Might I offer the following suggestions for your graduation protest.
- Do not walk out of the ceremony, but stay seated when Pres. Bush is
announced.
- When he begins to talk, TURN AROUND on your seats and face the other
direction, so your back is to the President. Stay that way throughout
the speech.
- When you turn around, have a friend place a sticker or sign on your
back (or do it yourself). Choose your message, including the bumper
stickers that say "Who Would Jesus Bomb?". You might make your own
sign and tape it to your back (and maybe cap, etc). Such as: "Do not
Hijack our religion for your own agenda", "Christianity is compassion,
not war", "President Bush has no compassion", "Help the Poor, not
Corporations." Things like that.
- I urge you NOT to wear your sign / sticker when you enter. Carry it
with you UNDER your robe until the President speaks. The way the
Secret Service has been acting, anything less may get you kicked out.
- Finally, you might consider a chant after he finishes speaking.
- Also, be sure to bring a digital camera and record the protest!
Post the pictures on dailykos.com and anywhere else you can find.
E-mail them to your senators.
- Best of all, GOOD LUCK!
What is that historical significance? What do black or white armbands
symbolize? And if I don't know what it is, will President Bush (jusk
kidding... maybe.)?
White armbands are to do with the armabnds worn by Jews in the Nazi
concentration camps. They used white and yellow, though theirs had the
star of David on it. The traditional interpretation of this combines
both the Jews' futile situation at the time, and just the tragedy of
their situation and history during that time. It had become an anti-war
symbol to a certain extent, but at least a symbol of innocence and
injustice.
The black armband is a band of mourning of innocent death. It had been
used to protest the violence of war in terms of death tolls, especially
unknown death tolls on "the opposite side."
Red armbands are used to protest violence, murder, &c. and have been
used for similar protest means.
This site should be helpful, in general, not necessarily concerning
armbands.
http://www.turnyourbackonbush.com/
It was conceived by people in our exact situation, though not
necessarily with our same motivation, which considering that one need
not be against Bush to protest his presence at graduation.
In thinking more and more, I doubt that anyone will really be able to
pull much off in terms of armbands, stickers, &c. I think that physical
protest (turning backs, bowing heads, not standing, walking out) are
the best bet.
In terms of those outside the event (like me, since I opted not to
attend), I'm afraid that we won't be allowed on campus at all, and
Calvin is perfectly situated with private property surrounding so that
we will have basically no place to be. I may, for those outside, switch
venues for protesting to downtown. I think that that may have larger
appeal, and be less disruptive to Calvin. Any thoughts on this?
Instead of spending your time coming up with rediculous ideas for
protest, why don't you spend some time sharpening your brains. Here is
a novel idea for the college liberal: act respectfully (and don't kid
yourselves that no-W stickers are respectful), shut-up, listen, and
think. This is a unique opportunity and your emotional instability
threatens to leave you at risk for missing out on the experience.
Also, consider the following. When I went to Calvin we had a Democrat
for our president. During my time there the trusted Chimes staff spent
their time defending nearly everthing he did. I never heard them
complain about him taking us into a conflict without UN approval nor
did I hear them complaining much about what you might call his other
less than Christ-like actions. If Calvin had invited him to speak I
would doubt that they (liberals and democrats) would have protested him
like they are protesting Bush. If they were consistent in their
thought, they most certainly would have.
It is this kind of stupidity that sometimes makes me ashamed to have
graduated from Calvin. So, go ahead, do whatever you need to do so
that you have the self-validation you need to live another day....and
the rest of us will keep shaking our heads and doing our best to ignore
your embarassing actions.
To conclude, I'll quote you, but direct the words AT you: So, go ahead,