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I wonder if the Catholic League has used the same logic to call the Tea Party terrorists? Don't they continue to organize mass protests regarding their desire to change the government and it's priorities?
Point well taken, Paul. You're completely right. In fact, I remember being one of those that argued strenuously AGAINST including "nonviolent" in any public description of the group. At the time, I felt it strengthened our hand to keep our enemies guessing, and worried. We were a very angry group. Thankfully, we channeled that anger well.
I agree Donahue is an ass. I agree ACT-UP never hurt a fly (and you paid up for the odd bit on concrete). I took part in the NIH demo, and Stop the Church II. I was arrested when John Paul II came to town. But, although I was a very minor member, and more comfortable in Queer Nation , I did attend Act Up meetings for around two years. It's important to be upfront. There were discussions of violence, and a clear opposition to violence by almost all attenders, but ACT UP never took a "non-violent" position. Was act-up terrorist - no? But it was not a pacifist group. It was angry people doing good things because we we scared out of our minds and knew people who died weekly. I bet you knew hundreds. I knew at least 70 people (after that I stopped counting). Donahue is an ass, but lets not(for the sake of history) deny the anger that was felt an acknowledged in say 1988.
Bruce Steinberg
My issue is not with the charge itself... it's with this word "terrorist". Terrorist is the new Hitler/Nazi... funny, cause Hitler used "terrorist" to describe then German Communists. Let's finally admit that this word has no actual meaning whatsoever. That said, what MAY have meaning is that ALL PRESS is good. Just ask nouveau riche and employed Sarah Palin. I think more people should call Act-Up names and the rest will work itself out. Peter, when is someone going to an oscar winning documentary about Act-Up and the countless lives this organization saved. Its place in history MUST be confirmed and a documentary must be made to get this process started. I know you've done condoms on Senators houses, ever made a documentary?
January 12, 2010