Assignment 3

I believe that all types of tactics and practices used by any movement are acceptable as long as they are non violent. When people refuse to assimilate into mainstream society they are deemed radical. I feel that social movements should be able to do whatever it takes to make sure their voice is heard. As long as a movement does not involve hurting anyone in the form of violence it should be acceptable. For example the clothesline project is a very creative way of getting an important message across when students here at ASU did that for a class project it really brought many people towards their booth. This is a great strategy to gain public attention and awareness for a movement. It is not violent at all and it is a simple way for people to express their feelings on a subject such as violence against women. I do not see the clothesline project as something that is too radical; I feel that it is a smart and peaceful way of getting the point across.
The pro life movement’s side walk picketing I feel is more radical in the sense that it uses more direct action. People are in front of abortion clinics and churches praying and holding signs with graphic pictures of fetuses or babies. The signs have persuasive messages on them to try and deter those women who are considering abortion. I believe this to be more of a radical approach because it is using religion as its main driving force. I would consider this movement a moral issue because religion is involved highly in this issue. I feel that this tactic is also acceptable again, as long as there is no violence involved it is an acceptable for of protest. I would say that this is acceptable because people have to always create new and more interesting tactics to draw awareness to their case. This sort of protest causes reactions from people all over because the pro life group is present with their poster boards and their persuasive pictures.
Outing is when a person who is gay or lesbian comes out and lets others know about their sexual preference. It is also another tactic that I consider very radical because in this case this group of people is going against assimilation. People in our society have been shaped to assimilate to what has been set within our society of love and marriage only being expectable between a man and a woman. This group has great challenges to overcome because of the great radical nature that it entails. This again, is a moral issue because religion also has a great influence in this movement from the opposing side. In the article by Hequembourg and Arditi they talk about gays and lesbians fighting to be recognized as part of normal society. They mentioned that for the more radical gays and lesbians it is more important for them to resist to assimilation than to submit to it. Most of these protests have maintained peaceful if for any reason there have been any violence it has come from the opposing sides or from police.
I can agree with what Malcolm X said about “by any means necessary” I feel that a movement should be able to do whatever it takes to draw attention to their issue. Strategies and tactic need to be constantly changing in order to draw attention. If social movements remain static and never change they will eventually loose followers. Martin Luther King also mentioned that if his peaceful protests did not obtain the change that they desired his people may become violent. He mentioned that after a group of people have been oppressed for so long they will eventually become frustrated to the point of violence. They may have had different approaches but in reality had the same goals and were both about peace.
I think that a radical approach is a valid option for social movements because if people do not mobilize and propose radical ideas we will never achieve any changes in our society. We would have never achieved what we currently have in our society. If radical or anarchic protests were never brought about women would still be considered second class citizens and we may not even have the chance to vote. Our schools and public facilities may still be segregated and we would have far more racism to deal with. I believe that in your face action should only be implemented in cases such as the demand for equality of gay and lesbians. The in your face actions I feel should be implemented only after there are no left alternatives.