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Peaceful GOP Protests Would Be More Meaningful
This is not heralding the arrival of the Ringling Brothers three-ring extravaganza, but a circus, if you will, of another kind. The Republican Party’s National Convention convenes Monday at Madison Square Garden. If you’re politically aware, you know the hulking pachyderm is the 130-year-old GOP symbol. (FYI, the donkey or jackass is the Democratic icon, which, to some conservatives and right-wingers, is quite appropriate.) Even before the conventioneers hit town, there’s been a storm of controversy surrounding the imminent get together from protesters’ rights to the speaker’s lineup at the four-day gala. Last week, instead of turning to one of its own or an upcoming star for the keynote speech next Wed-nesday, the party that scorns presidential candidate John Kerry for flip flops, zigzagged when it selected a Democrat to deliver the strategic speech to set the stage for the GOP nominee’s acceptance the next night! How’s that for strange bedfellows? In 1992, conservative Democrat Zell Miller, a first-term Georgia governor, was his party’s’ keynote speaker. Back then he proclaimed President Bush (the elder) “a timid man who hears only the voices of caution and the status quo,” adding, “Let’s face facts, George Bush just doesn’t get it…” Miller has been a Democrat in name only for the last decade. Since 1992, he’s drifted right, claiming his own party has gotten too liberal and “mastered the art of division and diversion.” A book he wrote several years ago is titled, “A National Party No More: The Conscience of a Conservative Democrat.” Guess he’d rather whine than switch! Miller supports George Bush’s reelection. Since he was elected — as a Democrat — four years ago, he has backed the president’s tax cuts and consistently votes with his Senate colleagues across the aisle rather than with his own party. In addition to focusing the national spotlight on a Democrat, the Republicans have also selected some non-traditional, but familiar, party members to speak at the renowned sports arena, including centrist Republicans like Rudy Giuliani, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Governor George Pataki and Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Meanwhile, outside the Garden, the streets of Manhattan will be filled with massive, diverse, peace-ful outpourings of dissent that are expected to range from traditional, vociferous marches and creative street theater to civil disobedience and anarchist diversions. As one group puts it, they’ll be protesting “the GOP’s agenda of war, greed, hate and lies in a spirit of nonviolence.” Hopefully, the largest group of demonstrators, United for Peace and Justice, which lost a court battle to stage a demonstration in Central Park after negotiating marching rights near the Garden then reneging, will adhere to its passive policy if they feel they’re intimidated by New York’s Finest. The group will begin with “an impassioned and legal march” past the Garden this Sunday to counter “the GOP’s destructive and divisive policies.” The last thing this city or the Democratic Party needs is a repeat of the ugly demonstrations that left blood on the streets during the infamous 1968 convention in Chicago when police cracked anti-war activists’ heads, tear gas filled the air and television cameras captured the graphic scenes. Those events doomed Hubert Humphrey’s candidacy and guaranteed Republican nominee Richard Nixon’s victory a few months later. The city has issued a number of permits to various groups that plan to demonstrate while the Re-publicans strut their stuff inside the Garden. In an attempt to keep things peaceful and prevent disruption of the convention while the whole world is watching the revitalized city, Mayor Bloomberg came up with an olive branch of sorts by offering protesters discounts at several popular cultural spots and restaurants if they wear a “peaceful political activist” button and play by the rules. To his credit, the mayor has not resorted to the oppressive, controversial fencing in of demonstrators that took place during the Democrat’s convention in Boston four weeks ago. However, the FBI said last week it “expects violence” from a few groups after admitting to infiltrating groups and monitoring activist web sites. Protesters should be given as much latitude as possible, as long as they follow guidelines outlined in the permits. More importantly, their message will ring true if they march with dignity and decorum. Even though the prevailing threat of terrorism justifies tightened security measures, it does not warrant curtailing civil rights. With any luck the events in New York City will bear that out. OOPS! Regarding last week’s column, I subsequently learned Iraq received an Olympic medal for weightlifting at the 1960 Rome summer games. This Week’s Attitude By Neil S. Friedman
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