Originally posted by burdman30ott6
reply to post by chickenshoes
OK then, honest question... let's assume that the majority of the people here at ATS would fall into the "peacefull protest" category (This is
hypothetical, clearly, as I would say in reality most of the would be protesters here would end up turning it into a huge circus.) One thing that they
seem to share, peacefull or otherwise, is a common hatred for the police and a "the instant you pigs do something..." threat capacity.
Well, the ones I've been to have never had that mentality. Like I said, there are generally a few in every group that are champing at the bit to get
arrested and, I guess, make an example out of themselves, but on the whole, I've found that not to be the case.
If you're involved in a peacefull protest and suddenly a group of nonpeacefull protesters arrive and try to incite, why allow it? Isn't it
logical to turn the same type of "just try it" emotions you harbor against the ops back onto anyone who is basically doing what you accuse the
police of doing, only from the other side of the fence?
Here again, I and most other protesters I've met and spoken with harbor no such "just try it" emotion against the ops [sic] (I think you meant
cops?). I have sought only to have my opinion voiced by physically carrying signs and marching when all other means of change have been tried and
failed. I accuse the police of nothing in my post, you're assuming. You know what happens when you assume, don't you?
If it is true and it's a few bad apples giving the whole barrel a bad smell, and you are among the good apples in the barrel, why wouldn't
you do anything you could to chuck the bad ones out of the barrel? Expecially considering they're giving you a bad name and risking your safety by
inciting the cops into reacting against the entire group.
Good question. The groups I have been in, like I said, only had a handful of folks like this. Most of the time, they could be reasoned with or
encouraged to leave before havoc breaks out. In a smaller group this is much easier, but in larger groups you may simply not get there in time. And
if you're suggesting the protesters use violence against each other, well, that would defeat the purpose, now wouldn't it?
I stand by my statement that the news media blows certain portions of events out of proportion in order to skew the public's perception of them.
It's called disinformation, and unfortunately, it happens frequently.
[edit on 27-8-2008 by chickenshoes]
-----> You are wrong to side with the cops. hahaha 
dumb arse 
