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In fact, I think HST said he'd been to jail once, and that was for a crime he didn't commit.

The whole scene: It's like a cross between Idiocracy and Brazil.  American ET-ers: the sense I got is just...here's anna missed (from Moon of Alabama, link above)

Looks like the Milgram experiment in real life. The conformity and complicity of the audience is appalling, especially considering its a "liberal" one. Such displays of state violence have become expected to the extent that the audience is amused (and even cheering) as things begin to unfold, as if its a reality show - but then when the real violence comes on they laps into a catatonic stupor of inaction - like they are watching Rodney King at home on television. They don't call us sheeple for nothing.


Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.
by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 06:18:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
It's shocking, I've had several friends who have been on the recieving end of riot sticks. One of whom got £20,000 after being assulted by the police.

I've always seen the police having to threaten people to keep them from joining in in situations like this, amongst a political  group, I've always seen half the police facing out and dealing with the crowd around, the fact that you dont have the police looking out so they are expecting not to be interfered with

That's what I find most scary

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.

by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 06:32:20 PM EST
[ Parent ]
My brain ties this to the "We're going to war with Iran" message.  The audience is watching, thinking, making judgements...but the only people acting are "those in control."

I thought about what I'd've done.  Maybe stand up and walk to the front, say to Mr. Kerry, "Excuse me, but they seem to be arresting that guy for asking questions."

I dunno.  Something.  But yeah, "scary" is the word.

I also thought "Solidarity".  The lack of, and the results of the lack of.

Turns out the guy is a journalist of some kind.  I'm hoping some civil rights lawyer types get onto this.  The video evidence is clear.  The female officer makes her move and he was supposed to walk out, sorta like bouncers escorting you from a club.  "Out on the street you go, sonny!"  But he says, "Are you arresting me?"

I was also reminded of Migeru's question:

"What will it take to radicalise the middle classes?"

(Well, it was along those lines)

I also thought of Kent State back in the sixties (apologies if I've mis-remembered), when they took over the offices, the police hauling people out, but...a taser?  The sound...  And the police following procedure, and feeling that they have obeyed the rules.

HST destroyed a guy's career for behaviour like that--a counter charge, suing for millions of dollars for wrongful arrest, get the police on the back foot...any US lawyers in the house?

And now it reminds me of one of Bernhard's comments a while back:

"The latest thing in Germany is to steal the air from the tires of SUVs and then leave a sticker on the windscreen explaining about environmental damage."

(My paraphrase.)

The point being, "to act or not to act": when they taser a guy for basically banging on too long, that's too late...ach...someone better at expressing themself can hopefully express it better.

Don't fight forces, use them R. Buckminster Fuller.

by rg (leopold dot lepster at google mail dot com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 06:47:30 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Somthing makes me think that they need a course in basic political organisation and resistance.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 07:14:51 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Judgments against the police are not at all uncommon in the US. Remember how this is a "lawsuit society?" People are not afraid to sue the cops for harassment.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 07:20:23 PM EST
[ Parent ]
it wasn't that, more the fact that people weren't in the polices faces there and then giving them grief about interfering with the kid trying to speak. and even more that the police were acting as if they didn't expect to be interfered with.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 07:24:35 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I know what you mean, but this wasn't a protest. An antagonistic crowd is far different than a bunch of people listening to a speech. The group psychology is completely different.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 07:39:17 PM EST
[ Parent ]
I'd still expect at least one person to get up and tell the police they were out of order. At the very minimum it should have been Kerry.

Any idiot can face a crisis - it's day to day living that wears you out.
by ceebs (ceebs (at) eurotrib (dot) com) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 09:05:33 PM EST
[ Parent ]
Yeah, Kerry definitely should have, but I'm not surprised that he didn't.

you are the media you consume.

by MillMan (millguy at gmail) on Tue Sep 18th, 2007 at 09:20:37 PM EST
[ Parent ]

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