Repost of an interesting blog regarding ASAP

This is the impression I have gotten from the members of ASAP that I have either talked to, or marched with.

Good morning,

Four members of ASAP, the loosely formed coalition of activists at the center of the July 4 Riverfront Park protest that ended with 17 arrests, met with Spokesman-Review staff Thursday evening for an informal conversation about the group, its members and their political and social goals.

For many of us, the conversation was something of a nostalgic experience. I’m not sure how many of the people offended by the group on July 4th were themselves radical hippie anti-war protesters during the ‘60s and ‘70s. Maybe too many of the boomer generation have forgotten our own activist roots and how our anti-war, anti-establishment protests were received by our parents’ generation.

My own parents, blithely disregarding my own politics, shoulder-length hair and bushy black beard, complained about smelly long hairs in ragged clothes promoting Communism, insulting the military and scaring the wits out of friends and neighbors.

If folks in Riverfront Park were outraged at the American flag being used as a picnic blanket, perhaps they’ve forgotten the far worse abuse Old Glory took in the Vietnam era when flag burning was among the more genteel forms of protest.

The fact is, every generation produces its own anti-establishment radicals. The group we met with last night seems relatively representative of that truth.

They were smart, well-read, articulate. They have a political philosophy. I wouldn’t want to live in the world they hope to create, but it is a world view based on the political and social philosophies of some of the world’s great social critics and political theorists. They aren’t seeking attention for the sake of publicity or because they’re bored. They are committed. And they believe direct political action is the best way to achieve change.

Trust me, if I had access to the way-back machine to return to my own radical roots, I could probably deliver a fine ASAP speech. I know and understand the language though my own political views have matured.

But this group of young activists doesn’t strike me as dangerous. They certainly are less dangerous than the radicals with whom I was familiar way back when. The Weathermen – now those were radicals. The Chicago 7 – mean SOBs.

I don’t want to come across as the least bit patronizing, but these young people seemed to me to be activist-lite, typical of Spokane in so many ways. Not as flashy as you might find in Seattle., but radical enough to offend Spokane moms and dads, and maybe the police.

They are only as dangerous as we make them. In the ‘60s, I saw philosophical radicals turned into real, honest-to-God hard-ass violent radicals as they were harassed and intimidated by local police, the FBI and who knows who else. I’d hate to see that happen here.

We have posted audio of our discussion, links below. I think it’s worth your time.

Steve