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

[Rob Arnold]

How convenient. Now I don't even need a bike to ride in Critical Mass.

Fact is, at some minimal level, Critical Mass *is* about riding a bike
through city streets. Anarcho-babble aside, exterior wannabe-unifying
political messages like the one suggested don't generally have much effect
in a CM ride precisely because they don't address the simple fact that it's
kinda just a group bike ride. And if a political tag is added, it's
generally bike-centric. Hence, the only chant I ever hear having much group
sway is the popular "Whose streets? Our streets!" If you want to claim that
there's no unifying principle to the rides, I suggest you walk the next one.

On 4/2/07, John Hays <jjhays2 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> 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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> >> >>
> >> http://lists.bostoncoop.net/mailman/listinfo/bostoncriticalmass
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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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>
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