Slog
News & ArtsWednesday, April 1, 2009
Money There Is Shit Going on in London
Posted by Paul Constant on Wed, Apr 1, 2009 at 12:14 PM
This isn't April Fool's:
Via Wonkette. Are those bobbies pulling people out of port-a-potties?
5
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/79774…
Note how in the crowd itself, the protesters are almost equalled by the number of reporters and cameramen. Ben Brown is the BBC's Dangerman, he's normally in Iraq. He's now posted in the City of London.
I do like the symbolism of the guy pulling the metal pole out of the window and brandishing it aloft to a crowd of photographers while the toff explains how he just wants a peaceful march down Threadneedle St next to the RBS buildings.
Note how in the crowd itself, the protesters are almost equalled by the number of reporters and cameramen. Ben Brown is the BBC's Dangerman, he's normally in Iraq. He's now posted in the City of London.
I do like the symbolism of the guy pulling the metal pole out of the window and brandishing it aloft to a crowd of photographers while the toff explains how he just wants a peaceful march down Threadneedle St next to the RBS buildings.
8
And while all that is going on, what are the gays doing? In the porta bathhouse, setting the clock back again...
9
The Beeb suggests the bobbies put the portapotties there for the protesters to use in the first place, seeing as how they planned to hold them in a tight space for as long as possible. In the video the protesters chuck a few things at the cordon (aside from the one asshole with the gate), and the Beeb's coverage suggests these may have been "toilet rolls," which were hurled along with empty beer cans, fruit, flour, plastic bottles, and banners.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/79774…
If there is ever another decent demonstration in Seattle requiring the police to cordon and contain, I hope that we will have the taste to toss only lightweight, comical items.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/79774…
If there is ever another decent demonstration in Seattle requiring the police to cordon and contain, I hope that we will have the taste to toss only lightweight, comical items.
10
The comments so far are sadly typical of the deteriorated state of American political analysis. Protest is the only avenue we have to enact change. Those who cling to "pacifism" like some form of fundamentalism should read "Pacifism as Pathology" by Ward Churchill for a deeper understanding of the role of protest and violence in challenging the established order.
Prepare yourselves for a tremendous increase in rioting here, there and everywhere. We are witnessing the first signs of the collapse of the present day capitalist system. You and I are the losers in this situation, and our numbers are the only weapon we have with which to protect ourselves from the police state. Transformative political change has always involved some level of violence - it is inevitable. The "non-violent" movements that we are told to emulate (Ghandi and King) were successful either because the system they went up against had already been weakened by violence, i.e. the British state after WWII, or because growing militancy, i.e. The Black Panthers, forced the system to make concessions to the what they viewed as the lesser of two evils. During transformative periods, the majority must exert some level of violence, or the threat of violence, in order to protect itself. To deny this is to deny the entire history of mankind.
Prepare yourselves for a tremendous increase in rioting here, there and everywhere. We are witnessing the first signs of the collapse of the present day capitalist system. You and I are the losers in this situation, and our numbers are the only weapon we have with which to protect ourselves from the police state. Transformative political change has always involved some level of violence - it is inevitable. The "non-violent" movements that we are told to emulate (Ghandi and King) were successful either because the system they went up against had already been weakened by violence, i.e. the British state after WWII, or because growing militancy, i.e. The Black Panthers, forced the system to make concessions to the what they viewed as the lesser of two evils. During transformative periods, the majority must exert some level of violence, or the threat of violence, in order to protect itself. To deny this is to deny the entire history of mankind.
11
Please take your Ward Churchill and your manichean imminent-collapse-of-everything theories elsewhere, thanks.
14
The idea that the Black Panthers weakened anything at all is utterly laughable. The idea that this weakening is what really made civil rights happen is chronologically stupid and conceptually idiotic, to a degree that suggests the lack of understanding is deliberate.
In other words, you're full of shit past the eyebrows, worf.
In other words, you're full of shit past the eyebrows, worf.
16
Wow, the WTO rejects from Seattle are back!
I love watching them get their heads crack in, always good sport, wot wot.
I love watching them get their heads crack in, always good sport, wot wot.
17
Worf, do you have someone you can talk to about your feelings of anger and frustration? You might find some time with a therapist to be useful, because it sounds like you're using politics as a way to express your feelings about yourself.
18
worf-
Wow, that is just so breathtakingly wrong. Let me guess- never voted? Feel Obama is no different from McCain? I would debate you about this but I suspect we have no common vocabulary or shared experiential references from which to build consensus.
