The Unreported Resistance

Dangerously unpatriotic elements among American intellectuals
1. Existence of a permanent adversarial culture in the US
  1. Consisted of tens of millions who refused to go along with this idea of capitalism, military strength, wealth and power in elite
  2. Democratic party more responsive to those Americans
    1. Limited by its own captivity to corporate interests
      1. Domestic reforms severely limited by the system's dependency on militarism and war
Nuclear Arms began to grow
1. Pioneers were a tiny group of Christian pacifists who had been active against the Vietnam war
  1. Former priest- Phillip Berrigan and wife McAlister included in this
    1. In September went past guard in General Electric Plant at King of Prussia in PA
      1. Where nuclear missiles were manufactured
      2. Used sledgehammers to smash two of the nose cones and smeared blood all over missile parts, blueprints, and furniture
      3. As a result sentenced to years in prison, yet trying to set an example to do as bible said
      4. This is kind of extreme
      5. Jurors were sympathetic and think that this crime was merely just a protest
  2. Members of this group would be arrested
    1. Arrested for engaging in nonviolent acts of dramatic protests against nuclear war at the Pentagon and White House
    2. Trespassing on forbidden areas, pouring their own blood on symbols of the war machine
2. National movement against nuclear weapons developed
  1. Millions of Americans frightened at the thought of a nuclear holocaust
    1. Our government is spending too much on weapons
      1. We need to put priorities in check
3. Reagan had huge military budget
  1. In order to provoke a national movement against nuclear weapons
    1. Women at the forefront of the new antinuclear movement
      1. Randall Forsberg organized Council for a Nuclear Weapons Freeze- mutual Soviet-American freeze
      2. Large amount arrested for blocking entrance into Pentagon
Peace activists
1. Small delegations in 1980
  1. All over the country maintained a series of demonstrations at the Pentagon
    1. Still people arrested for acts of nonviolent civil disobedience
      1. It's not right that people cannot voice their opinions
Danger of nuclear weapons
1. Doctors around the country began organizing
  1. Teach citizens the medical consequences of nuclear war
    1. Core of the Physicians for Social Responsibility
    2. Graphic description of results of one twenty megaton nuclear bomb falling on Boston
    3. Survivors would be burned, crippled, blinded
      1. Nuclear war- 25 million severe burn cases and only 200 cases could be taken care of
      2. These possible consequences are horrendous
Largest political demonstration
1. Occurred in Central Park
  1. Close to a million people joined in to express determination to bring an end to the arms race
    1. Harvard Scientist added voice towards disarmment movement
    2. So many dangers associated with this
  2. A year later
    1. Over 3000 antiwar groups around the country
      1. Attitude reflected in popculture
      2. Books, magazines, articles, plays, and movies
      3. This is becoming a trend
2. Nuclear freeze
  1. Endorsed by 368 city and county councils across the country
  2. Endorsed by 444 town meetings and 17 state legislatures, house of reps
    1. So much support for this
Public Opinion
1. At time of Reagan's election, nationalist feeling was strong
  1. Three years later, poll showed dissatisfaction in amount spending on weapons
2. Antimaterialist feelings
  1. Expressed itself in resistance to the draft
    1. More than 10% of men failed to register for it
      1. Demonstrates bitterness and not happy sentiments
    2. Reagan hesitated to renew draft registration
      1. Felt it would lead to public unrest
      2. Yet Reagan administration began to prosecute draft resisters
      3. One prisoner= Sasway who cited US military intervention in El Salvador
      4. Haig Secretary of State
      5. Gave speech at Syracuse University
      6. Interrupted by chants of need for human rights not military
Opposition to government policy in the country
1. Demonstrators, mainly middle aged protested at Federal building against US involvement in El Salvador
  1. Over 1000 people marched in a procession and attended a mass
    1. This isn't really well known that they demonstrated out there
Reagan /South Africa
1. Hundreds of actions throughout the nation against his policies in South Africa
  1. Did not want to see the white ruling minority of South Africa displaced by radical African National Congress
    1. Represented black majority
      1. I question a lot of decisions made
Cuts in social services
