My thoughts on Michael Oren at UC Irvine
I watched the following video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w96UR79TBw
I don’t agree with either the politics or the religious views held by the protestors; nevertheless, I find it commendable that the protest was peaceful. Neither people nor property was damaged in this protest.
It was clearly planned as an effective form of peaceful protest. The speaker was interrupted nine times. All nine could have stood up at once, but that would not have been as effectively disruptive. None of the speakers that I could clearly hear said anything threatening. I think all of them shouted out accusations of crimes and offenses allegedly perpetrated by Israel. Every time the ambassador was interrupted, the person who spoke out of turn was peacefully escorted out of the room and apparently arrested. This is straight out of either Dr. Martin Luther King’s or Gandhi’s playbook of peaceful protests.
I am willing to acknowledge it was very disruptive. It was downright rude. Nevertheless, all effective forms of protest are disruptive. That is why picket lines cross in front of the entrances of buildings. That is why inane chants are shouted over and over and over. That is why tea is dumped in harbors. That is why offensive atheist signs are affixed to public buses. A protest is supposed to be disruptive.
They could have gone outside and joined the protest, but that would not have been as effective. We certainly would not be writing about it now.
Some will doubtless feel concerned about the Michael Oren’s ability to freely speak. I don’t. First off, those who interrupted were removed and possibly arrested. That is reasonable and just. Once the protestors had finished interrupting and had been ejected, he was free to speak. In fact, as an ambassador he can hold a press conference at any time he wishes and the press will show up and spread his message.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w96UR79TBw
I don’t agree with either the politics or the religious views held by the protestors; nevertheless, I find it commendable that the protest was peaceful. Neither people nor property was damaged in this protest.
It was clearly planned as an effective form of peaceful protest. The speaker was interrupted nine times. All nine could have stood up at once, but that would not have been as effectively disruptive. None of the speakers that I could clearly hear said anything threatening. I think all of them shouted out accusations of crimes and offenses allegedly perpetrated by Israel. Every time the ambassador was interrupted, the person who spoke out of turn was peacefully escorted out of the room and apparently arrested. This is straight out of either Dr. Martin Luther King’s or Gandhi’s playbook of peaceful protests.
I am willing to acknowledge it was very disruptive. It was downright rude. Nevertheless, all effective forms of protest are disruptive. That is why picket lines cross in front of the entrances of buildings. That is why inane chants are shouted over and over and over. That is why tea is dumped in harbors. That is why offensive atheist signs are affixed to public buses. A protest is supposed to be disruptive.
They could have gone outside and joined the protest, but that would not have been as effective. We certainly would not be writing about it now.
Some will doubtless feel concerned about the Michael Oren’s ability to freely speak. I don’t. First off, those who interrupted were removed and possibly arrested. That is reasonable and just. Once the protestors had finished interrupting and had been ejected, he was free to speak. In fact, as an ambassador he can hold a press conference at any time he wishes and the press will show up and spread his message.