Because the incident happened, it may be a good idea to use the controversy
around it to expose native issues to the mainstream public. I don't think
it should be done again, however. People assume Earth First! members are
violent because they spike trees. I don't want to the public opinion of
natives to revert to the "wild west" stereotypes.
>>>>>>>>>>
and i don't want political action to roll-back to least common
demoninator, "let's not offend anyone!" tactics just because in some
cases the media has succeeded, while casting the representation of certain
actions to the public, in portraying radical action as threatening to
many people on some emotional level.
radical action intends to threaten some pillars of how society
conducts itself. The media will try conciously, and just by its
nature as part of the status quo, to marginalize radical action.
Mostly, "the public" view political actions through a media lens.
The trick for activists is to find presentations that sneak through the
powerful elements of our actions that people can empathize with.
Also, we must remember that one major tactic of the mainstream media
is to ignore alot of news. How much have you read about the Lubicon
in your local newspaper?
p.s. i support the rights of native people everywhere to do whatever
to defend their land rights. If you think tree spiking is bad, what
do you think about Milton Born-With-A-Tooth.
[ Born With A Tooth was sentenced to 18 months in jail on six weapons
charges stemming from a Sept. 7 confrontation with RCMP at the Oldman
River diversion site in Alberta. The Lonefighters Society wants work
on the $353-million dam stopped on environmental and spiritual grounds.
(based on web.native article, 11 April 1991)
-- Gary ]