[SOC] Melancholy Me

[Ian C. Purdie]

Paul Bartlett wrote:

> Constitutionally, the executive doesn't require the support of Parliament to
> go to war in the UK.
>
> The Prime Minister excercises the Royal Prerogative.

Ditto OZ, which is precisely what John Howard has said repetitively in recent
weeks.

Setting aside legal niceties, you still have a divided nation. A divided
parliament.

The legal niceties satisfy the "right" that the dots and the "I's" have been
attended to. Britain wasn't involved in Vietnam and while protesting, weren't
torn apart by bitter divisions.

Today we already have divisions of "peace" vs "war" as outlined before, tomorrow
when the bombs drop it won't be quite the same, it's a whole new world.

Don't think today's peace activist is going to lie down and say "oh well, GWB
won.

It won't happen, the co-worker you previously congenially disagreed with will
become a..., a person you will no longer respect, likewise the next door
neighbour, civil disobedience will becoming the norm is the least I can imagine.

Rolling strikes will impact on the economy of my country as never before.

Paul, you haven't lived through it, I have. Before in the Vietnam era it was
mild in comparison, now...

Thankfully none of the conservatives are in charge of the police as before and
hopefully commonsense will prevail.

This is the biggest misunderstanding of the pro-war lobby, that the anti-war
lobby would fade away when it actually started, I don't think they will. I think
it will grow and accentuate.

I've already established, morally, in my mind that I must actively be involved
in mass civil disobedience in my country and  probably be arrested as a
consequence. That's the price of having deep conviction.

So long as the cops remain civil all will be well. If they behave as they did in
the 1960's then it's a whole new ball game.

That is what "my" Prime minister is rolling the dice for [among other things]. I
don't think he understands the "price".

It *will* create deep divisions that will take at least a generation to heal.

That's nothing to take lightly, this could be world wide, I can't predict that
but I wouldn't be surprised.

IMHO

Ian