On Monday, a quintet including William Parker will demand the end of democracy in America in a concert to raise funds for the extremist World Can’t Wait organization’s efforts to “drive out” the duly and constitutionally elected Bush administration. Conveniently no mention is made of what sort of revolutionary junta would assume power, or how long martial law would be imposed.
If that sounds like an unfair characterization of World Can’t Wait, bear in mind, they proudly list Lynne Stewart as one of the “endorsers of this call” on their website. Stewart was convicted of providing material support to terrorists, namely her former client, Sheik Omar Abdel-Rahman, the spiritual leader of the 1993 World Trade Center bombers. She is to be sentenced October 16. Not exactly someone who has shown commitment to civil society and the democratic system.
If Parker and his associates don’t like the Bush Administration—fine—they don’t have to. They are free to speak their minds and raise funds for the Democratic Party (or the Greens or any respectable opposition party). However, no responsible citizen would call for a coup d’etat against a democratically elected government, or align themselves with an organization endorsed by a convicted terrorist supporter. It’s time some on the left took a time out and cooled down their rhetoric.