tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450942063525000422.post3432193737077268207..comments2012-06-22T09:24:12.805-07:00Comments on The Last Best Hope: Free Speech - Only for the LeftBill Beardallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16347895835447971629noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450942063525000422.post-53991295683965719462009-08-30T09:45:07.904-07:002009-08-30T09:45:07.904-07:00Only those who know of Saul Alinsky would accuse t...Only those who know of Saul Alinsky would accuse the "right" of using Alinsky tactics. Most citizens who attend these townhall meetings are simply concerned about the direction this country is heading. Sometimes emotions run high. Frequently, organizations such as SEIU and ACORN are attempting to take over the meetings, thus causing even more disruption. Consider the case of Kenneth Gladney in St. Louis, beat by thugsfrom SEIU. All citizens who wish to be heard, should be heard and not have their voices stiffled by the Obama media, labor unions, or ACORN.Bill Beardallhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16347895835447971629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6450942063525000422.post-62646980726215122422009-08-27T11:07:34.170-07:002009-08-27T11:07:34.170-07:00A few thoughts:
I have heard news analysts sugges...A few thoughts:<br /><br />I have heard news analysts suggest that the political right is now using the same Saul Alinsky tactics that were used so effectively by the political left in the 1970s. Alinsky, said to be the guru of modern community organizing, famously (or infamously) said, among other things: “Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it and polarize it. Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)”<br /><br />As an urban planner I have been to a few raucous community meetings not entirely unlike many of the town halls I have seen on TV.<br /> <br />To those of the left or the right, or “non-political” community activists, who engage in obstruction, shouting matches, name calling, fear tactics, intimidation or ridicule at town hall or community meetings, I say (to paraphrase from Shakespeare)--a plague on all your houses!<br /><br />In the case of the current health care discussions, and although I may be monitoring too much left-leaning media (LOL), I have seen many sideshows, but not as much constructive debate as I would like. <br /><br />There was a good op-ed piece--a debate between Cal Thomas (a conservative) and Bob Beckel (a liberal)--“How to Break up Town Brawls” in USA Today about a week ago.Lee Beardallnoreply@blogger.com