What they are really saying. Norm Geras lays out what todays' protesters in London are really saying. Unless they specifically decide to say something else. Which they won't.
But it's actually much worse than moral equivalence and here is why. Because not only is Bush to be toppled, as Saddam was by jubilant Iraqis, but there has never been any similar great public showing, by the forces of 'peace party' liberalism and the socialist, anti-globalist left, of any joy, or even relief, or solidarity with the joy and relief of most Iraqis, over the original toppling. In so far as this is ever expressed at all, by individual 'peace'-niks, it's side-of-the-mouth, get-it-over-with-quickly stuff. But as for public rituals, leave alone clear and forthright individual statements, it's the great big zero.
So the wished-for demise of President George W. Bush, this is a matter for public enactment and celebration; but the actual demise of one of the world's worst dictators, that is a dirty little piece of private shame for people who should have been out there shouting their elation, should have been some time for heaven's sake - if not on that day, then later, today even - shouting their joy that one national prison had been prised open, that one foul symbol of the crushing of humanity had been toppled, echoing the relief of Iraqis. But they never did and they still won't. What a scale, what a relativity, of values.
Naturally, you can demonstrate against Bush's visit today and not feel yourself part of this meaning. But you are unless you aren't, and you aren't only if you make that clear somehow. The most visible public face of the event - in the fake toppling, in the organization and leadership of this anti-war movement, in some of its most prominent spokespeople - says to the world today, as it has been saying for many months: Bush, no; Saddam, mumble, cough (or worse).
Norm also challenges Britain's chapter of Amnesty International, whose director
publicly urged people to protest Bush's visit. Apparently he isn't the only one reconsidering his support of the organization. But,
I have withdrawn my support from two other charities which opposed the war to free Iraq from Saddam Hussein, but in both cases there are other charities doing similar work and to which I can transfer the same support. Members and supporters of Amnesty - as I have been for so many years now that I don't remember since when exactly - don't have anywhere else to go in that sense. So what I wrote was motivated by a desire to see a tendency arrested if it's developing, not a desire to discredit an organization I've supported over so many years.
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