[*BCM*] Re: Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 34, Issue 2

[John Hays]

Er, Critical Mass isn't "really" about anything. Critical Mass is 
completely structureless and leaderless. YOU may have some concept in 
your head about what Critical Mass "really" is - and that's entirely 
fine. The point is, every Critical Mass participant is equally capable 
of divining for himself or herself what Critical mass is "really" about. 
And if onlookers don't understand the 'nature' of Critical Mass, and 
attribute views held by a participating minority to the whole - well so 
what? Are we obligated to change the nature of Critical Mass so as to 
enforce conformity and group "approved" messages merely because 
onlookers don't understand that such an organizational structure is 
PRECISELY the opposite of what Critical Mass actually I think not.

- John Hays


Terra Curtis wrote:
> seems simple enough, but it's not that simple.  even if only 10 or 20%
> of the riders adopt this chant, on-lookers who are unaware of what
> critical mass is *really* about will assume it's something that it is
> not.
>
> the whole reason we take to the streets in such numbers is to make
> those people who are unaware more aware of bicyclists.  i don't think
> we want our one unifying purpose to be overshadowed.
>
> i agree with ian: "if somebody wants to organize a ride that DOES have 
> partisan
> political affliations, and invite me along, I would be all for it."
>
> we should keep the two agendas separate.
>
> On 4/2/07, John Hays <jjhays2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>>     Critical Mass has always been "political" in the broad sense, and
>> has certainly been political in the narrow sense of favoring or opposing
>> particular political figures or parties. The unusually massive NYC
>> Critical Mass on the eve of the Republican National Convention -
>> expressly attended by many of the extra thousands who were in NYC at the
>> time as an anti-RNC protest - is a prime example.
>>
>>     I would encourage anyone that supports the Paul Revere/impeachment
>> idea to voluntarily choose to participate w/ it during the next ride by
>> getting in costume, wearing a sign, or shouting the name of the website.
>> Anybody who prefers NOT to do it can just not do those things. Seems
>> simple enough.
>>
>> - John Hays
>>
>>
>> ian schwartz wrote:
>> > Since when does Critical Mass have political leanings?
>> >
>> > On 4/2/07, bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> > <bostoncriticalmass-request at bostoncriticalmass.org> wrote:
>> >> Send Bostoncriticalmass mailing list submissions to
>> >>         bostoncriticalmass at bostoncriticalmass.org
>> >>
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>> >> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
>> >> than "Re: Contents of Bostoncriticalmass digest..."
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> Today's Topics:
>> >>
>> >>    1. Re: Paul Revere says "Impeachment is Coming" (Jym Dyer)
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> 
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>> >>
>> >> Message: 1
>> >> Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2007 09:56:50 -0700
>> >> From: Jym Dyer <jym at econet.org>
>> >> Subject: Re: [*BCM*] Paul Revere says "Impeachment is Coming"
>> >> To: Boston Critical Mass <list at bostoncriticalmass.org>
>> >> Message-ID: <Jym.01Apr2007.460fe433 at econet.org>
>> >>
>> >> =v= In New York City, this group got very into the whole
>> >> Paul Revere thing:
>> >>
>> >> http://www.greenedragon.org/
>> >>
>> >> They met up with us bike activists, we got some puppeteers
>> >> into the act, but some horse-heads on our bikes, and warned
>> >> everyone, "The Republicans are coming!"
>> >>     <_Jym_>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> ------------------------------
>> >>
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>> >> End of Bostoncriticalmass Digest, Vol 34, Issue 2
>> >> *************************************************
>> >>
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