On Why Anarchists Are the Progressives' Enemy
With Friends Like This...
Brian Farenell
(c) 10 November 2001
I am a bit tired of the constant violent battles which
mar major world summit meetings. There are many
legitimate protesters who are there to speak out
against globalization while others support
globalization but want to temper its path. These
peaceful protesters have nothing to do with the
violent anarchists who put in danger the lives and
well-being not only of themselves but of others and
who don’t have the slightest interest or the least
patience to actually do something real.
The self-indulgence and arrogance of the violent
anarchists should be denounced. Smashing the windows
of a McDonalds or attacking a policeman has nothing to
do with improving the well-being of third-world
peasants. It’s the activities of honest groups like
Doctors Without Borders or the Red Cross that we
should respect. Because they, unlike anarchists, are
actually trying to do something for the people in
whose name they claim to act.
There are two things which can not be disputed. The
police need anarchist violence to be able to claim to
act in reestablishing public order. The anarchists
need police excesses to claim to react in self-defense
as well as to be able to play the little martyr. It’s
disingenuous to provoke the police into violence and
then whine when the police overreact. May the two
groups do their little games somewhere where it
affects neither peaceful protesters nor honest
property owners.
We true progressives should denounce the violent
anarchistes and unambiguously dissociate ourselves
from them. The shameful acts of these thugs, however
small their number may be, discredit the legitimate
revindications of the movement against the excesses of
globalization. Up until now, the legitimate protesters
have been content to deplore police brutality… and
were right for doing so. But to close our eyes to and
our mouthes on the subject of the violences
perpertrated by our so-called allies risks tarnishing
us all.
In protest after protest, anarchists have consistently
hid among peaceful protesters when inciting the
police. Then, when the expected (and hoped for) police
overreaction comes, the anarchists can wash their
hands of the situation, pointing the finger at the
police as the alleged authors of the violence.
Legitimate protesters should be outraged that these
twits are using them as de-facto human shields.
Anarchists have no interest in or patience for real
reform. These twits choose the path of blind violence, which
is both ineffective and self-indulgent. True reformers
want to BUILD rather than destroy. We should wash our
hands once and for all of these twits who would
associate themselves with progressive ideals while
doing their best to undermine such values. Those who
believe in moving forward should not be allied with
those who believe in violence.
Page last updated: 10 November '01, 0040 EST
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