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A little over a month and a half ago, political pundits and politicians on both sides of the aisle were calling for “civility” when it came to political discourse and dialogue. If you were to listen to the left/right talking heads on the various networks, you would have believed that the assassination attempt of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) was supposed to usher in a Golden Age of political discourse where divisive dialogue and imagery seen on TV and at political rallies would be done away with and be replaced with a dialogue that would resemble an environment like Steve Allen’s TV show “Meeting of Minds.”
Prior to the Tucson shootings, we heard reports from the media and the blogosphere about the hostile environment and violent imagery that were prevalent at Tea Party rallies, especially during the Obamacare protests. Stories of guns, racial slurs uttered, death threats and spitting incidents were a few of the accusations that were being leveled at the Tea Partiers. On the flip side, similar accusations were also leveled at the protesters in Madison with the notable exception of guns being toted. Since deer hunting is a favorite pastime of many a Wisconsinite, it may have been possible that someone had their deer rifle in their truck.
Regardless of the accusations, the bottom line is that you are going to find your share of nut jobs and borderline unstable people at any political rally. Having been to my share of political rallies and protests (antiwar, marriage equality, immigration rights, marijuana legalization and ****GASP**** a few Tea Parties!), I’ve probably heard almost every conspiracy theory out there ranging from 9/11 being an “inside job” to how vaccines can cause erectile dysfunction. The latter was uttered by some Chelene Nightingale supporters that I met at the SJC Tea Party in July. I usually hope that these people don’t ask for my cell number. Instead, they end up giving me their business card and encourage me to call them so that I learn more about these “secrets” that are as tightly wound as their personalities.
The one thing I do know is that the old adage is true: “You will attract more bees with honey.” It’s a strategy that has worked with marijuana legalization activists when trying to convey the message that the War on Drugs is an unsustainable failure in public policy that wastes billions of taxpayer dollars. Rarely have I seen a sign at a legalization rally that references Hitler or whoever the sadistic international dictator of the week is. Instead, the signs tend to focus on the issue at hand and are fairly benign when it comes to their message. This tactic of non-confrontation and civility has lead to high favorability ratings in the polls when it comes to the issue of marijuana legalization. Right now, a lot of polls show that 50% or more consider the War on Drugs a failure and favor legalizing marijuana. Are the consisent rise in favorability ratings and the civil approach to engaging in political discourse an anomaly? Just look how far the legalization movement has come in 40 years and one can make the case that a strategy of civility and non-violence does eventually win people over to your side no matter what your cause is.
Maybe that is the reason why I enjoy going to legalization rallies so much. Yeah, I know I’m a huge cannabis legalization advocate and you might say that I’m biased towards fellow cannabis users. The positive vibes and carefree attitudes (some may say that it is enhanced by cannabis use) of the people that I have met at marijuana legalization rallies/protests make it a real pleasant and attractive experience. Besides, when was the last time you heard of a near violent confrontation breaking out at a legalization rally? Or death threats being uttered towards people for that matter? (OK, insert pot jokes here)
But don’t take my word for it. Here’s some pictures to compare and contrast so you can draw your own conclusions. The following are photos from the Wisconsin protests, the Tea Party/Obamacare protests and some assorted marijuana legalization rallies. Have we become more civil after the shootings in Tucson or have we completely ignored those pleas altogether? If the latter is true, could we learn something from the marijuana legalization movement when it comes to civil discourse?
You make the call.
In this corner…the protesters in Madison!
Civil imagery you can believe in
Hitler and Walker..separated at birth?
Or is it Mubarak and Walker?
At least the attendance is better than a Brewers game
Where does Godwin's Law apply?
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And now…here’s the Tea Party protesting ObamaCare
Tribute to Ted Kennedy
Back in the US-SSR?
Death Panel?
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Now for something more attractive and civil…marijuana legalization rallies!
Potheads focused on message
No references to Hitler, Mubarak, Gadaffi or despotic countries here
Mellow....
...And our fearless editor, with Melissa Fox!
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