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Diary of the experience
The image that will stay with me is of people coming to the railings throughout that day and the next. When I went back there over the next few weeks, I saw it continued. People came either with a label they have written at home, or came to read other messages first and then write their own on a label. Some came with family or friends, some alone. Some came because they had heard about it from friends, and picked up a label to write on. So with some ribbons as well, the main site looked spectacular. We had to keep reminding ourselves that it is actually difficult for people to know what to write. We are not used to being asked to express our own thoughts in a public place. It is much easier to repeat slogans, but most people wanted to do more than that, and we did suggest "personal thoughts, concerns and questions". People are also unused to writing thoughts on labels - so there is no ready-made format or style for doing it! Most people therefore wanted to think first about what to write. They also talked about it. But that is part of what made it a good event, that took on a life of its own, as quiet reflection, discussion and comment. We realised, even more than we had hoped, that in the absence of any public debate or space for public debate, the simple act of giving someone a label is, in a very small way, offering people a chance to say something in a public place. People took it up. And in the end both sites became a powerful statement of the thoughts of the people in this town. As you can see, the labels contain an interesting mix - some are personal thoughts, some are messages to Blair, some are questions, some are like political slogans, and some are religious or political quotations. For me personally the most memorable part of the day was the interesting conversations with people in the street as I gave out the labels. People expressed thoughts, doubts, insights and concerns, and in many cases, experience of other wars. People seem very informed and very thoughtful about this issue, and surprisingly critical of Bush, Blair and the media. As we’ve said, we didn’t actually ask people whether they were for or against. And we were not in the business of persuading. But the reaction to our mentioning Iraq was usually to express a view on the war, and there was a really overwhelming majority against. Despite encouraging people in favour of war to tie a label, all but two of the messages on the railings were against. The most vocal against the war were the older people, some of whom said they have experienced war for themselves, have fought in war and know about the consequences. Some also talked about the history of the UK and Iraq. Significantly, people supported their view with reasons, about evidence, their experience and the consequences. Of course these don't always appear on the lebels. But Blair’s implied criticism, in his Glasgow speech on that day, that the public protest is sincere but naïve and emotional rather than responsible, may be experienced as yet another example of him not listening. People here felt strongly that they have evidence, reason and experience on their side. You can see the messages people wrote. Back to top |