Still looking for something to do this spring break? Want to help in the anti-war protests? Does the compelling urge to lobby keep you up at night? (Need somewhere to crash this break?) If you answered yes to any of these questions, then Yael Chanoff ’11 has the program for you!:
Our Spring Break is a youth-led spring break trip, started by former Wesleyan student Ashley Casale ’11[?], which brings hundreds of people from around the country to Washington DC during their spring breaks. We stand against all illegal war and occupation. We want the billions of dollars the United States on war redirected towards the education, jobs, housing, health care, green energy, and other programs that we desperately need at home.
By day, we lobby congress, do outreach and direct action, and by night we hold trainings, open mics, film screenings, and concerts, all working together to inspire each other, learn from each other and promote our goals.Housing and transportation is free, and you can come join us at any time between March 8-22 (Wes spring break.)
Interested? There will be an informational meeting at 4:00, Monday February 23 in the 200 Church lounge.
There will be cookies.
For those curious about the former student mentioned in this, Ashley is one of two students who got some attention last year for their cross-country march. The Argus article on that accomplishment is here.
What: Meeting about Our Spring Break
When: Monday, February 23 @ 4:00
Where: 200 Church Lounge
[edit – 2/21/09 @ 1:03 pm – the difference between an alum and former student has been clarified][edit – 2/22/09 @ 11:23 pm – the difference between the 24th and the 23th has been clarified]
people don’t go to events like that just to make a difference. obviously that’s how the idea of those events formed, but people definitely go for the experience of being surrounded by people who feel passionately about the same issues that they do. there’s not really much people can do to actually make concrete, productive differences, so people do events like this to feel like they’re at least doing *something*. have critics of these events and the people who attend them ever done something more for its emotional/personal meaning than it’s actual purpose? we don’t go to funerals for religious reasons, most of us, but for emotional closure. there are many examples. have a little heart, critics.
people don’t go to events like that just to make a difference. obviously that’s how the idea of those events formed, but people definitely go for the experience of being surrounded by people who feel passionately about the same issues that they do. there’s not really much people can do to actually make concrete, productive differences, so people do events like this to feel like they’re at least doing *something*. have critics of these events and the people who attend them ever done something more for its emotional/personal meaning than it’s actual purpose? we don’t go to funerals for religious reasons, most of us, but for emotional closure. there are many examples. have a little heart, critics.
thank you jesse!! as someone who was on the spring break trip last year, i couldn’t agree with you more. It was mostly a bunch of ignorant white kids, fantasizing about being some type of catalyst in a “movement.” they just idealized images they have of the 60/70’s. they certainly mean well, but they are very ignorant.
thank you jesse!! as someone who was on the spring break trip last year, i couldn’t agree with you more. It was mostly a bunch of ignorant white kids, fantasizing about being some type of catalyst in a “movement.” they just idealized images they have of the 60/70’s. they certainly mean well, but they are very ignorant.
monday february 23!!
monday february 23!!
@ Jesse:The potential effectiveness of a specific tactic for a group is irrelevant if embracing it runs counter to that group’s formative concerns. The point of Our Spring Break is to end what is perceived as unnecessary war because people are dying. Needless death is the primary concern, which makes your suggestion of advocating more death and involvement as a tactical measure irrelevant to their goals. Even though this trip might be a 1969 approach to a 2004 reality, so is using a draft as pressure for the public to act.Do you have any other ideas?
@ Jesse:
The potential effectiveness of a specific tactic for a group is irrelevant if embracing it runs counter to that group’s formative concerns. The point of Our Spring Break is to end what is perceived as unnecessary war because people are dying. Needless death is the primary concern, which makes your suggestion of advocating more death and involvement as a tactical measure irrelevant to their goals. Even though this trip might be a 1969 approach to a 2004 reality, so is using a draft as pressure for the public to act.
Do you have any other ideas?
This is so silly! There is only one way to bring this war to an even quicker close than it’s already coming to: reinstitute the draft. Nothing will motivate change quicker. It’s a testament to the cowardice of the remaining anti-war movement that it hasn’t embraced the idea. You can’t end a war about which the public no longer cares/has no stake in.Really? 150 white college kids “lobbying” and holding concerts in March is gonna end the war? Did far bigger efforts end the war 5 years ago? Let’s be real. This is a 1969 approach to a 2004 reality.
This is so silly! There is only one way to bring this war to an even quicker close than it’s already coming to: reinstitute the draft. Nothing will motivate change quicker. It’s a testament to the cowardice of the remaining anti-war movement that it hasn’t embraced the idea. You can’t end a war about which the public no longer cares/has no stake in.
Really? 150 white college kids “lobbying” and holding concerts in March is gonna end the war? Did far bigger efforts end the war 5 years ago? Let’s be real. This is a 1969 approach to a 2004 reality.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA @ #2
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA @ #2
“For those curious about the alum mentioned in this…”I’m pretty sure you have to graduate to be an alum. She’d be a former student or a transfer depending on what she did.
“For those curious about the alum mentioned in this…”
I’m pretty sure you have to graduate to be an alum. She’d be a former student or a transfer depending on what she did.
Obama already won, start pretending like you have a real life to get back to.
Obama already won, start pretending like you have a real life to get back to.
Wait…why is Ashley Casale no longer at Wes?
Wait…why is Ashley Casale no longer at Wes?