I understand why people feel the need to protest over what happened to Michael Brown. The people are angry. The people want to see justice done. We live in a society that says, "you, as citizens of this great country of ours, YOU, have the right to, peacefully protest against your government". However, as we've seen over and over again throughout our history, protests don't end well here. And in this, our ultra High Definition instant served world, protesting is more dangerous than it's ever been because they know what we are capable of.
(AP Photo/Sid Hastings)
They know what can happen if a populous gets out of control. They have seen the fall of the great Empire again and again, and it starts with the people being fed-the-fuck-up. People are fed up but not necessarily over the death of another young man in the streets.
I will posit this, in the silent midst of this ongoing disaster, that the people and not simply angry over the death of one young man, instead, we are furious at the ongoing injustice and increasing police state we are ALL subject to. We are incensed by the continual political misdealing and lewd indiscretions. We are sick and goddamned fed up with continual corporate greed and their political niggling. We are tired of the Military interventions and utter lack of care for our Military men and women. We are angry because our leaders are not putting the best interest of this country at heart. Our entire country is arguing the merits of gun control and concussions in the NFL when there are bigger issues to deal with. like putting people back to work. Getting the homeless off the streets and back into society where they can contribute. Opening our world up to new ways of thinking about energy and food production. Granting people the right to expect security in what they have worked their entire lives for. Giving people alternate options for medical treatments beyond pharmaceuticals.
(WHITNEY CURTIS / NYT)
Stop criminalizing minor crap like parking tickets and possession of marijuana. Stop terrorizing us with the threat of jail for every little thing and turning our Peace Officers into an occupying force hell bent on cramming us into corporate owned prisons. I don't know a single person who would be completely relaxed during a traffic stop. Stop threatening our families, our freedoms our security. Societies are built on a unity that begins with security. And the plan for that unity is supposed to come from our government. Instead, all we see is constant insecurity and instability. We see a focus on the answers to Liberty and Peoples right to CHOOSE, when those shouldn't even be questions.
The people are tired, and they are afraid and they are unsure about who we are as a nation and where we are going as a Country. People are divided and our government is drawing out the sides, compiling a strategy, posturing and finger pointing and slandering and bickering and lying the whole time. And we peer out at each other through our smog smeared windshields and over our ergonomic cubicles and we question, and we judge and we wonder what side you're on. It's a fucking tragedy. It's the saddest thing. And people are fed up. So they protest, and some riot.
And it's not going to end well here either. It never does. I will suggest a few things for you who are going to continue to march up and down the streets in your fury.
Protest on the sidewalks or in other designated areas.
This will prevent you from being maced by the police or run over by a car for blocking public streets.
If you are going to block public streets have some semblance of a plan.
Block particular streets, or streets that make a political point, or streets near the offices of those you are trying to draw attention from. In this particular case you could block the streets surrounding the main police station in your area.
Develop some sort of message.
This is usually accomplished through impromptu chants and spontaneous street speeches bellowed into megaphones.
Talk to the media and do so with some sort of class.
As much class as you can muster. If you are protesting for social change your message cannot be incoherent and full of hate speech and shit you read on Reddit. Know why you are there and be capable of giving an elevator speech about it should you be asked. If you are never asked, don't volunteer information. Volunteering information is always a bad idea.
Do Not Under ANY Circumstances Break or Steal Anything
This is just a bad fucking move y'all.
Do not frighten your fellow citizens
Some of us do not have the time. Some of us do not have the inclination. Others of us do not have the GAS MONEY to sit in the street while you march up and down screaming. If we choose not to participate we should be allowed that right and it should not be taken away from us by folks marching for rights. Please stand aside so we might freely pass without fear. Refer to points 1-5 for details.
Photo: AFP
Please be angry. Please take a stand for social justice in this country because there is a problem. But don't narrow that problem to one incident and one solution. The problem is the continuing division within a unified nation. There is, now, a stretching at the seams that is beginning to rear. It has to be fixed. Try to be more focused in what you do and how you do it.
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