YOU SAY YOU WANT A REVOLUTION

The article "Outrage Returns" [News and Features, December 29, 2000] suggested that the anti-globalization protests represent the stirrings of a much bigger movement for change in American politics. Alas, to borrow a phrase that was first used to describe the Million Man March, the anti-IMF protests were "a moment, not a movement." The protesters are a narrow band of American society with a highly specialized and not terribly cohesive agenda.

You wrote that "people took to the streets with a passion and ferocity that this country hadn't seen since the late 1960s." I heard the same about the nuclear-freeze movement and the movement against American involvement in El Salvador in the 1980s. It would be difficult to argue that either movement led to the rebirth of a vital, politically active left in our country. Which brings us to the Nader campaign. You wrote, "The protesters drew scores of once-apathetic young people into the political process -- witness the strength of Ralph Nader's presidential run." First of all, there is no evidence that Nader energized anybody. Among all voters, 17 percent were between the ages of 18 and 29 -- the same as four years earlier. Second, this is the first time I have heard winning less than three percent of the vote described as "strength."

My last point of contention is with Professor Joseph Boskin, who said that conservatives' "nasty policies will translate into greater activism." I heard that theory about Ronald Reagan 20 years ago. Worked real well then, too.

Thaddeus Windt
Washington, DC

Although I do not agree with your portrayal of the RNC protests in Philadelphia (I was living there at the time and it was quite a yawn), I certainly agree that these protesters lack any cohesive statement. I was standing face to face with several protesters and never once heard "Stop capitalism, globalism, Republican conservatism" or any other such legitimate battle cry. All I heard was, "We're going to shut this city down!" Should George Bush and his cohorts attempt to revert to standard, conservative Republican practice, we will need aggressive campaigners experienced in lobbying. Destroying the property of innocent individuals is hardly the way to lead a protest, especially when you're seeking to gain allies.

Diane Russell Natera
Portland, Maine

It's unfortunate that the Phoenix unhesitatingly repeated some of the corporate media's standard lines, such as low-balling the participation in protests by as much as 50 percent and referring rather condescendingly to "self-styled anarchists." As for the "lack of a coherent message" -- most people in the movement are for collective decision-making by autonomous groups of empowered individuals and communities. Some call it anarchism, some direct democracy, but almost all the major actions of the past year have been organized using the consensus process.

Janek Dichter
Brighton

CHECK OUT THE LIBRARIANS

I appreciate your publicizing the debate on Internet filtering at the Old South Meetinghouse ["Free Speech," TJI, News and Features, December 29, 2000]. It is an important issue for librarians and the public. What I do not appreciate is the tired old stereotype of the unattractive, bun-wearing librarian in the accompanying illustration by Timothy Walker. Were Mr. Walker to come into the library where I work, he would see a staff as varied in age, gender, ethnic background, and style of dress as the urban area we serve. Get with it, Mr. Walker!

Pamela Barchat Colt
Cambridge Public Library
Cambridge

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