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Saturday, September 16, 2006 12:00 AM

Virtually dead in Iraq

To protest the war in Iraq, a media artist infiltrates the U.S. Army's popular online video game and gets himself shot. While angry gamers, soldiers and even some peace activists call him a nuisance, others say his message hits home.

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  • Monday, September 18, 2006 11:44 AM

    creative activism is the future

    I think DeLappe has a great idea. This is the kind of activism that potentially can change the world. Getting into the streets is important but the media rarely covers a demonstration these days. DeLappe's approach is really stepping right into people's lives.

    The gamers apparently discuss DeLappe's interference in the ArmyOps Tracker chat area. I'm sure the gamers complain constantly in their discussions as they're convincing each other how cool the game is, how cool it would be to join the military and how useless DeLappe's efforts are in dissuading anyone from participating in the war. Who's to say these discussions by those playing the game don't cause some to be more cautious if considering joining the military? I would imagine there are recruiters/moderators that monitor the chat areas and will be available to persuade players to ignore DeLappe's annoying reality slaps. That should do nicely to alert the game players to be somewhat guarded or suspicious of any recruiters.

    A smarter approach is necessary for one's message or point of view to be heard especially by those other than the choir. Full and clever advantage must be taken of the Internet(s), this wondrous gift of communication. Many people are making antiwar videos and vignettes like 14 year old Ava Lowery. Some are sharing creative protests like 'Banksy' and the 'The Yes Men'. 'Banksy' protested the Bush administration's ongoing mentally defective need to torture and indefinitely imprison people and sneaked a life-size orange-suited figure appearing to be from Guantanamo onto the Disney grounds in view of visitors. 'The Yes Men' play impostors in various scenarios to make a point. Recently one of them played the top federal HUD official in a New Orleans housing meeting. The impostor shook hands with the mayor and the governor and from the podium declared a complete reversal of the city's plan to destroy intact, working class public housing which was untouched by Katrina's waters. Those who wanted to move back into their apartments were not offended but appreciated the efforts of 'The Yes Men'. Even the building contractors who were informed by 'The Yes Men' impostor that unfortunately there would be no contracts for them thought it was the fair thing to do.

    Of course both these events by 'Banksy' and 'The Yes Men' were covered in blogs and mainstream media online and on-TV.

    I'm hoping for smart, clever, creative, energized activism where confronting others can be more of a discussion or a video or audio link to demonstrate one's point of view. Maybe this will stimulate some meaningful interaction between all groups.

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