Mikel Grenzner.com

Or rather, on those who were guests in the gallery of the House.

While watching today’s coverage of the Petraeus/Ryan meetings, I was struck by the utter lack of tact and forethought in the actions of some lucky enough to get a seat in the gallery. Despite being warned of the decorum to be followed during official proceedings by the Chair, some felt it appropriate to chant, yell and prevent the proceedings from continuing. When it came to the point of being arrested, they screamed and resisted and generally made their existence known to all around them.

Representatives of groups like Code Pink seem to believe that dressing up in poorly made costumes, chanting inane rants and acting like you’re being tortured when the DC Police come to arrest you does nothing but alienate your members and your message from the field of rational political discourse. Much like a child at a store who was refused a candy bar, these individuals yelled and stamped around and held their breath until they were removed from the situation.

So I ask these people, what good did you do? You understand that the party in control of Congress generally supports your views, right? Do you understand parliamentary procedure enough to understand that there is a limited amount of time for questions, and that by holding up the proceedings, you give less time for questions to be raised and oversight to be accomplished? Do you understand that by dressing and acting like toddlers you and your positions will be treated as though they are and came from toddlers?

I don’t care if their intentions are good. In the face of good acts, good intentions are meaningless. What these people did hurts their cause, a cause that most of America actually supports. If your goal is to save the lives of the troops and the citizens of Iraq, congratulations. You’ve worked against those goals. Your actions make an easy target for those opposed to ending this war, and make it more difficult for those who support an end to keep supporting it.

There is no need for hack political commentators to construct rhetorical straw men when you and your ilk so readily do it for them.

I understand that the war is one of the biggest mistakes the current administration has made. I understand that it’s frustrating to see our soldiers die every day for seemingly nothing. I understand that the Republicans are generally dragging their feet and the Democrats are generally not pulling every trick they can. I understand that the President is a poor military leader. I and many others feel the same way you do.

Yet how many soldiers did dressing up and getting arrested bring home?

This isn’t the 1960s and the tactics need updating. No one cares about people who chain themselves to a door, or walk around with signs or get arrested in the middle of Congress. Walking around looking like a mob of zombies chanting about your favorite cause also does little to endear you to the average American, who has little time for such things. The tactics I see over and over again do not draw attention to your cause, they simply draw attention to yourself.

I find that incredibly selfish.