Sunday, May 29, 2005
The blogroll grows
A blog to watch for
I'm happy to add a new blog to the 'recommended' list. 'A.C.' is the spanking new blog of a friend of mine. She's literate, progressive and funny. Her blog will provoke & inspire. I hope that's not too much pressure. Definitely add it to your reading list.
Violence towards demonstrators
I've just finished watching footage from the 2001 Summit of the Americas in Quebec City. I'd be interested to see how people who weren't there, and didn't get upset about it, justify what happened. Many of my friends attended and told me the horror stories of what the police did. But to see footage of faceless stormtroopers, firing toxic tear gas at unarmed demonstrators, and beating them with shields & batons - how do you reconcile that with a view of Canada as a peaceful, liberal place? Are 10,000 cops 'bad apples'? Did all those people deserve to get beat up?
There is _no_ equivalency between cops & demonstrators. The demonstrators had rocks (not enough, apparently); the police had full body armour and weapons. As they do on every demo, and the press always talks about 'violent' demonstrators. No, this still doesn't justify the anarchist riot I was whinging about the other day; but before picking on each other, let's see some of these cowardly fucks with badges explain how they can cause pain and suffering to so many, and still sleep at night.
Everybody's working for the weekend
I could get used to being a worker. I spent the weekend being outside, partying, staying up late and taking a day to recover. I can see the comfort in a routine like this. However, it doesn't make me hate capitalism any less. I still deeply resent other people controlling my time. And if this is the best the system can do... well, irregardless, I'm happy for what I've got. Capitalism didn't create sunshine.
I'm happy to add a new blog to the 'recommended' list. 'A.C.' is the spanking new blog of a friend of mine. She's literate, progressive and funny. Her blog will provoke & inspire. I hope that's not too much pressure. Definitely add it to your reading list.
Violence towards demonstrators
I've just finished watching footage from the 2001 Summit of the Americas in Quebec City. I'd be interested to see how people who weren't there, and didn't get upset about it, justify what happened. Many of my friends attended and told me the horror stories of what the police did. But to see footage of faceless stormtroopers, firing toxic tear gas at unarmed demonstrators, and beating them with shields & batons - how do you reconcile that with a view of Canada as a peaceful, liberal place? Are 10,000 cops 'bad apples'? Did all those people deserve to get beat up?
There is _no_ equivalency between cops & demonstrators. The demonstrators had rocks (not enough, apparently); the police had full body armour and weapons. As they do on every demo, and the press always talks about 'violent' demonstrators. No, this still doesn't justify the anarchist riot I was whinging about the other day; but before picking on each other, let's see some of these cowardly fucks with badges explain how they can cause pain and suffering to so many, and still sleep at night.
Everybody's working for the weekend
I could get used to being a worker. I spent the weekend being outside, partying, staying up late and taking a day to recover. I can see the comfort in a routine like this. However, it doesn't make me hate capitalism any less. I still deeply resent other people controlling my time. And if this is the best the system can do... well, irregardless, I'm happy for what I've got. Capitalism didn't create sunshine.
