An experimental, high tech Army recruitment center in Philadelphia has been targeted for protest by an anti-war activist group.
According to a post on the website of After Downing Street, the protest is being planned for the Army Experience Center at the Franklin Mills Mall on the afternoon of Saturday, May 2nd at 2:00 P.M. The group also quite openly details how the protest will be staged:
Please join us... show up early at the mall and spend some time shopping... Shopping bags are an excellent decoy. (The cops will suspect everyone with a shopping bag!) At 2:00 pm people will come out of the woodwork and converge on the Army Experience Center... We think it's possible for hundreds of us to arrive at the mall without being detected. And it is a free country, sort of...
We can enter the Army Experience Center and cause a great big fuss at 2:00 pm until we're asked to leave and then we can take our time to get out. We'll go to peacefully and artistically express our indignation at this abomination. Some are planning on singing. Some will unfurl banners, some will chant and some will cry. There's talk of a die-in. We are people of peace. We're nonviolent. The Army is Shock and Awe, Abu Ghraib, recruiting lies, a thousand rapes, and cool video games.
Immediately after the action, we have a location picked out for a demonstration on public property -- on the street -- right outside of Franklin Mills Mall where we have the "right" to peacefully assemble.
We demand the Army close up shop at Franklin Mills Mall and we're determined to block the expansion of this monstrosity in malls across the nation...
After Downing Street describes itself as "a nonpartisan coalition of over 200 veterans groups, peace groups, and political activist groups that has worked since May 2005 to pressure both Congress and the media to investigate whether President Bush has committed impeachable offenses in connection with the Iraq war."
The Army's use of interactive games and exhibits for recruitment purposes has spurred a variety of protests in recent times. The practice has come in for some negative political attention, as well. Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) recently urged the elimination of funding for the Virtual Army Experience, a traveling recruitment exhibit which the military takes to county fairs and other large-scale public events.
GP: As the protest location is fairly local to GamePolitics HQ, we hope to provide live coverage.
Comments
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Ooooooh okay thank you that clears up the statement quite a bit. Not at all what I was thinking it meant.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Even if they "got rid" of the army there will still be war, its human nature to fight.
http://www.magicinkgaming.com/
http://www.killatia.com/
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Honestly, I don't know if I want to say its our nature to fight. I think its more along the lines of "nature to live". Take that to its logical extension, and it becomes, "nature to preserve our livelihood". For that small reason, people will fight/kill one another, in an effort to keep themselves and friends/family alive and happy.
To say that its our nature to fight, just goes a little too far in my mind, as it suggests that we'll never stop killing one another. Honestly, (and this is a tall order, I know) if you could provide all the fundamental needs for everyone, I don't think there would be significant fighting/killing beyond the few mentally deranged people that do so.
Unless your just saying that its in mans nature to be competitive, because it is. We'll always argue and compete, particularly so because its healthy for the overally race, but I don't think its in our nature to kill one another.
Lol, I think its kind of funny I'm saying this. I'm not exactly reknown amongst my friends for my faith in the human race/character, but all the same I'd like to think a little idealistically in this case.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Yes that is a little unrealistically idealistic.
Let’s say that you somehow could provide "all the fundamental needs for everyone" people would still fight over the nonessentials, the luxuries. People steal from others who have more all the time and not stuff like bread, eggs and milk. They steal luxury items like jewelry, electronics and cars.
Would you suggest that if all luxuries were provided for then people would not fight? Perhaps, for a while, but the population would explode and resources would not be sufficient to continue to provide all things for all people. Eventually people would fight over recourses or all would have to do with less, and recorded human history doesn't seem to favor the idea that people will just do with less.
The "nature to live" that you refer to could also be called self-interest. And self-interest would dictate that if it comes down to you or them you will look out for yourself (or your loved ones... not other's loved ones, yours). Human nature may not be to fight, but it is selfish. And selfishness will lead to fighting at some point.
Unfortunately, I think time and history has shown that your lack of faith in the "human race/character" is probably well founded. I'm not saying people don't do the right thing, surely many do, but they are susceptible to selfishness as well. I guess what I'm saying is that it's good to help others but it would be unwise to expect them to do the same.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Ya sorry like I said lack of sleep, the was intended to be what they would, naievly, think rather than what would actually happen. I am aware of... ya... just rambling now. People fight, they always will.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
My favorite part is that they call themselves nonviolent, but still feel the need to have shopping bags for decoy purposes, wear not easy to identify clothing, and avoid grouping together before the protest. Not exactly hallmarks of people planning on being peaceable.
Well, that part and that their about page still has the line about President Bush and impeachable offenses.
-Gray17
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Well, that's of course because they are staging a protest in a place that they have no right to protest in, from what I understand. If they aren't careful, they won't even make it in.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center in
You're right about them being like PETA: Spoilt little fuck-wits so high on themselves they think they are the only voice the 'people' should have speaking for them
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center in
Recruiters recruit, whingers whinge, the whole tedious cycle continues....
Although I am curious as to why the group are apparantly named after our British street that is synonymous with British politics.
EDIT: Looking at some of those group names, I wouldn;t have been surprised to see the Peoples Front, Popular Front, and Peoples Popular Front of Judea....SPLITTERS!!!!
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I LIKE the fence. I get 2 groups to laugh at then.
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Re: Large Scale Protest Planned for Army Video Game Center ...
Just as I made a Futurama reference in another thread, you top me with a Monty Python one. Well played, good sir. Well played.