I watched "V for Vendetta" on DVD. It as a fun, action-packed super-hero story. My inner comic-book geek was pleased.

However, the movie glamorized vigilante violence as an effective method to change oppressive government policies. It also established some pop-culture memes that are not healthy in the long run.

Some examples:

1) One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter.

This is technically true. But it's more accurate to say that from the perspective of the dead person there are no terrorists OR freedom-fighters.

Violence is as effective a method of positive social change as torture is to getting accurate information out of people.

Blowing up buildings does nothing - absolutely nothing - to rally people to your cause. Ask Osama bin Ladin.

You could also look at the real Guy Fawks as an example of the futility of violence: His goal was to weaken the Church of England and destroy the ruling family by blowing up Parliament; but the gunpowder plot only solidified the Protestant cause and the monarchy.

2) People shouldn't be afraid of the government, governments should be afraid of the people.

Catchy slogan and I agree with the first part of that statement, but any element of fear in the government / citizen relationship is a problem.

The effective activist's goal should not be to turn the tables on the powerful so that they are terrified, but to make threats un-necessary too the conversation.

Why should an elected government that respects human rights be scared of the people? The government is the people. To say otherwise is like encouraging the thumb to be scared of the index finger.

3) Anonymous activism is effective.

No no no no and no.

This was the biggest problem with the movie. A crowd of mask-wearing individuals encourages irresponsible, violent behavior. This is why the police, the Klan and punk anarchists love them so much.

Nothing says: "I want to hurt you and not deal with the consequences" than a mask.

And consequences are what activism is all about.

The best stories are the ones where the hero has to make a tough choice and overcome the consequences. Similarly, the way to inspire people to action is by standing up against evil and accepting whatever society dishes out.

Imagine if Martin Luther King gave his "I Have A Dream" speech behind a mask, or if Cindy Sheehan tried organize anonymously. Do you think they would have been nearly as effective?

At this point, you may be thinking to yourself: "Well Paul, It's just a movie".

I agree - but already a group of libertarians(?) is dressing up as V and walking around Washington DC. So at least these people are taking the messages about masks and slogans seriously.

Thank goodness they didn't also take up the violent aspects of the movie.

If people want to dress up as an imaginary, mass-marketed, Hollywood character known for violence - GO FOR IT! In fact, since I'm opposed to their agenda of abolishing the income-tax, I hope they have more protests like this since it will only hurt them in the long term.

I would only have preferred to see the activists parade around as the Hamburgler, since it would have been just as effective and at least added a touch of humor and creativity.

I hope people learn from these "DC V" protests that, in the real world, V for Vendetta is a poor template for activism. Violence, slogans and masks don't change things - you do.

Read counterpoint here.

Tags: V - V for Vendetta - activism - violence - social change