barlow.typepad.com/barlowfriendz/2004/07/dancing_in_the_.html
While that's a little hard to imagine now, I have sufficient experience to know that the commonly held view that Republicans either can't dance or won't dance is inaccurate. When I was a Republican, I was as dedicated to dancing as I am now and there were others like me, as I recall. Still, part of what drove me from the party - aside from a categorical repudiation by the current administration of most Republican principles - is a dour dancelessness that crept into Republican "culture." It seems increasingly ironic to call the GOP a party at all... Maureen Dowd recently observed that the Republicans had become so obsessed with rejecting the 60's ethic of doing it if it feels good that they have taken up an ethic of doing it if it makes someone else feel bad. Moreover, the GOP strategy of basing their root-level organization on Hot Protestantism has infused their ranks with a lot of chilly Puritanism, which, as HL Mencken defined it, is "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere, is having a good time." These were among the factors in mind recently as I turned my thoughts to what I might do to vex the Republicans when they gather in New York a month from now. Furious as I may be at their policies, conventional protest is not an option. If it were peaceful protest, they would ignore it even if two million people turned up. Indeed, the administration consists of such fervent God-anointed idealists that they would "stay the course" against any opposition short of a majority too overwhelming to rig their electronic voting machines against. If the protests in New York should turn even a little violent, it will be to Bush's benefit. This is so much the case that I rather expect to see undercover agents provocateurs scattered among the ragtag disaffected who will shortly descend on Manhattan. And the NYPD, while generally my favorite police force on the planet, can get themselves in a froth when they feel spooked. One thrown bottle could result in days of riveting television, during which Bush would have plenty of opportunity to pretend, convincingly to some, that he was Gary Cooper. Besides, anyone with an explicit intention to protest Republican policies, anyone carrying an anti-Bush sign, indeed, anyone wearing a neither a smile nor a Bush button, is likely to be corralled into one of the remote "Free Speech Zones" that Mayor Bloomberg will graciously provide his guests, there to vent his fury upon his fellow infuriated. Indeed, as wild, fun-loving BarlowFriendz, I'm counting on you to help. I don't want to argue with them, which would only convince them further, I want to throw them off their game. So, to that end, I propose the following: I want to organize a cadre of 20 to 50 of us. I want to dress us in suits and other plain pedestrian attire and salt us among the sidewalk multitudes in Republican-rich zones. At a predetermined moment, one of us will produce a boom-box and crank it up with something danceable. Suddenly, about a third of the people on the sidewalk, miscellaneously distributed in the general throng, will start dancing like crazy and continue to do so for for about a minute. Then we will stop, melt back into the pedestrian flow, and go to another location to erupt there. Perhaps if we enlist enough troops, we can have several platoons simultaneously exploding into dance around Manhattan, so there will be absolutely no way to tell where we might strike next. I promise you, this will make the Republicans uncomfortable. They will return to their partisan duties with a sense of disquiet that will slightly but surely fuzz the intensity of their focus. I have to admit there's nothing terribly original about this idea. I'm talking about forming a standard smart mob, similar to the group my friend Reverend Billy convenes every Tuesday to wander around the WTC PATH station, muttering the 1st Amendment. But it's a start, and I think that once we get ourselves assembled, we will be able to cook up a number of other creative pranks we might inflict on our thin-lipped countrymen. I may put up a web site that we can use to organize ourselves. In the meantime, I will start a mailing list of everyone who wants to participate, and, of course, I expect that we will discuss this proposal here on this blog at some length. I've been thinking for some time that the problem with politics is that doesn't know how to have a good time. This is your chance to address both of these deficiencies. And remember the great Emma Goldman who said, "If I can't dance, I want no part of your revolution." What she knew is that dancing is itself a revolutionary act.
Callin' out around the world Callin' out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street. Dancin' in Chicago (dancin' in the street) Down in New Orleans (dancin' in the street)...
Callin' out around the world Callin' out around the world, are you ready for a brand new beat? Summer's here and the time is right for dancin' in the street. Dancin' in Chicago (dancin' in the street) Down in New Orleans (dancin' in the street)...
Barlow and Bush BarlowFriendz: Dancing in the Streets: Revolution with a Smile Maureen Dowd recently observed that the Republicans had become so obsessed with rejecting the 60's ethic of doing it if it feels good that they have taken up an ethic of...
Barlow and Bush BarlowFriendz: Dancing in the Streets: Revolution with a Smile Delightful post with an idea from Barlow: Maureen Dowd recently observed that the Republicans had become so obsessed with rejecting the 60's ethic of doing it if it feels good that...
Let's smartmob the RNC, carnival-style BarlowFriendz: Dancing in the Streets: Revolution with a Smile John Perry Barlow, co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation is seriously proposing dancing on the streets during the RNC : Maureen Dowd recently observed that the Republicans had be...
John Perry Barlow has a very mischiveous idea: Flash Mobs Dancing At Random During the Republican Convention. A lovely blend of anarchy, rock'n'roll, and civil disobedience.
Let's smartmob the RNC, carnival-style BarlowFriendz: Dancing in the Streets: Revolution with a Smile John Perry Barlow, co-founder of the Electronic Frontier Foundation is seriously proposing dancing on the streets during the RNC : Maureen Dowd recently observed that the Republicans had be...
Dancing in NYC John Perry Barlow suggests that as a way of protesting against the upcoming Republican conference, that people undertake Dancing in the Streets. Personally I think this is a fantastic idea, from my past experience of protesting and activism.
The Revolution Will Have a Techno Soundtrack John Perry Barlow has a good idea for something to do during the RNC Dancing in the Streets:Revolution with a Smile I spent most of my political life as a Republican.
Rebranding political protest John Perry Barlow suggests a fresh approach to protesting at the RNC: Dancing in the streets, revolution with a smile Barlow's argument is simple: A dour, peaceful protest will just be ignored.
John Perry Barlow's Cunning Plan There is great angst, trepidation, even an anticipation of tsuris (not to mention a lot of Vertruckete), surrounding the Republican National Convention in New York later this month.
Dancing in the Streets "In a reverent nod to Emma Goldman, former Republican John Perry Barlow issues a call to discombobulate the RNC in New York with a smart mob of business-suited post-yippies who stage dance attacks among the staid Republicans and then melt back into t..
joan Only that man who has offered up himself entire to the blood of war, who has been to the floor of the pit and seen horror in the round and learned at last that it speaks to his inmost heart, only that man can dance. There is room on the stage for one beast and one beast alone. All others are destined for a night that is eternal and without name. One by one they will step down into the darkness before the footlamps.
spyder something i stuck in my dissertation too many years ago: The importance of the dance cannot be underestimated. All human unhappiness, all blows of fortunes, which history rep...
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