[free-sklyarov] Protest strategy & goals

Ethan Straffin drumz at best.com
Sat Jul 21 21:12:56 PDT 2001


Bob La Quey
>I am old enough to have lived thru the Rosa Parks era. I find the
>analogy worth exploring ...

There can be no doubt that Rosa Parks remains an inspiration to many of us
who believe that unjust laws must be exposed -- even if that means
violating them.  For the record, I do believe it applies here.  I would
only suggest that, precisely because Parks's story *is* so symbolic to so
many people, it's important when employing it to consider one's audience.

In the second episode of the sadly-missed _Sports Night_ (which some may
remember as Aaron Sorkin's project just prior to _The West Wing_), an
anchor uses the Parks analogy when called on the carpet for expressing
public support for the legalization of marijuana.  His African-American
boss, who supports the anchor, nevertheless delivers the following
warning: "No rich young white guy has ever gotten anywhere with me
comparing himself to Rosa Parks."

I don't really agree with that stance; I think the argument transcends the
arguer and don't believe in shooting the messenger.  It's just something
to think about when making historical analogies, whether to WWII-era
Germany or segregation-era Montgomery.

Ethan




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