The Agitator

April 20, 2002 6:40 AM

The Agitator prepares for a big day today. "My first anarcho-enviromentalist-anticapitalist protest. I sprang awake at 6:30am." Per Google, this is only the second thread in which an agitator has appeared.
posted by sheauga (16 comments total)

Another blog from someone in the thick of things is cyklotron, from Colombia -- "an itinerant gringo intent on leaving the world at least as good as he found it."
posted by sheauga at 6:42 AM on April 20, 2002

I think you meant this. What was the first thread in which an agitator appeared? Did I miss something? I can't read every thread.
posted by raysmj at 7:45 AM on April 20, 2002

No offense, sheauga, but that "agitator" link actually reads like very dry(but extremely accurate) satire.
I especially like "My first anarcho-enviromentalist-anticapitalist protest" sounds like a radical kids book. Maybe there coud be merchandise tie-ins, little plush Che Guevara and Zach De La Rocha dolls.
Mind you, I'm not knocking the causes sheauga, just some of the people behind them. Besides any movement that'll succeed better have a sense of humor about itself, right?
posted by jonmc at 7:55 AM on April 20, 2002

jonmc: Those in the libertarian movement's have the ability to laugh at themselves - or, rather, their political or ideological selves? That's not my typical experience with libertarians (the agitator is one, obviously), at all, although there have been exceptions. I'm sure someone will chime in and say this isn't fair, that I don't know enough libertarians (which would be a wrong presumption), but do you know a largish and representative cross-section of the people you're generalizing about and what their politics are all about? Doubt it.
posted by raysmj at 8:10 AM on April 20, 2002

I settle on an old white t-shirt I find wadded up in the corner of my dresser. This will do. It's extra wrinkled, signifying my extra anger. White, extra-wrinkled, extra-angry t-shirt. Check.

Beautiful.
posted by Ty Webb at 8:15 AM on April 20, 2002

but do you know a largish and representative cross-section of the people you're generalizing about and what their politics are all about? Doubt it.

Though I can't speak for anyone else ray, I can say that yes I do. I spent most of the 1990's hanging out in(for lack of a better word)"underground" circles and although I wasn't a particularly active participant, politics of the radical stripe was part of that.

I've said this numerous times before here, but humor is an essential ingredient in politics, no matter what side of the fence you fall on. One thing humor does better than anything elseis deflate self-importance and pomposity; what pomposity and self-importance engender is the belief that you are absolutely right wherein lie the seeds of totalitarianism.

So when a political figure uses humor on himself, or chuckles when someone else does, it's a good sign to me that they are reasonable people and thus worth listening to.
posted by jonmc at 8:34 AM on April 20, 2002

addendum: I have a feeling sheauga is doing what I mentioned here, namely poking a little fun at her own politics, which proves to me that she is someone worth listening to. But I already kne that..
posted by jonmc at 8:40 AM on April 20, 2002

Libertarian variant blog would be Liberty's Lungs -"Giving Lady Liberty some needed mouth-to-mouth." The little bit I've read there was well worth it!

Leftist hangouts are really going downhill if you have to scratch around for an "agitator." You've gotten my point: the word "agitator" isn't particularly prominent on this site; with the exception of a few armchair agitators, we're mostly running into trolls!

There's an "agitator network" still over at Worker's Power Global, but as far as Google's concerned, The Agitator is either a washing machine part or someone historic, like A Royal and Imperial Agitator for a Philipine Republic , an old-fashioned trade unionist, or Bella Abzug.

An observation: Even though the world is full of activists, I've only found one blog so far from an individual in a tight political spot: Tal G in Jerusalem. Are there other blogs like this, or are most activists too intimidated to keep on-line, real-time diaries that chronicle their activities?
posted by sheauga at 8:52 AM on April 20, 2002

Oh, yes, forgot to mention that there are still plenty of "outside agitators" to be found, but where do these people come from if they're always from "somewhere else," with no blogs or home pages with their cats' photos?
posted by sheauga at 8:56 AM on April 20, 2002

This comedy "agitator" may have bitten off more than he can chew in trying to play Che Guevara for the benefit of the warblog masses:

"Personnel should also be alert for any suspicious persons or activities on the scene or in the area, including persons photographing, videotaping or taking notes," the memo states.

"Police buildings and police actions are also likely to be under observation during this time," the memo continues. "Personnel should attempt to identify any suspicious persons who are photographing, videotaping, or taking notes in these instances."

"If possible, the individual(s) should be photographed," the memo adds.

So, try to report on A20, or take a picture of the cops, and you're automatically a terrorism suspect. Why am I not surprised that such an approach didn't take place at the pro-Israel rally last week? Oh, of course, that wouldn't fit the agenda, would it?

Anyway, I do hope that our committed free-marketeer gets hauled off by the cops and banged about a bit. I'm sure that Instadumbshit would give it his full consideration and then ignore it.
posted by riviera at 9:18 AM on April 20, 2002

Good point-- isn't everybody constantly under suspicion of terrorism now? Or do you think there's really such a thing as a "trusted flier"?
posted by sheauga at 9:32 AM on April 20, 2002

So, try to report on A20, or take a picture of the cops, and you're automatically a terrorism suspect.

I have a great photo of a cop videotaping me at 2000's April 16 IMF/WB demonstrations, near the ellipse. I'd love to get a hold of that footage.
posted by Ty Webb at 9:39 AM on April 20, 2002

this guy's pretty good. gives me a light buzz, like when eminem tries to be 'serious'.
posted by jcterminal at 10:30 AM on April 20, 2002

He's back from the puppet parade:

"Bush Is Hitler," read one sign. "Free Trade=Holocaust" read another. "IMF, International Mother Fucker," read one particularly uncreative poster. One guy dropped all pretense and went with, simply, "Fuck America." Drum circles broke out, and just in front of us, a quintuplet of spiraling, hairy college girls in sundresses and sneakers began chanting something about "profit is the enemy," and "George Bush is a ho! IMF has got to go!"

Something tells me the Bush Administration has little to worry about from these people.
posted by aaron at 7:01 PM on April 20, 2002

"IMF, International Mother Fucker," read one particularly uncreative poster...."

That would be a great name for a rap group...
posted by jonmc at 8:05 PM on April 20, 2002

And "George Bush is a Ho!" would be their first single, of course.

Number one with a.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:53 PM on April 20, 2002