1. Felt on the local level as vital needs could not be taken care of
  1. Residents of East Boston took to streets for 55 nights
    1. Blocked major roads
      1. Mainly working class and middle class people
2. Took away funding for arts, suggesting performing arts seek help from private donors
  1. Two historic Broadway theaters were razed to make way for luxury hotel
    1. People demonstrated
      1. Refused to disperse
      2. Arts are valuable
3. Budget cuts spurred strikes across the country
  1. Caused job insecurity and teachers specifically went on strike
    1. This of course causes agita
  2. When Reagan arrived in Pittsburgh to make a speech 3000 unemployed steel workers demonstrated against him
    1. They are trying to make a point
  3. Miami blacks rioted against police brutality
    1. Young blacks unemployment rate rised over 50%
      1. Reagan's response to poverty was to build more jails
      2. This is the origin of prison society...
Landslide victories
1. Ignored 4 facts
  1. half population did not vote who were eligible
  2. those who did vote were severely limited in their choices to two parties that monopolized the money and media
  3. little relationship between voting for a candidate and voting for specific policies
  4. votes casted without enthusiasm
2. Reagan received 51.6% of the popular vote
  1. When it came down to the breakdown only 27 percent of eligible to vote was for Reagan
    1. Thats not such a high amount
    2. Same thing happened to Bush
3. Media distorts this
  1. Disheartening to those who don't look at statistics
    1. Not indeed a landslide
      1. Can't really say as a collective the American people wanted this
Reform health system
1. Most voters favored Canadian system
  1. Could bypass insurance company and government was single payer to doctors and hospitals
    1. Universal medical coverage to everyone
      1. No one adopted this principle idea
Defense spending
1. 59% of voters wanted a cut in spending
  1. No major parties wanted to make major cuts in the military budget
    1. Clear disconnect between voters and officials
"Democratic system"
1. disconnect within the political system
  1. supposed to be democratic
    1. desires of voters ignored by this two party system
2. Us indeed a class society
  1. 1% owned 33% of the wealth
    1. Social programs like medicare, medicaid, food stamps only maintained maldistribution of resources
      1. Corporate profit came before human needs
Formation of groups
1. Citizens clearinghouse for hazardous wastes in DC
  1. Addressed unsafe drinking water problems
    1. Does it even help though?
2. New Hampshire
  1. Years of Persistent protest against a nuclear power plant
    1. Plant had to shut down eventually
      1. This causes health risks
3. Pennsylvania
  1. Fear of nuclear accidents intensified
    1. Media instills fear in us
4. Latino/a activisits
  1. Campaigned for better labor conditions/representation in local government/tenant rights
    1. Also for bilingual radio movement
  2. New Mexico
    1. fight for land and water rights
      1. against real estate developers
  3. pretty rapid growth in population
    1. Border arts workshop formed
    2. especially conscious of imperial role US played in Mexico etc
5. United Farm Workers
  1. abnormal rates of cancer for farmworkers
    1. called attention to this through fasting
Roe v Wade
1. Aroused prolife movement
  1. abortion clinics attacked
    1. This conflict became heated
2. Gay and lesbian rights
  1. radical changes in sexuality and freedom
    1. so gay movement became visible presence in the nation
      1. lot of local embracings and events
Disillusionment with govt
1. Vietnam, Watergate, anti-democratic
  1. A lot of corruption
    1. People lose faith
2. War in Iraq by Bush
  1. Most vietnam veterans support military action
    1. Some appealed
      1. Said how many more Americans need to come home in wheelchairs
  2. Marches in Ann Arbor against it
    1. Even a 7 year old girl writes in
  3. bombing of Iraq began along with bombardment of public opinion
    1. Polls are distorted
      1. Universities held vigils
    2. Marches rallying near white house to denounce the war
    3. Black population far less enthusiastic
      1. only 48% supprot
      2. Interesting
  4. Mother of killed soldier in Texas organized busload of mothers to protest
    1. Good to gain support
  5. Over a thousand reservists declared themselves conscientious objectors
    1. Pretty high number
Native Ameircans
1. 350 Indian representatives met
  1. mobilize against the glorification of the Columbus conquest
    1. movement grew
      1. counter -Columbus
      2. Brought a burst of educational and cultural activity