h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

If there is an anti-war group on h2g2, please tell me where I can enlist. If not, what are we waiting for?

Bush says this is going to be a long war, so we might as well get a head start on protesting it. Although it would be good to have a group for researchers of all nations to oppose the war, it would also be nice to identify the subset of American hitchhikers against war. (This would prevent accusations that Brits and European hitchhikers are the only ones opposing America's latest war.)

Somebody else will have to take charge of leading and publicizing this group, though, because I keep coming up with lousy acronyms like American Hitchhikers Against War (AHAW?) or Researchers Against War (RAW, too easily confused with that wrestling show) or Researchers Opposed to War (ROW?).

Not sure if a lot of people would be interested in joining this kind of group, but it's nice to see a few already speaking against war on h2g2. Especially when current polls claim 90% of Americans would support a war right now. My local supermarket is playing "God Bless America" and "This Land Is Your Land" over their PA system, which they don't even do on July 4th. It would be nice to know some other Americans don't buy into the idea that further bloodshed will bring justice.

Wouldn't it be ironic to start protesting this war before our selected president has even announced exactly who we're at war with? Wouldn't it be ironic if the leader of a nation announced that troops were being mobilized for a war, but didn't mention exactly which nation(s) we're at war with? Is it just me, or does anyone else out there find it the teeniest bit odd? Hello? Is anybody out there?

Good Idea Deidzoeb.

Personally I would like to have a pro-peace group - but sign me up anyway. Yoy have my email addy.

One of the things which is positive about this is that we have all come out of our different h2g2 ghettos; I am meeting researchers in the threads know who have been here for longer than I have, and whom I have never met before.

*still doing a daily Meditation for Peace: http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A631261 *

a human being called Ben

Make Love Not War

Hi!

Count me in with the hippie peaceniks.

Heres a first stab at an entry called 'People for Peace.' Very sketchy at the mo, comments and suggestions welcomed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A633331

peace, love, harmony

purplejenny

Nice one Jenny

I know that someone has put up the text of the UN declaration of human rights here on the site. And please feel free to add in a link to the Meditation for Peace - A631261.

Ben

Yours in peace,
Berek
(ex-CND/END)

Once a hippie, always a hippie. (I still have the long hair, too.)

Mir.

-7rob7

Deidzoeb,

I agree with you entirely. War means death and destruction. (see my posting on WWIII). I think the whole thing is highly dangerous and *most* people (that's the impression I get from the media) seem to think that whipping the butts off a few Arabs is a good idea. Bin Ladin has been tried, found guilty, and hung on hearsay. I don't blame him for hiding - Some Justice!! I appreciate that he is an acknowledged terrorist, but that doesn't mean that he is automatically guilty of this atrocity and it is unfair on the victims of the attack on Tuesday (as well as the accused), to "convict" the wrong person.

It is also worth while pointing out that the people who actually *committed* the crime are already being tried in a higher court. Or for those that don't believe in an eternal deity, they have already payed the highest price.

Bambi

PS That is all code for "If you start one, I'll join it!"

No more wars? Count me in!

Peace

Hear, hear!

I'll join a group for peace!

"I am not only a pacifist but a militant pacifist. I am willing to fight for peace. Nothing will end war unless the people theselves refuse to go to war." - Albert Einstein (1879-1955)

There is an online petition addressed to the White House. Check out thepetitionsite it has a [URL Removed by Moderator] petition is very relevent, a call for the US government not to be hasty in any action they take, and a call for no more civilian casualties. Check it out, pass it on!

Not that they'll take any notice, but at least we stood up to be counted. Or shot at.

Once a hippy, twice a hippy, three a penny four...

peace
~jwf~

PS: In a recent (pre-WTC) conversation with MM he agreed we need a smiley. I then suggested we really need three:
1. dove
2. hippy fingers
3. CND (the classic Committee for Neuclear Disarmament one)
..and there it sits. But the way has been paved to ask TPTB to expedite the creation of a peace symbol we could use both generally and in this campaign specifically.
If we are allowed only one, I'd go for the dove as having the best all round usage (hopefully, peace is more than just No Nukes) and the least likely to be abused (by fingering hippies) in other, irrelevant, personal flame-wars. The dove has a much longer history than the others and is perhaps more universally recognised.

Flinch - or do I call you the Autist? Can you either post the url on your home page or mail it to me at [email protected]

* considers fingering a hippy, and decides it depends on who the hippy is... *

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a human-being called Ben

Sign me up this instant. I new I wasn't the only one who doesn't think war is in any way A Good Thing. Subcon, "Wouldn't it be ironic to start protesting this war before our selected president has even announced exactly who we're at war with? Wouldn't it be ironic if the leader of a nation announced that troops were being mobilized for a war, but didn't mention exactly which nation(s) we're at war with?" is what I have also been thinking. No wonder they're having to "re-invent the 'rules'" of war... (such as who with, to achieve what ends, etc).

You cant solve violence with more violence, up with peace. whoever out there has the h2g2 knowledge to set up a communty (not me) please you have my, and a growing number of our support. peace is good war is not i want that url too

I was going to ask who one had to sleep with to get a Peace smiley. I am relieved that others are prepared to take on the task instead.

I'm not dogmatically anti-war in all circumstances, but I'm certainly anti- this one - count me in.

A girl called Ben has started a sign up thread here http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/F76974?thread=141920&skip=0&show=20 And this is the draft 'people for peace' h2g2 anti war group. http://www.bbc.co.uk/h2g2/guide/A633331 We are probably gonna get a mention in the h2g2Post, right now I need help with the wording to make a final draft. I'm gonna be taking a few quotes from these forums, and asking around for people to join and help decide the point and function of such a group... Please take a look and let me know your thoughts, purplejenny

Yeah, rob, make 7love7 not war...

Less flippantly:

Jenny, I like it as it stands, it is short, and sweet, and to the point.

I particularly like the final sentance "We as individuals take responsibilty for our behaviour, and aim to promote tolerence, goodwill and understanding to all".

Personally, I am not against a strong military, or against sending in troops where they will do some good. I do not know if I am against war, in other words. But I am against THIS war for loads of reasons, mainly that it is playing into the hands of the Terrorists, and that you cannot fight terrorists with conventional armed forces. I do not believe it is a war the West can win. I do not know if it is a war the west will lose.

For these reasons I would not personally write the sentance: "People for Peace advocate peaceful negotiation to resolve conflicts. Not War."

Having said that - I have no problem at all signing a document which includes it. Also I think that it is best to keep this as short and as general as possible.

Finally - the Arbiter scheme got a tad bogged down in minutiae *hides from 7r7, Tube, Colonel Sellars, because she knows she hasn't done her homework* - so I suggest that you go with something as close to the first draft as you can.

A long post saying "it is great as it is, keep it that way..."

agcB