Group Tyranny

Timothy Garten Ash makes the point that activist groups aren't good for freedom or democracy. They too often do more bullying than persuading. That's why I've always thought demonstrations and rallies are kind of pointless. There was a lot of talk about over a million demonstraters throughout the world against the War in Iraq. But out of 4 or 5 billion people that's pretty puny. Even out of 300 million Americans, it doesn't hold a candle to a poor turnout on election day.

Also, the people who do this are nearly always fixed in their minds and can't be reasoned with. So are they trying to reason with others? Or are they just making threats?

I believe in democracy within limits to protect some individual rights. If Muslims can raise enough votes to make it illegal to depict the Prophet Mohammed, then the law should be obeyed. But when you start rioting and destroying things and killing people because you don't like their country's laws or because what somebody did there wasn't illegal, you're crossing the line. Being offended is your right. Attacking others physicall is not.

I you want to demonstrate, do it by writing a letter or giving a speech, but what this violence has demonstrated is that you aren't ready to join world civilization.
No wonder the rest of the world is scrambling to find an alternative to oil.