleswork
(3,111 posts)Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)Zorra
(27,670 posts)Like four lean hounds the lighthouse keep
Wildflower seed on the sand and wind
May the four winds blow you home again.
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)(from the man himself: )
the year after my son was born and the
year before the American Bicentennial.
Both facts are entirely relevant. The
allusion to the Liberty Bell and the
situation of the Philadelphia Congress
in the hometown of Ben Franklin has not
gone unnoticed by other commentators.
This song is a birthday wish both for
my son and for my country, each young
and subject to the winds of vicissitude.
Individual and collective freedom,
liberty, conscience, all that is conjured
by those concepts, is suggested
in the image of the tolling bell.
Bluenorthwest
(45,319 posts)and we were not far from the convention. The adults would have been and had been supporting Bobby but he'd been murdered. The adults, they were decidedly not Hippies or Yippees, they were working class, middle aged and really hated Nixon.
It was the conduct of the authorities toward the protesters and perhaps even more toward the press that made those adults furious at the Party, at Hubert, at Daley, Chicago the Police and Richard Nixon. They were pissed off at the United States for the first time probably ever. WW2 Veterans. Their wives. I remember seeing a TV reporter I recognized being assaulted by the police on air. That's when the elders really lost it. That's when the Party lost them. That night, they all knew Nixon would be elected. I thought they were being hugely cynical. I was but a boy and know better now.
Of course all of those relatives showed up in November and voted against Nixon to no avail, save for one and that's a whole different story.
jpmonk91
(290 posts)About progressivism
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1280199775
Response to H2O Man (Original post)
rjsquirrel This message was self-deleted by its author.
barrow-wight
(744 posts)Uncle Joe
(58,524 posts)Thanks for the thread, H2O Man.