Protest is the only avenue we have to enact change.
Wow, that is just so breathtakingly wrong. Let me guess- never voted? Feel Obama is no different from McCain? I would debate you about this but I suspect we have no common vocabulary or shared experiential references from which to build consensus.
20
By the way Worf, when is Alexander going to return my Harvey Seigel records? I've been meaning to practice along with them.
21
sven - wrong. Voted in every election since 1980. Huge difference between McCain and Obama. Positive things are happening / will happen as a result of Obama, at least for those of us here in the US - those else where will continue to suffer, of course. I'm just except the fact that sometimes in history there is violence. I prefer not to leave my head in the sand about that, but you may if you wish. Off to work...
22
10 is a moron.
What are these people protesting anyways? Give the head of states a chance to work things through you stupid assholes! It's the same type of erratic behavior one sees from fringe groups here. Same with the stupid shit of the so called tea parties that the right wing repubican nuts are trying to stir up in the mind of their rabid base voters.
What are these people protesting anyways? Give the head of states a chance to work things through you stupid assholes! It's the same type of erratic behavior one sees from fringe groups here. Same with the stupid shit of the so called tea parties that the right wing repubican nuts are trying to stir up in the mind of their rabid base voters.
25
There is nothing fundamentalist about seeing the Black Panthers as a cartoon, representative of everything stupid and irresponsible and ineffective about the Left in this country during that time. And suggesting that the real achievements of the civil rights era had anything to do with those clowns is downright offensive.
Chris Knight's pathetic street theater in London is even less impressive, unless he shoots a cop or two -- in which case he'll get what's coming to him. Your revolution is mentally challenged.
Chris Knight's pathetic street theater in London is even less impressive, unless he shoots a cop or two -- in which case he'll get what's coming to him. Your revolution is mentally challenged.
26
fnarf is right about the panthers. some of them went on to do worthwhile and effective things, but it sure as hell wasn't while they were part of the panthers.
27
OK, worf, since elsewhere I've read stuff of yours that I liked...
I don't disagree with that one bit. And sometimes it is necessary. But that's not the same thing as
Just to give one of many, many counterexamples, my mother's generation was expected to get married by 25, stop working, and raise families for the rest of their lives. The fact that my wife didn't have those limitations, and that my daughter has even fewer, is the biggest transformation in the US in the last 75 years- bigger even than the civil rights movement of the 60s, because it changed the lives of more than half our population in the entire country. It had nothing to do with violence and almost everything to do with a little white pill that decoupled sex from procreation.
I hear you about how pacifism is not a panacea but your post @10 seemed simplistic and wrong and I thought I heard a "don't bother voting" between the lines. I'm thrilled that perhaps I heard that wrong.
sometimes in history there is violence
I don't disagree with that one bit. And sometimes it is necessary. But that's not the same thing as
Transformative political change has always involved some level of violence
Just to give one of many, many counterexamples, my mother's generation was expected to get married by 25, stop working, and raise families for the rest of their lives. The fact that my wife didn't have those limitations, and that my daughter has even fewer, is the biggest transformation in the US in the last 75 years- bigger even than the civil rights movement of the 60s, because it changed the lives of more than half our population in the entire country. It had nothing to do with violence and almost everything to do with a little white pill that decoupled sex from procreation.
I hear you about how pacifism is not a panacea but your post @10 seemed simplistic and wrong and I thought I heard a "don't bother voting" between the lines. I'm thrilled that perhaps I heard that wrong.
28
@25,
At least the Panthers had legitimate reasons to be pissed off, unlike the lily-white, middle class members of the SDS, Weathermen, or, worst of all, the Symbionese Liberation Army.
Nevertheless, violence as a form of protest is insane in a democracy, or in a colony of a democracy. Armed troops firing on a group of nonviolent protesters is one of the most effective means of destroying a government's legitimacy. Unfortunately, this doesn't work so well for governments that have never had legitimacy, such as any tin-pot dictatorship in Africa.
At least the Panthers had legitimate reasons to be pissed off, unlike the lily-white, middle class members of the SDS, Weathermen, or, worst of all, the Symbionese Liberation Army.
Nevertheless, violence as a form of protest is insane in a democracy, or in a colony of a democracy. Armed troops firing on a group of nonviolent protesters is one of the most effective means of destroying a government's legitimacy. Unfortunately, this doesn't work so well for governments that have never had legitimacy, such as any tin-pot dictatorship in Africa.
