New Theory: Dissent Causes Terrorism

April 2, 2003 2:10 PM

New White House policy: Drugs no longer cause terrorism. Well, not really, but the White House is officially pulling the plug on the Ogilvy & Mather "drugs cause terrorism" spots that have been the focus of previous debate here. Also of not in the article, the White House is ceasing the funding of an $8 million annual study that found the ads to be ineffective. That'll show 'em!
posted by jonson (11 comments total)

O&M are so 80's...*yawn*
posted by i_cola at 2:14 PM on April 2, 2003

Dammit, they almost had me convinced...
posted by gottabefunky at 2:18 PM on April 2, 2003

They probably just want to retire this campaign to clear the deck for the "peace protesters cause terrorism" campaign that will be kicking off this season.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:15 PM on April 2, 2003

What, terrorists are on drugs? ;)
posted by LouReedsSon at 8:20 PM on April 2, 2003

Or is it "independent journalism cause terrorism"? ;)
posted by spazzm at 8:23 PM on April 2, 2003

Damn, I thought I was joking but apparently reality is more absurd than my wildest sarcasm.
posted by madamjujujive at 8:54 PM on April 2, 2003

Dubbed Senate Bill 742, it identifies a terrorist as a person who "plans or participates in an act that is intended, by at least one of its participants, to disrupt" business, transportation, schools, government, or free assembly.

Sweet, sweet irony.
posted by spazzm at 9:36 PM on April 2, 2003

25 to life for blocking traffic?

Check please.
posted by LouReedsSon at 9:40 PM on April 2, 2003

Playing Devil's Advocate a bit here.. The modus operandi for terrorists is to shut down the system that they view to be their enemy. There was a method to the madness of taking down WTC before aiming for the Pentagon or the White House. The order of business for them was to shut down the economy of the system (i.e. the Stock Exchange & many corporations) before attacking the military or the political arm of the civilized world.

When a peace protest blocks traffic or disrupts business, the result is similar. Not quite as disruptive, but you ain't doin' any favors to the economy of America by slowing it down. It's taken enough of a beating in recent years.

Now, back to reality. A peaceful protest is civil disobedience. It's not an act of terror. My guess is the courts will eventually insist on a distinction, and the Senate Bill will be judged unconstitutional, but the Checks and Balances in our government's been taking a beating in recent years too. This country was founded on questioning authority. America wouldn't exist had we not rebelled against the UK. The real irony in all this is that the US & the UK are standing side by side in this war on Iraq, when just over 200 years ago that would have been unthinkable.
posted by ZachsMind at 10:57 PM on April 2, 2003

The real irony in all this is that the US & the UK are standing side by side in this war on Iraq, when just over 200 years ago that would have been unthinkable.

Unthinkable, yes. Partially because 200 years ago, oil was seen to be worthless.
posted by spazzm at 12:04 AM on April 3, 2003

The real irony in all this is that the US & the UK are standing side by side in this war on Iraq, when just over 200 years ago that would have been unthinkable.

Unthinkable, yes. Partially because 200 years ago, oil was seen to be worthless.

Not to mention that Iraq didn't exist way back then....
posted by thewittyname at 9:56 AM on April 3, 2003