UW-Madison has a history of harboring the harbingers of social discontent and, as such, has been generally unreceptive to the precepts of conservatism. Arrayed against such odds, most campus conservatives have diligently worked to articulate a message that is free of cathartic rancor and relevant to student politics.
Their efforts have paid off, big time. Eternally liberal UW is now host to a conservative newspaper, one of the nation's largest College Republican chapters and scores of other conservative amenities that you wouldn't expect to find. But before we invite Vice President Cheney (UW alumnus) to teach intro to political theory, the emergence of an ultra-right contingent is threatening conservatives' commitment to civil dialogue and their long-term viability.
The newest addition to the radical right on campus is a local chapter of an international organization called \Protest Warrior."" Founded in the midst of the Iraq war debate, Protest Warrior is a group that infiltrates anti-war protests and demonstrations with the intent of fulfilling their manifesto of ""arming the liberty-loving Silent Majority with ammo-ammo that strikes at the intellectual solar plexus of the Left.""
Approximately 15 local devotees showed up at the antiwar walkout and ROTC protest that took place two weeks ago. Not to be confused with College Republicans and other counter-protesters, the protest warriors were the only group of the pro-war folks who were able to aptly articulate why this war was necessary-to defeat communism.
At the rally, the Protest Warriors were merrily brandishing a sign that said ""Communism has only killed 100 million people-let's give it another chance."" If you follow the logic of this dazzling requiem to McCarthy, it is only a matter of time before Iraqis communists would threaten us. Somehow our enemies, against even the most rudimentary dictates of political theory and history, have conspired to form a communist/Islamic super-enemy waging war against freedom. Damn that crafty Marx!
The entire organization is nothing but an outlet for juvenile aspirations of conflict and grandeur. Just looking at an index of their ""operations"" you get the feeling they are living in a parallel reality that is comprised entirely of Chuck Norris movies.
Operation ""Liberty Rising"" is what they called their anti-protest activities at the Republican National Convention last year. If you watch their video, you come to understand that what they call ""Liberty Rising,"" the rest of the world calls protesting.
Operation ""Tiger Claw"" consisted of a high school student who-in the language of action movies-""rebelled against the sinister thought police by courageously battling teachers and the administration."" Operation ""Tiger Claw"" was a kid walking around his high school posting their flyers while waving an American flag. You get the feeling that these wackos honestly believe that one day President Bush is going to summon them to the White House and, while he's in his flight suit, inform them he needs their help for operation ""Love America,"" in which those who disagree with the administration are publicly flogged.
Protest Warrior exists simply as a way for people to garner attention and self-importance by doing nothing more than making people angry. One member explained that joining Protest Warrior ""changed his life"" and said, ""I hate how liberals roll their eyes at us ... like we are children whenever they see our signs.""
Something that both mainstream conservative and liberals on campus and nationwide learned long ago is that if you want your ideas to be accepted by adults, you must first act like one. Judging from Protest Warrior's rhetoric and behavior, it is clear that acting like adults is something the group would rather not do.
opinion@dailycardinal.com.
