Anyone going to Mayday?

http://www.may1stseattle.org/

I personally hope the thing is a success. Although I disagree with a ton of what some of the protestor's think it is a good route, I personally think that Capitalism died long ago and I think a bunch of the nonsense that people think will help is tom foolery. BUT none the less Unlike our political candidates might PITCH, we truly do need a change! And that change will never happen in our current system or with our current election process. So rather than keep going down that road, I look forward to one and only one thing.

Watching people protest, get their asse$ pwned and find out how much freedom's have been stripped away already... Constitutional Republic with democracy.... ahahah

I hope allot of people go... I would but I have to work !!!! (I hope some can find the humor in that)


Edited by James - 30 Apr 2012 at 2:39pm

Jon,

Thanks for the link, had not yet seen the new video. I won't get mad at you for the little bit of vomit that I just tasted... after all I could have closed the window.

Well, May Day has (just about) come to pass.
After a particularly hectic day at the job, damn if I didn't just need to go to Happy Hour somewhere and get me a beer. Seems like my locale ain't got nothin but sports bars, other than wannabe sports bars (variations on a theme). fu*k this town. Ain't gonna be around much longer.
...so I go to a local bar, imagining myself sipping sum suds while watching a game that I really don't giva rats ass about. Sounds appealling after a day like today, ironicly. I coulda gone and boated the Green at a sweet medium flow (2590), but my current plan sounded much more appealing after blocking out reality by paddling the Green for 5 out of 7 days.
So here at the local pub on the TV screens, I witness an entirely different game than the one I expected, as the effects of MAY DAY IN SEATTLE unfolded on the local news-distortion show.

Already throughout the day I had resented getting yelled at by someone who has proven himself silmultaneously an asshole AND an idiot- sorry, dude: you gotta choose. You can't be both thats just reckless. I resented going to work on May Day for this jerk. Ok fu*k it pass that Cispa bill. No, bossman can't have my password to whatever. He's small potatoes anyway like the rest of us. But anyone who wants to cross THAT line with me, go ahead. Anyway, I felt resentfull for working because I dig symbolism, and May Day is a historicly symbolic day, if you know history. But, the fact is, I was there out of self interest, so fu*k it. And, while I work, I apply myself with sincerity to the task(s) at hand, even if my supposed leader acts in self sabotaging ways. But, yelling at me, being hostile, now, That's startin to cross a line. I'm sincere, I work hard, and really I'm just trying to keep my head above water. I'm f**king flush drowning in this rapid called modern America. My f**king fault for choosing a bad line in the approach, but here I am...

Anyway, while I watch the news coverage with the sound off, all I get is the footage of the riot cops, and the window smashers, and the text banner scrolling cross the bottom telling me how much parking sucks in Seattle. May Day Meyhem it said. Looks like your boursoisie events are gonna get cancelled. Boo Hoo.

So its easy to see how quickly and effectively thousands if people with legitimate greivences get marginalized, trivialized, and delegitmized. Am I sounding like a black preacher yet? No? Well, my WHITIEwater audience, I guess I should keep going...

So in walks some variant of a blue collar worker w/ his lady, and before long he's commenting on the spectacle on TV, repeating many of the basic comments you csn hear on any talkshow that is designed to counter these events and tamp down any meaning that might reach the general populace.
   I don't want to be insightful to my new bar stool companion and his lady, but some of the dumb generalities he threw out deserved rebuttal, so I provided it in a freindly way. Saying stupid sh*t like how all those protesters are "students who are just there to get laid". No, dumbass: people are loosing their homes. People are paying back loans for degrees that can't employ them. Yeah, it is lame that a small percentage smashes windows at these events, and the news is reporting the vandalism of cars, which is outrageous.
But:
A) this is a small (and admittedly unfortunate and embarrasing) fraction of the whole
And,
B) in some cases even (any critical thinker needs to entertain this possibility, as history bears it out) PROVACATUERS. looks like I misspelled that word. Still...