29
The people who advocate violent protest, like the Panthers, the Weathermen, etc., are always the least able to articulate what the hell they're talking about. The Panthers were a joke of a political organization; they were able to mobilize against a society temporarily stunned by the sight of large Negros on the news parading around with guns, and aided by organizers of white guilt, but they achieved NOTHING, and it's a good thing, too, because if they had it would have been a disaster. The Panthers couldn't organize who goes to the toilet first, let alone a civil society. The Panthers were BULLSHIT. Which is what attracted them to the guns in the first place.
Violence is a failure to have ideas. Unless it's part of something much worse, like the street violence perpetrated by the Nazis and the Bolsheviks -- but the Panthers were never a threat on that scale, because they were fundamentally extremely stupid people.
In fact, a disinterested observer might draw the conclusion that organizations like the Panthers were plants, put there by dark forces on the right wing, to discredit the left and liberalism generally, and pave the way for Ronald Reagan. That is, in fact, the real legacy of violent sixties and seventies radicalism: Reagan. He was there in California when it started, and he was watching more closely than the morons thought.
Violence is a failure to have ideas. Unless it's part of something much worse, like the street violence perpetrated by the Nazis and the Bolsheviks -- but the Panthers were never a threat on that scale, because they were fundamentally extremely stupid people.
In fact, a disinterested observer might draw the conclusion that organizations like the Panthers were plants, put there by dark forces on the right wing, to discredit the left and liberalism generally, and pave the way for Ronald Reagan. That is, in fact, the real legacy of violent sixties and seventies radicalism: Reagan. He was there in California when it started, and he was watching more closely than the morons thought.
30
Rule #1 of English Political History is Evolution, not Revolution. Closest they came to revolution in 1000 years was the Civil War.
Most of the people protesting in that video are upper middle class toffs. Bryan Ferry's son Otis Ferry is probably in there, he's well known for protesting against Capitalism and in favor of fucking Fox Hunting.
Most of the people protesting in that video are upper middle class toffs. Bryan Ferry's son Otis Ferry is probably in there, he's well known for protesting against Capitalism and in favor of fucking Fox Hunting.
31
Just for once I wish petulant dickheads like Fnarf and worf would refrain from dragging the Civil Rights Movement into their disgusting, warped geek comments. Is that too much to ask?
32
"Protest is the only avenue we have to enact change." Totally wrong and foolish to think such a thing. The best and most peaceful way to effect change is to change yourself and convince others (peacefully) that the self change will alter the cash flow. It's much more difficult, takes more guts, hurts more, Yet brings MORE change than protest every can. But people don't want to change themselves, they only want others to change.
33
If you could read, Loveschild, you would have noticed that it was worf who dragged in the civil rights movement, and I was rebutting him.
The civil rights movement doesn't belong to you, thankfully; there were then and are now plenty of people who can discuss that time more intelligently than you. Because you are a bigot, which is an even stupider thing to have taken from it than the bullshit worf is peddling.
The civil rights movement doesn't belong to you, thankfully; there were then and are now plenty of people who can discuss that time more intelligently than you. Because you are a bigot, which is an even stupider thing to have taken from it than the bullshit worf is peddling.
34
I know cops can be assholes, but so can everyone else. Man, that looks scary, for the cops. If I had to stick my neck out in that crowd, I might bang a few heads together too. Out of fright. What a job.
Advertisement
Most Commented on Slog
-
All You Motherfuckers Complaining That aPodments Are Too Small at 200 Square Feet by Dominic Holden
-
SL Letter of the Day: Did You Think I Was Going To Tell You Not To Come Out? (PLUS: Help Free Kate!) by Dan Savage
-
Rightwing Anti-Gay French Activist Commits Suicide at Notre Dame Cathedral by Dan Savage
-
Spoiled Rotten: Star Trek Into Darkness by Paul Constant
-
There Are No Atheists In Foxholes by Dan Savage
-
America's Epidemic of Toddler-on-Toddler Gun Violence Continues by Goldy
-
Well-Regulated Beaverton Militia Accidentally Fires Shot into Neighbor's Bedroom by Goldy
-
Saint Genet Re-Creates "Shoot" by Brendan Kiley
-
Dutch Artist Turns Dead Cat into Remote-Controlled Helicopter by Bethany Jean Clement
-
SL Letter of the Day: Have You Ever Heard of...? by Dan Savage
Stranger Personals
The Stranger
RSSSeattle Art & Performance Quarterly
A complete guide to Seattle's current art, film, dance, and theater season.
Facebook
Twitter
Comments (34) RSS