First of all, let me say that I do not condone harm to the environment, nor do I condone slave labor. There was a message posted on this server by a young lady who said we should protest McDonald's because, "it's fun, and it works!" She said "it's fun," thus revealing the true and essential spirit of ninety-nine percent of the "save the world" crusaders. Most of these crusaders are highly disorganized, egocentric individuals who are "proud to be humble." I saw a good deal of them in University. Let me assure you that they are no less small-minded and intolerant than the "establishment" they think they are going to bring down by handing out leaflets. Ask them to construct an intelligent argument based on fact (Which involves research and impartial, intellectual WORK) and you get lots of "I think," and "I feel." This convoluted methodology was also used by a man from Austria to seize power in Germany in the late 30's. His name was Adolph Hitler. Did you "tree huggers" know that this man, whom you all revile (justly so) shared your beliefs? Did you know he was a vegetarian who believed in the preservation of nature? Let's not act so pure. I have been in debate with "tree huggers" before. They act like enlightened, liberal martyrs until you present them with arguments based on fact. When you present arguments they cannot counter, they call you a "fascist," not even knowing what that means.As for the second of this lady's remarks, "it works," I would bring to your attention that you who accept this are deluding yourselves and making a laughing-stock of yourselves. Do you really think that holding hands and painting protest signs, and yelling and screaming about things you have no knowledge of will bring down a multi-national company with holdings in the hundreds of billions? Do you think McDonald's really cares what you think? Do you think the Central Comittee in Beijing cared about the hurt feelings of the students who stood in front of Red Army tanks?
Now, let's be fair. I am not for one second suggesting that you have no right to do what you are doing, because people with a sense of responsibility died to get you those rights. You know, those veterans that your kind spat on when they returned from Viet Nam and WWII? Yes, those men. You spat on them, but they shed their blood to protect your right to behave like unintelligent, spoiled, middle class brats. You are not a friend of humanity because you wear sandals rather than jackboots. What I am saying is, first of all, if you want to be taken seriously, there are a few things you will have to do. First......check the FACTS. No, not the hysterics you read in "High Times" or the "Happy Hippy Newsletter." I mean check the actual facts on the activities of McDonalds......in other words, get of your asses and go check these things out with the Attorney General and quit whining about it being "just another part of the establishment."
Look at Mohandas K. Gandhi...Do you know why his movement worked? Not because he had an attitude problem, or a problem with authority. He was a lawyer, kiddies. He told India, "If we are to have independence, we must prove WORTHY of it." In other words, you don't get a platform just because you say you should have one, then give up the cause when the world doesn't fold for you. You get a platform when your opponents consider you to be at least their intellectual equals. In other words, you will have to behave like professionals with half a brain. Lenin understood this. He knew that the change he sought to create in Russia would not come about through the protests of angry workers, but through the labors of a small, elite corps of DISCIPLINED radicals. They key word here is "DISCIPLINE." Look it up in the dictionary, friends, that is, if there are any left after you burn down the paper factories.
Face the facts, kiddies, you are not going to change anything by being a pest. Nor are you going to bring down 2000 years of western civilization with a sit-in. Given a choice between cutting down some tress and leaving starving people without jobs, I say give me an axe. If protesting McDonald's involved not getting attention, none of you would do it.
Now I know I will be attacked. I will not respond. Why? That's a strategy I learned from Gandhi. You will call me "pig" or "fascist" or tell me to "grow up." I will not respond to remarks like that. Because I get shivers down my spine at the mere thought of showing these false crusaders for the sham they are.
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McSpotlight: I wouldn't personally call you a 'pig' or a 'fascist'; to do so would be to miss up an opportunity to describe you as 'a pompous and condescending prat with a bizarre fondness for Nietsche'.
For your information, what do you think it took to produce a website with over 30,000 pages, if not 'discipline'? - and what are the McLibel Two - who gave five years of their life up to defend their view in court; if not 'dedicated'?
If it's educated opinion you want, look at the number of expert witnesses who spoke out against McDonald's in the witness stand - you can find them under the subject they specialize in on the Issues page.
(In fact, one of them used to be the Assistant Attorney-General of Texas...)
Secondly, it's one of those old myths that Hitler was vegetarian; in fact, his favourite meal was stuffed pigeon.
And since Western society is not self-sustainable, it is likely to collapse of its own accord before too long.
