Interesting Past Two Days

I said I would come back with more interesting stuff to tell you and I have delivered. Or will. Later in this post. :D

Trish and I went to "Tent City" (or so we've coined it) on Friday. Tent City is a rag tag tent camp set up in front of Parliament as a giant peaceful protest. I didn't talk to many people but I took a lot of pictures. We couldn't tell if these people were posers, or legitimately acting on behalf of their own beliefs. We probably could have found out if these folks were worth listening to if we actually talked to them but alas, I didn't feel brave enough yet. Eventually Trish and I finished our tour of the city and came upon a very interesting individual. Though we couldn't tell whether the protesters were serious about their business, this man certainly had his own opinion.

His name is Brian

Haw. He's an activist and according to him, he's on a peace campaign, not a peace protest. "Get the words right," were his words if I remember correctly. Haw has been camped out in front of Parliament for the past nine years, donned in white t-shirts covered in anti-war messages. This past week, he and one of his fellow "campaigners" were arrested for causing a ruckus when the Queen came to give a speech concerning England's government reformation. Trish and I were not expecting to see him there when we went there but somehow he got out of jail and is back at his post.

We were hesitant to approach him at first, but then we gathered our courage and walked up to him and two of his friends (who have been camping with him for some time - not sure how long, sorry). After he was done conversing with them he beckoned us over to talk. This was when I learned he was on a "peace campaign" and not a "peaceful protest" (... when I figure out the difference I'll let you know - don't hold your breath), and also when I learned he greatly resents the protesters behind him.

"They're all actors, fuckin' dressing up as hippies, drinking the drink and doing drugs," Haw said. Haw said the other protesters have tried to engage him in attempts to create a sense of unity, but he isn't having any of it. "They should fuck off home," he said. Later Haw spoke of a future in which thousands of people might get arrested for doing what he did to get him thrown in the slammer last week.

I guess the difference between a peaceful protest and peace campaign is this. Peaceful protesters will hold their signs, camp out in front of Parliament and have their beliefs be spoken through their presence and picket sign. Peace campaigners do just that but without the silence. Or so it would seem, seeing how Haw yelled his beliefs through the window of the Queen's carriage when she arrived at Parliament.

Haw is extremely leftist if you haven't gathered. One of his t-shirts even criticizes Obama, a president many liberals adore. As far as Haw is concerned, anyone involved in the continuation of the war is "evil." This concerned Trish and me. Obama may have his flaws, but to call someone evil seemed a bit overkill.

"Why are we over there? They never bombed us," Haw said. I was unsure of whether he was talking about England or the US, a question I should have asked, damn. Regardless, the first thought I had was a picture of the World Trade Center collapsing with innocent people inside. Even if England wasn't attacked by the Taliban or Al Quaeda, I'm fairly certain England and the U.S. have a relationship that entails protecting one another. When one is under fire, the other is likely to join the fight. We helped each other in WWII, so it's understandable that the English and American Armed Forces would be involved in the same conflict.

What are the consequences for quickly pulling out of a war that has been raging for years? Why are we fighting in the first place? Is fighting always immoral? When a mother's child is in danger from an attacker, would it be unreasonable to say she would protect her kin with her fists if she had to? Certainly not. I know the analogy probably doesn't spread to the war in Iraq, but the mindset of the British and American leaders might be likened to it. All I'm saying is there are two sides to everything, and extremism is a bold, precarious beam to balance on.

Haw said no member of parliament has tried speaking with him in the nine years he's been camped out across the street. I can only imagine why.

When a person resorts to extreme actions, such as making the front yard of Parliament his unofficial residence for nearly a decade and heckle the Queen of England from a tent, he makes it clear he is convinced the other side is wrong and that well, he might be crazy. That kind of reckless conviction is not what people running a country want to deal with. The people who are willing to talk and are worth talking to are those that understand that nothing is one-sided.

From what it seemed, Haw isn't interested in talking. But then again, I haven't been interviewing him for nine years. I could be totally wrong; he may have tried talking to the other protesters which he greatly resents, and he may have been patient some time ago. But now I don't see a man willing to include. I see someone who is self-righteous and for lack of a better word, nuts.