File spoon-archives/anarchy-list.archive/anarchy-list_1999/anarchy-list.9906, message 487


Date: Thu, 24 Jun 1999 00:13:10 -0400
From: Carol Moore <CarolMoore-AT-kreative.net>
Subject: Re: More Eugene riot coverage


I think these two clips illustrate the adages 1) you catch more
flies with honey than with vinegar; and 2) they best way to
destroy the system is to create and alternative to it.  Even
at 51 I'm still pissed off and get my jollies ranting at Clinton's
employees on 17th street (they've all heard from me he's a rapist
and a murderer -- and now a humaniterrorist -- more
times than they can count).  But even though it gets the rage
out of my system, I have to wonder if I had spent that hour
and that energy on building the alternative to Bill's State, maybe we'd
all be further ahead :-(   Carol in D.C.

Chuck0 wrote (quoting Eugene article):

> However, there were many who are affiliated with the Anarchists who
> lamented the violent events. Neal Van Steenbergen, a man who works as a
> facilitator for relations between police and Eugene's Anarchist faction,
> said that the events were a step backward for relations between the
> police and the Anarchists, "My expectations is that our group that I
> have been facilitating, will continue to meet, but I think that the
> actions that took place have set back understandings between the two
> groups."
>
> In addition several residents who witnessed parts of the day's events
> said that the actions of those involved in the riot turned them away
> from the Anarchists and their message. Several people have said that
> while they agree with some of the goals of the Anarchist movement they
> would not have anything to do with the Anarchists following the riots.
>

<snip>

> Anarchists also focus on the positive
>
> John Capell
>
> June 17, 1999- Day two of the Northwest Anarchist
> Convention took place this Thursday. Usually when people
> think about the Anarchist movement they focus on the
> protests and vandalism, forms of direct action that nearly
> all anarchists support in the name of tearing down and
> destroying aspects of modern society that they see as
> oppressive. But there is also another side to the Anarchist
> movement that goes unnoticed by mainstream society.
>
> While most Anarchists say that the protests and acts of vandalism are a
> large part of the Anarchist movement they say that the positive aspects
> of their movement are overlooked. The Anarchists also put a large
> emphasis on building communities to replace traditional society.
> Marshall Kirkpatrick said, "What we really want to do is set up a
> society where we help each other to make it in the day by day and also
> helping each other to fulfill our larger goals in the rest of the world
> in ways that are healthier than most often offered to us in our larger
> society."
>
> The 15 free community classes offered this month by the Anarchist run
> "Free Skool" show this side of the Anarchist movement. While there are
> topics that do fit the stereotypes of the Anarchist movement, such as
> tree climbing and civil disobedience, there are classes that do not fit
> the stereotypes such as vegan cooking and bike repair.
>
> The emphasis on community and a glimpse of what they envision their
> communities to be can be seen in a small triangle of land at the
> intersection of Blair and Van Buren that the Anarchists call, Café
> Anarchista. One Anarchist said of the corner, "This is probably the last
> vestige of what community could be in this age of globalization."
>
> Anarchists gather on discarded furniture at the corner and work on
> building their own alternative society that is in opposition to the
> society that surrounds them on all sides. At the corner local Anarchists
> share food, that is cooked by local Anarchists, and tea. They have set
> up an informal network of childcare in the area, have constructed "The
> Wall", a place where they share news, community information and a barter
> board. They have also set up a place to share clothing and even have a
> small "library" where they share their books.
>
> Kook, a local Anarchist, says that there little corner shows the
> potential of alternative conceptions of society and their emphasis on
> community. Kook said, "hen you can get out of the rat race, get out of
> the meaninglessness of joyless and insipid lives, you can get down to
> caring about your community. Start getting to know people, create
> positive things…it is an example of a great way that we can be living
> outside of the system of power and possession."
>
> On this Friday the Anarchists will be holding a "Reclaim the Streets"
> day in conjunction with Anarchists around the world. They will be
> gathering downtown near the Eugene Bus Station where street dancing and
> music is planned.


PS what is the AnarchyAreWe <anarchy-list-AT-lists.village.virginia.edu>
list and does it includ DC anarchists and why didn't they get Eugene
articles.
adminstrivia administrivia


   

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