A group of veterans from the US armed forces burnt their uniforms in a show of solidarity with the airman Aaron Bushnell, who died after setting himself on fire outside the Israeli embassy in Washington in a protest over the war in Gaza.Footage by Alissa Azar shows veterans lining up and taking turns to burn their military jackets at a vigil in Portland on February 28.A banner can be seen behind them, reading: “Veterans say: Free Palestine! Remember Aaron Bushnell.”The event was organized by the group About Face: Veterans Against the War, which told attendees to gather in front of the Wyatt Federal Building in Portland at 5 pm.Before setting himself on fire, Bushnell filmed himself saying he would “no longer be complicit in genocide". He then yelled “Free Palestine” several times as flames engulfed him. Credit: Alissa Azar via Storyful
Okay so you get a negligible increase in 3rd party votes and a sense of pride and satisfaction in reflecting your political views.
That’s got to feel great and all, but how does that solve any of the issues with the US governments actions?
I get where you’re coming from, with the time to vote stuff, because there will always be another even worse option. But how does the worse option winning this election help you achieve your long term goal of systematic change?
And what about the fact that the current bunch of worse option isn’t just some typical 80s neolib conservative keen on axing all social welfare and demonising the poor, but literal christo-fascists who would like to see the system overthrown for a regime that will offer even less chance for you ever achieving long term change.
My issue is with the lack of any clear long term plan or goal here for a solution. The only way I can see change happening is through grassroots organisation, and if you haven’t managed to build that up by now, it’s certainly not going to be achieved within 8 months time.