No to WTO! Seattle 1999 | Stock Discussion Forums

SiliconInvestor

sponsor

Sponsor

Coffee Shop | No to WTO! Seattle 1999

Previous 10 | Next 10

To: Eric Mason who wrote (90)	12/2/1999 12:14:00 AM
From: The Philosopher	of 187

When people use there bodies to block an entrance to an event, they are infringing on the rights of others and abusing there right of freedom of speech. That sounds good in theory. But then, of course, you are condemning all those who used their bodies to peacefully, nonviolently, but unlawfully sit-in segregated lunch counters in the South, blocking "legitimate" customers from using them; who blocked the entrances to segregated theaters and prevented patrons from going to the movies; who blocked the entrances to the Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War. And I wish thousands of German citizens had blocked the entrances to the concentration camps in and prevented the Nazis from shipping jews into them without confrontation or interference. Sometimes direct action is necessary to confront injustice. (Assuming that you believe the WTO is an instrument of injustice, which I don't necessarily agree with but that's not relevant as long as legitimate protestors legitimately believe so). IMO violence and destruction are never appropriate. But blocking the entrances to a meeting room to interfere with the process of creating injustice (if you see it that way) has a certain legitimacy. And sometimes those protests will infringe on others. That is part of the messiness of a free democratic society. Balancing those rights is one of the most challenging but essential tasks of our society. But just saying that such demonstrations or protests should never under any circumstances be permitted is not the way to guarantee freedoms for ourselves and our children.

Share	Recommend \| Keep \| Reply \| Mark as Last Read \| Read Replies (1)

To: JBTFD who wrote (93)	12/2/1999 1:43:00 AM
From: KLP	of 187

Even if there were "few people who resorted to vandalism" ONE was one too many. The interesting thing was that not only the reporters, but the police and others were actively taking videos of the vandals....With any luck at all, there will be pictures of them, and either they will be charged this time, or the next time, they decide to break the law. Peaceful demonstrations are one thing....breaking the law is something entirely different. If the city officials had been more forceful earlier, no doubt there would have been plenty of negative things said....but the way things turned out, most people who see any of the actual clips as they were happening for hours on end, know just how much restraint the police used! The police did a great job, IMO! KLP

Share	Recommend \| Keep \| Reply \| Mark as Last Read \| Read Replies (1)

To: KLP who wrote (94)	12/2/1999 2:12:00 AM
From: JBTFD	of 187

<<<Even if there were "few people who resorted to vandalism" ONE was one too many>>> Agreed. I have yet to find someone who supports the vandals' tactics. As for videos, the "group of 30" I have mentioned were wearing ski stocking masks over their faces, so they would be hard to identify from any pictures or videos. Maybe there are some who have pictures of some other of the vandals. If so, I hope they catch and prosecute them. I also agree that the police were very disciplined and should be commended. I saw a few incidences today that were a little harsh, like one where a woman had fallen on the curb and two others knelt down to help her up and a police officer sprayed them all with pepper spray. But overall they were pretty reasonable with the force used.

Share	Recommend \| Keep \| Reply \| Mark as Last Read

Previous 10 | Next 10

Copyright/IP Policy

Copyright © 1995-2013 Knight Sac Media. All rights reserved.