A (hypothetical) March for Peace. Would you join?

hypotheticalmarchforpeace · 2023-10-28T10:33:00+00:00

If I had the organisational skills or influence (I don't) to organise a nationwide 'March for Peace', would you (hypothetically) sign up and join? The marches which are happening are largely in support of one side or the other and the world is probably more divided than its ever been. My (hypothetical) march for peace would want to see peace-loving people from all sides walk together as human beings with the following non-partisan aims. 1. Everyone who wants to see stability, security and a thriving economy with opportunities for all, in the Middle East is welcome to join 2. The March would be calling on world leaders to dismantle/disempower militant, oppressive terror groups wherever they are found. 3. Create a safe and secure homeland for Jewish people 4. Create a safe and secure homeland for Palestinians I obviously have very little idea on how these aims can be politically achieved but being fuzzy on the details has never stopped a March from happening before! This is a genuine question because while I have personal views on this conflict, I actually (perhaps naively) want to live in a world where people can live free of violence and fear. For that reason I'm trying to be intentional about not adding to the division. Is this a March you could join? What would you add to the aims (that is non-partisan)? Also, if anyone knows how to actually organise a March like this (😂), count me in!

WrongSwanson · 28/10/2023 11:45

Yes,this is the march I would want to join

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

Finteq · 28/10/2023 12:32

No

Ohlalalalala · 28/10/2023 12:35

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

Agreed.

OpheliaPlum · 28/10/2023 12:39

I’m in

ChardonnaysBeastlyCat · 28/10/2023 12:52

No, because it will inevitably be highjacked by whoever shouts the loudest.

Also, the Stop the War march? The Stop Brexit marches? Been there, done that, nothing happened.

mollyfolk · 28/10/2023 12:55

notsoready4school · 28/10/2023 12:31

This might be naive but I do really think that if Palestine could be an independent and free from harassment and intimidation with its own space for its own people to live and flourish then they would just get along with their lives like the rest of the Middle East and so could Israel without fear of another Hamas growing. The inhumanity and suffering that is happening right now is just fuelling the next round of violence. It just goes round in circles, this is the genesis of every terrorist organisation. It doesn’t take a genius to figure out Hamas is an ideology that can only get fuel when there are young angry oppressed people with nothing to do and more importantly nothing to lose.

i wish there was a way to break the cycle, for peace. The starting point would be freedom though

You are spot on.

SharonEllis · 28/10/2023 12:56

How would a peace march in Britain secure a separate homeland for Palestine and achieve security for Israel? Can you explain the mechanism by which it would achieve these aims?

SharonEllis · 28/10/2023 13:22

Most specifically how would world leaders peacefully 'dismantle/disempower militant, oppressive terror groups wherever they are found'.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 28/10/2023 13:24

I believe in the possibility of a velvet revolution. I don't mind being called naive. Certainly peaceful protest is more likely to succeed than violence - and it takes a surprisingly small minority of the population to effect change. Both sides in this case need to demonstrate their desire to come together and talk, probably under the auspices of a neutral body. And more moderate representatives, willing to compromise, are required.

A peace march in the UK might not do much - but a coordinated demonstration across the world and most particularly in Israel might ... (I'm not sure the Gazans are in a position to organise marches right now.)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

The '3.5% rule': How a small minority can change the world

Nonviolent protests are twice as likely to succeed as armed conflicts – and those engaging a threshold of 3.5% of the population have never failed to bring about change.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

NuffSaidSam · 28/10/2023 13:39

No, because marching for Utopia is a waste of time. It's not going to happen because it's outside of anyone's ability to make it happen.

Nonplusultra · 28/10/2023 13:43

I lived through the era of peace marches and I’ve been really struck by the absence of those voices this time round.

We saw periods of peace in Palestine, peace in Northern Ireland, a thawing of the Cold War and East-West cooperation that was unimaginable to us.

We need bigger imaginations now.

Autumnalvibesofmellowness · 28/10/2023 13:44

Of course.

fridaynight1 · 28/10/2023 13:48

No I wouldn’t march. It would solve nothing and cost the taxpayer money for all the policing.

RubyRubyRubyRubay · 28/10/2023 13:48

World peace would only happen if people refused to bear arms. Unfortunately there are too many traumatised young men, radicalised through previous conflict, motivated to kill.

If boys and men refused to bear arms, war would stop.

PTSDBarbiegirl · 28/10/2023 13:54

Call me a cynical old bastard but I don't think marching about the UK will help the people of Palestine one iota. It would never be broadcast by Hamas or Israel.

The people of Palestine are being told there were no civilian casualties in Israel and seemingly think Hamas is a democratic organisation.

I've marched for various things over 40 years. It makes you feel better but achieved fuck all.

Loulou599 · 28/10/2023 13:58

No. I'm a westerner. It's not my job to call for peace if others have conflicts to settle

Libertass · 28/10/2023 14:00

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TheWayTheLightFalls · 28/10/2023 14:10

Yes, though I worry that it would be hijacked by shouty morons.

I want several thousand people standing outside Parliament with signs like this basically -

PEACE NOW
שלום עכשיו
السلام الآن
мир сейчас
спокій зараз

(apologies if you're a fluent Arabic or UA speaker and I've just written a restaurant menu, doing my best here)

Finlesswonder · 28/10/2023 14:13

No way. Maybe pre 2000, but after decades of terrorism in our own peaceful countries i won't march for anything that gives weight to a terrorist perspective

InvisibleDuck · 28/10/2023 14:14

No.

I went on all the Stop the War marches and various others (including for Palestine) years ago. I enjoyed them and it was nice to know that so many people shared my viewpoint but I don't think any of it changed anything.

(Also, I stopped going along when the police started kettling people because I'm autistic and couldn't cope with that.)

DeadBugMountainClimber · 28/10/2023 14:17

No, I think it’s an honourable wish but all it would be in reality is a parade of virtue signalling.

TodayInahurry · 28/10/2023 14:19

I remember when 1 million plus people marched to stop Blair’s wars, makes no difference to anything I am afraid

marmaladeandpeanutbutter · 28/10/2023 14:22

I'm definitely in favour of peace but I'm doubtful we'd get it. Governments don't tend to listen. Also Israel has gone so far against Gaza that there'll be nothing left before it could be organised.

SharonEllis · 28/10/2023 17:44

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 28/10/2023 13:24

I believe in the possibility of a velvet revolution. I don't mind being called naive. Certainly peaceful protest is more likely to succeed than violence - and it takes a surprisingly small minority of the population to effect change. Both sides in this case need to demonstrate their desire to come together and talk, probably under the auspices of a neutral body. And more moderate representatives, willing to compromise, are required.

A peace march in the UK might not do much - but a coordinated demonstration across the world and most particularly in Israel might ... (I'm not sure the Gazans are in a position to organise marches right now.)

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20190513-it-only-takes-35-of-people-to-change-the-world

You're not sure the Gazans are in a position to organise maeches right now? How about before October 7th? Have you done any research at all on how Hamas rules Gaza? Have you been seeing how Iran (Hamas's key backers) treats peaceful demonstrators? What an incredibly naive & self indulgent post.