I went downtown during most of the days during the WTO event of 1999. Or was it 2000? I don't have to remember. I was there. Anyone else remember? I didn't invoke any meyhem there. In fact, while I was there to participate in the protest, I also was there as an observer. Yeah, CISPA, fu*k you. File all this away. I am a free man who does not steal or engage in violence. fu*k you.
So I gently explained to my bar stool friend that, yes, there are all sorts of folks of all sorts of ages at these protests. Yup. There are plenty of hipster self described Anarchist fu*ks who make trouble. Plenty of "bad apples". But most are pretty sharply educated about why they are there, despite the fact that the media only interviews the clueless 'tards...

The bottom line is this:
When so many people gather like this, clearly some sh*t ain't right on a massive scale. Especially when it occurs as often as it does these days. People can draw their own conclusions, but its clear to me that things have been gradually unravelling for a few decades.

It goes on as long as we keep paying for it. I feel ya, JP. Haven't figured out how to change the world yet, just myself. AND... Ben & Jerry's did re-issue Rocky Road, which I love.

I spent may day working and doing homework for a political science class. Feel a bit bad for not trying to add my voice to the pool. I applaud the discussion and feel a bit less marginalized and more connected for hearing it. I also liked the symbolism in the cave story. Sorry for sounding like a poindexter.. It's what I got right now.

Edited by thad2000 - 03 May 2012 at 4:54am

Why do we blame the media. The media was doing there job. If you want to destroy property then you're a terrorist. Coward hiding behind masks, AQI hides behind makes to kill, steal and commit acts of terror. So how are these cowards and different. And people support these acts. The protesters were acting peaceful expressing there freedom of speech and the city had no problem with that. Then a group of roughly around 50 clearly broke the law. Damage and violence is not the way to express your freedom. I will in the protests next year for my May-day Ill be down town dressed in all black! Break a window Ill break your face! slash a tire well prepare to get slashed. When the public stands up to these Thugs with out a purpose. They will not have the support of the crowd. Then the Voice of the pubic will be heard. Step in and do the right thing. I bet if another plane got highjacked people would stand together to avoid another 9/11. So why should we not stand together to stop riots. I've seen the brunt of war and what 3rd world looks like, So stop blaming the system. Make a positive difference.    

Ahhh, I miss Hugo...  This conversation may take an entertaining, but distracting turn...

I will add this, there were more people doing damage than mentioned on this forum...  I heard a guy from Canadia interviewed.  He had his car windows smashed and he was told to "go back to Canada"... That sucks, he was an innocent bystander.

One guy on video smashing NikeTown's windows was wearing Nike shoes... pretty ironic...

I have read a lot of reports on the protest and would really like to hear someone explain the point of the protests.  "Everything sucks" is the general consensus from what I've heard.  IMHO picking some unified battle cry may have helped this protest not look like a mob...  There are plenty of problems here, but I don't think this event persuaded anyone because there was no published agenda.  This minority in the group (terrorists, and yes they were actually terrorists by definition) easily stole the show because there was no purpose (at least that I can find, or any observer of the media).

Further, I haven't heard anyone ask... "Why didn't the law abiding people in the large peaceful crowd do anything to stop the terrorists that infiltrated the from destroying their peaceful protest."

I have yet to see or hear of a single attempt by a peaceful protester to stop the property damage happening around them.  I would have hoped that an assembly of intelligent people would have realized that such actions would make them look bad.  If I was pat of the group, I certainly would have made some attempt to keep miscreants from diluting my agenda.

(I edited one minute after I posted... oops I missed a word, and it made me look like a bigger idiot than I actually am...)



Edited by Travisimo - 04 May 2012 at 12:32am

Your supposed to knock on ladies doors and leave flowers on the porch and run away on May day....not destroy and kill....

