Blog Post #6: The Missing Anti-War Rhetoric

 

The Anti-Vietnam War Movement at the University of Michigan, 1965-1972.

Quick question how many organizations can you name that are openly anti war. You may be able to think of like one or two, but considering how the majority of America is against war this doesn't make sense. The anti war voices in articles and press media seem to also be far and few between as well but why? Well in this blog we will be attempting to find out these questions and more. 

Anti war censorship propaganda

Well here's what we know anti war media and advocates do exist for example antiwar.com which is a website with the goal of spreading their non-interventionist beliefs to the public. Why aren't there more of these on the internet. Well because during wartime the U.S. government gets special privileges and one of those is prior restraint. Which is the ability to stop a person from expressing speech before they even say anything. 

This also explains why these anti war advocates stay undercover and do not openly express so much as to get the government's attention. So no they won't be in your typical mainstream media they'll be much more harder to find. The American Conservative is a good example of this too a group that openly criticizes with much caution. Now let me ask you a question is that fair? If I had to answer that I would say absolutely not.

Speaking out against injustice

The reason as to why the government is able to use prior restraint during wartime is to protect national security. Which is like someone trying to leak crucial military information. To stop that information from getting to the opposing country the government has the right to stop them before that information gets out. 

Which is all fine and dandy until the government starts using it in ways it was not meant for. For example silencing anti war advocates the government will deny the protest permits. During the Vietnam and Iraq war 2003 the government would make public safety and traffic ordinances as a way to deny anti war protester permits. When the government requires a permit to speak or protest and selectively denies it based on the viewpoint, it acts as an unconstitutional prior restraint. 

So what can we do? We can keep calling things like out even if it means we are stopped from saying it. Eventually more will hear about it they can't stop everyone from speaking out so get more to join you and we won't stop until those corrupt practices are gone and done with.