Date: Wed, 9 Sep 1998 19:10:41 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: Re: AUT: PENTAGON CONTACTS NEW YORK UNIVERSITY RE ECD PAGE


At 12:44 PM 9/9/98 -0400, Doug Henwood wrote:

>I think this cyber CD is a load of crap. It's setting a very bad precedent;
>the cops can do the same to radical sites, and it's only going to push the
>cause of tightening up on "security." In other words, you're contributing
>to the acceleration of the Panopticon society. 
> 
>It looks to me like a bunch
>of people want to think they're doing revolution without having to leave
>their computers. Somebody convince me I'm wrong.

        I think you're right in the sense that this "CD" stuff is really not
the stuff of which genuine solidarity and protest are made.  As pointed out
in another, excellent article recently posted to this list (I believe it was
on this list), it only helps to atomize people further.

        On the other hand, I think it's unfair to characterize the people
involved in this as the type who don't want to leave their computers.  For
instance, the fellow behind most of these posts, Stefan Wray, has played a
major role in organizing live events in solidarity with the Zapatistas --
bringing in people from Chiapas to speak to live groups of concerned
activists, etc.  Of course, that also doesn't quite make the revolution, but
it's a step in the right direction, counter to this atomization, and it also
helps to involve people who do not have the requisite computer skills for
that other "revolutionary" campaign.

        So, though I'd agree with you regarding the idea that this
"Electronic Civil Disobedience" campaign may be a little misguided (at least
in terms of all the energy that's put into it), I would be careful not to
make assumptions about the people behind it.  



In Solidarity,

Richard Singer 

         













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