Look dude, this ain't no Merle Haggard song, ok? Its reality. And if you've been over there in a war zone you have my utmost respect for enduring everything that comes along w/ that. I respect individuals like yourself who serve in the armed forces. But that doesn't mean I approve of how MY TAX DOLLARS are spent largely to benifit the billionares club that has long since coopted our government.

So you gotta realize then that the world isn't a simple black n white hollywood movie, for sure. So don't try to paint me as some unpatriotic ingrate because I see the nuances of what is going on.

The Media is totally to blame because they are rssponsible for shaping the political process on all sides. On one side they make it ridiculously cost prohibitive for average people to run for office, being the multibillion dollar campaign its become. On the other hand they reduce the diameter of the lens viewing these protests to the size of a pinhole, then aim it at the broken windows and slashed tires, and interview the biggest idiot they can find, leaving the footage of all of the informed messengers on the cutting room floor.

I agree w/ Travisimo's post, and Slickhorn's. And Septimus Prime is right on the money, too. Just because we are doing "ok" compared to another country that is running itself poorly, doesn't mean we shouldn't do better.

America is great. But it is not the best, my friend. And it is not enough to go around the world beating one's chest saying "I'm the best!" As loud and as often as one can. One has to proove it. Continually to truly be it. Am I the best? No. I don't aspire to be. I got my hands full just simply trying to be the best I can be.

But things are far from perfect here at home, Yeti. Look around. Amd the problem is that there is a point that once we let this sh*t unravel, its irretrievable. Other countries' histories are illustrations of this, and we are not immune to such decline.

Vandalism sucks. Its wrong. It costs a little money, but come on? Terrorism? Its not on the level of a beheading. That's Facist bullsh*t talk there.

Trayvon Martin getting shot on his way back from the convieniece store? I wasn't there. I don't have the facts because the media distorted that too. But that smells a lot more like terrorism to me.

Ok, fair distinction regarding Zimmerman. Thanks for reigning that one in that was a careless comment. Still, it illustrates my point.

Edited by jP - 04 May 2012 at 10:06am

Speaking of your last statement, I would love to hear Wiggins perspective on the Oath-Keepers.

I need a pulse of local law enforcement.







Edited by septimus prime - 04 May 2012 at 10:46am

Okay its very clear that all of you posting are highly intelligent. Jp, James, I do agree with most of what you are saying about corrupt capitalism. And I have been i protest and Will be to be the 1st and loudest when its time to rise up against the wrongs of the world. I just want to know when is ok to smash windows and tag walls that kids walk by. When has it been okay to riot. And tell me this even thou I cant put my thoughts into words as well as most of you can. If black masked people walked down your street and did the same protest, But instead of Nike or Wells fargo. Your car gets smashed and your house get its windows knocked out. Hey you have insurance so Its okay. Its wrong to commit crimes. That Canadian guy did nothing wrong. He did not rob the poor, he was not a CEO of a fortune 500. But again he has insurance. Why does everyone that has a voice have to cost the tax payers thousands of dollar's. I don't think anyone can agree that costing the city/state/country money.

I Don't see the world in hollywood black and white. I see the world in a very open way. I respect all opinions and I joined the military to defend those rights of all americans

"the flag is draped over the soldiers coffin. So the protesters can burn that flag. The solider fights.. so the protesters can march. Im that solider. I did not mean to come across so harsh. I just believe that violence is not a way to express that.So March and protest and let your voice be heard and I most likely agree with what it is your expressing. But the min voilince breaks out I have to do what I Believe in and thats protecting the people.

One good thing has happened, just heard that Canadian guy interviewed...  He's not angry at Seattle, a lot of people have stepped forward and offered help.  Several people helped him at the time too.  I wish the yahoos that were gawking and told him to "Go back to Canada you hoser..." had their car windows broken.

He's been offered a free trip back, but did say he didn't want to come back if it's gonna be another media circus.  Can't blame him there!

People even offered to help him more, monetarily... he declined and said he just wants to put it behind him.  Class act!