Flower attacks! Do they still work?

[bobsobol]

So, I follow a group called TRAP (The Real Art of Protest) who report on protest movements all over the world, and for many different causes. They posted the image blow today, and it's caused a fair bit of controversy in the comments of other followers.

The image was taken and is owned by Dan Haimovich (copyright watermark included) who is, I believe, quite renowned for photographing protest and state oppressions. I'd not come across his work before.

The image was taken in Rothschild Boulevard, Tel Aviv, (Israel, just in case you where wondering) on Friday the 22nd June 2012 where citizens set up tents and blocked roads in protest. The sad failure is that, while I know about what happened, I still can't find out what they where actually protesting.

Anyway, I'm not as concerned with what they where trying to achieve as how this young lady is attempting to achieve it.

During the Vietnam war, pacifist protesters (in the U.S. in particular) met armed troops head on and protested for peace by placing flowers down the muzzle of their rifles. At that time, this defiant act of protest was widely regarded as being very effective, but I know that many forces around the world have now been issued strong training and guidelines to enable them to counter this action.

I'd like to know how effective people here believe this tactic may still be in acts of civil unrest / public protest.

[Flash1369]

they were protesting against the army supposedly using unnecesery force against civilians.
that, was a useless protest. i support the army, and if they hit someone it wasnt for nothing.
that method is certainly useless, and meaningless, and no such thing would help achiving anything.
there have been many useful protests the past 2 years, involving lowering the prices of overpriced products, lowering the prices of houses and apartments, and making new apartments for students, these new apartments were sold for barely anything compared to the prices we pay for normal apartments.
no, the flower method wont help, but i believe protesting would help, if they would do it the same as last year.[around 1milion people[around 1/7 of the population] were there.

[bobsobol]

Thanks Flash. It seems it's very much in line with the Occupy movement, but more specifically targeting welfare reform rather than the banking sector. I think this article told me the most without expecting me to already know the background.

I hear what you are saying about forces retaliating, rather than provoking. However, the IDF in particular have a reputation for being over zealous on the ground while maintaining a popular image among the Israeli population. I've heard people tell me they where completely behind the IDF until they experienced it for them selves. It's also worth noting that, in these clashes between civilians and the authorities, it only takes one bad apple on either side to tarnish the intentions of the rest.

Again, I think this image illustrates peaceful protest quite well. If she was greeted with any kind of hostility in return to the act depicted, I would have to consider it "unnecessary force".

I also agree with you about numbers... But I think that if 1 million people gathered in a park and each one gave a policeman a flower, that would be a lovely way to protest. I'd like to see police officers struggling under the weight of those flowers, just as a representation of the weight of popular opinion they are tasked with opposing.

It wouldn't have to be flowers either, it could be a button or a tissue, a teddy or anything innocent. It just happens that a flower is conveniently inoffensive. In the '60s "flower power" was very fashionable, and the flower was symbolic of peace and love all of which is naturally in opposition to the war they where protesting.

I still believe that this "gift" idea does have some potential power. At the end of the day, the police (IDF, Riot Squad or what ever official is threatening your protest) are usually there because it is their job. If they weren't paid to do it, and threatened with punishment if they fail to attend and do their duty, they wouldn't be there. Most of them aren't there for the strength of their conviction as the protesters are. I suspect it is worth protesters reminding themselves, and official forces that they are there (usually) to stop things getting out of hand, not to cause them to do so. It may set the correct scene from the start?

--- EDIT ---

BTW... this is another, less kind, method of passive protest practised in Montreal.

I still prefer the flower. But it illustrates a similar tactic. ;) Maybe others would prefer this, less generous humour gift?

[Flash1369]

Indeed it would be unnecessary force if she wouldve been dealed with violently, but no she wasnt, only violent case i heard happened in that protest was the "founder" of the protest attacking a soldier/cop, cant remember correctly and get 4 of em straining her. ofcourse, they presented it[the protestors{left}] as unnecessary force and a very hostile act of them, yet, nobody knows what really happened there. police and army[authorities] says she attacked him and the protestors says they used it for nothing.
if 1milion people gathered with flowers or anything reassembling peace in a protest, i think it would only give them attention with no result.
i do not believe people here have anything to do with "flower power" though thats only my belief.
100% agree with your last paragraph. they are paid to do so and that is their job, indeed it would be better if the protestors will be giving less troubles and give "gifts" or flowers or anthing, and it might do something, idk, i just dont think it would if they tried doing a flower protest or anything.
Lol'd at that pic of the 2nd protest, thats simply making fun of yourself. that, or being a trol.
edit:thatsa pretty ld article :/

[bobsobol]

Oh yea... I see that now. That was last years protest. I think this one is a repeat? Trying to make it an annual thing until stuff changes? It gets confusing. When was Daphne Leef (sometimes spelled "Leaf") arrested? This is why I don't really understand what they where trying to achieve. Anyway... it's not the point. (/me slaps himself for wandering OT)

[Flash1369]

sorry for more offtopic but, they've done alot of protests, not only about the apartments and such.
she was arrested this month.

[XcvcX]

Flower protests won't work. People aren't going to forgive to a flower...

[Flash1369]

whos talking about forgiveness? you didnt read did you.