Final Blog Post!

After going back through what I originally thought a protest was, I have come to the conclusion that there is only one thing I would change in my original analysis and a couple things I would add. I still agree that a protest can happen anytime someone discontented with the circumstances around him or her takes the initiative to stand up for what they believe in to try to make a difference. But here, I would like to add that it doesn’t have to be something you are unhappy with, it can be something you are proud of, or want to encourage others to believe.

I also still believe that a protest can consist of one person or as many as thousands. My original example of a protest consisting of one person is the monk who lit himself on fire during Vietnam. This is still the first and most effective single person protest that comes to my mind, however, after this semester I have seen that there are others. Now, I think of the punk scene, all this takes is one person dressing differently to make a statement and stand out from the norm.

After looking through all the protests from PETA, to the guerilla girls, to civil rights activists I do want to take back one statement I made. In my original analysis I said “I believe most effective protests have large numbers of supporters,” now I believe that the most effective protests have not a large number of supporters, although that is helpful, but a dedicated and ACTIVE group of supporters. Anyone can agree with a cause, however, if there is no action no changes will be made. Numbers do help in garnering media attention, but that can only go so far.

One other point I would like to add to my original analysis is that almost anything can be made into a protest. The decisions we make everyday say something about what we believe. From African Americans in the civil rights movement deciding enough is enough with discrimination, to a comedic talk show host like Jon Stewart who talks about politics everyday. Even the artwork we see on the streets or in museums and the music we listen to on the radio can be protesting something. Most things have a meaning and are done for a reason, which means that quite often they are “protesting” something

"For What It's Worth"

Buffalo Springfield

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=30W3iRL48gQ&feature=related

"There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away
We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down"



I chose “For What It’s Worth” by Buffalo Springfield, a protest song written during the Vietnam War. I really like this protest song because of the message it makes. It does not bash anyone or send out any hate messages. All it does is propose some really good questions that I believe we should ask ourselves more often. Like asking us to look at our surroundings and questions the decisions being made, in particular, those by our government. This applies to us today just as it did during Vietnam. Too often people just accept what is going on and trust those with power just because of their status. In particular I really like the lines “Nobody's right if everybody's wrong, Young people speaking their minds, Getting so much resistance from behind, I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound, Everybody look what's going down.” The whole song just really makes a lot of sense, and is powerful to me because it’s a peaceful protest song that really brings up good points.

Protest songs, in general, really are not that effective when it comes to really getting a message across or getting action. This is because they are often catchy and fun to sing, but messages are hard to read or understand. I do, however, feel that they can be effective in drawing up a lot of emotion in people if the message is clear and the music is good. Music can be a powerful tool when it comes to drawing peoples emotions and feelings about certain topics. I believe the song by Buffalo Springs is effective because it raises awareness about what the artist’s point they wanted to make: he felt that people needed to raise more questions about what was going on during the Vietnam War when so many young men were being drafted and sent to fight a war that seem to have no end or a good reason for the US to be there.

With Friends Like These...

Ann Coulter and Michael Moore are from extreme sides of the political spectrum and speak up about what they believe. I definitely consider both individuals to be protesters in their own ways.

Ann Coulter is an extreme republican who is a famous writer on political topics. I consider her a protester, because whether or not you agree with what she says or how she says it, she definitely takes a stance on many political issues and voices her opinions loud and clear. She has written books, keeps a blog online, has written various political columns, and seems to never turn down a chance to be on TV or radio so her voice is heard. I believe that Ann Coulter has more so created a character that many people either love or hate and although she does make many points that people could agree with, I believe a lot of what she says is for publicity purposes and ensuring that her name will not fade out of the spot light any time soon. So although she is a protestor, she is at the same time somewhat of an actor almost who is craving media attention (which is not necessarily wrong seeing as she is an author and wants her books to sale).

Michael Moore is also absolutely a protester. Through his many documentaries he has made it clear that he is an extreme democrat, and has voiced his opinions, like Ann on many different topics. His documentaries have depicted many different issues today in a way that he sees fit. I believe both Coulter and Moore have used the mass media and their works to disseminate information into the public that they deem important, therefore they both are active protesters. I believe the American public supports their work because some people believe with what they have to say and others find them entertaining. I believe Moore and Coulter have created these personas of celebrity status that gives them not only the means to communicate with mass amounts of people, but also persuade them, and let them make money while they do so. One thing I do want to make clear however, is that both individuals are most “persuasive” to those who already agree with them; therefore preach to the choir rather then to who they want to convert.

Ann Coulter

Ann Coulter’s style of argument is different from that of most conservative Republicans. I do not believe she is very good at debating, at least by scholarly terms, but her tactics and style do benefit her to the point that they have generated a ton of publicity for her and more importantly her books. In the clips we view she often doesn’t answer the question at hand, resorts to personal attacks, takes things out of context, and becomes very defensive when people criticize her work. Because of all of these fallacies she tends to not make her point very clear and also deter the prospect of those who don’t agree with her from ever listening or respecting what she has to say. All of this also leads to her losing some of her ethos because of the irrational statements she makes, like attacking Hillary’s legs, saying that she is the reason that Edwards raised some of the money he did, and other brash statements like these. I definitely believe that she preaches to the choir, and does not and will not convert anyone who doesn’t agree with her. I do not find her very persuasive at all, but I do find her charismatic and interesting to watch. I believe that she has formed a character for the media to follow and talk about, and may not truly always believe what she is saying. There is no doubt in my mind that she know how out there and extreme she is. But you have to remember that she is an author, that she wants to make money, and as the saying goes… “no publicity is bad publicity.” People know who she is, know what she represents, and most importantly know that she has 5 books out there, which puts her name in the media and cash in her pocket. Ann Coulter is a person of celebrity status, and although she may not always make sense and she can be very offensive, people know who she is, some know what she stands for, and she does make other conservative republicans look a little less crazy.