Saturday, November 19, 2011
Nonviolent Resistance 101
History at UC Davis. The Occupy Movement is taking an important "one small step...one giant step" moment. This video is an important lesson for Occupy protesters everywhere - how to effectively engage without violence. Of course nonviolence is not a new concept, but it's so well executed here. You'll see how the police engage in tactical intimidation and force, but the group responds with a chorus of "Shame On You." What the chanting has done is remind the police that they are human. It's visceral and that's significant because the police are trained to act as a unit while suppressing their individual empathy - in other words they're not allowed to make a human connection with demonstrators. But the reprimands continue with repeated chanting and the police appear disoriented. Deep in the brain are subconscious channels which promote human feelings such as empathy and that's when they're vulnerable to making a human connection - an oh what have I done moment.
Highlighting this video is not really about the police at all. It's about a phase change in the Occupy Movement. It's about a learning moment for the movement.
It can't be overstated that protesting is a dangerous business. In this video you'll notice that at times the police appear disoriented and fearful. Fear and weapons can lead to tragedy.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjnR7xET7Uo with YouTube credits to Uploaded by OperationLeakS on Nov 18, 2011.
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Goodbye Andy Rooney
Andy Rooney has died. It was Andy's honesty and signature from the gut style that won him notoriety and deserves our attention. He was a champion of free speech; a brave soul. Thank you Andy.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Political Blood. Sweat & Tears
10/9/11 to Whitehouse.gov
Mr.Obama,
In the office of the Presidency, are you really able to follow your conscience and choose good over evil? The Occupy Wall Street/DC protesters assume that you do not have that power to choose. They're calling for an end to the proverbial tail waging the dog. They know that neither you nor the legislature has enough blood, sweat and tears to invest in fixing the machine. How many boom busts cycles wrapped in corporate bailouts and excessive government debt can our system withstand. How many times must Americans endure plans that lack accountability; lack real and meaningful punishments for those who rape our democracy both at home and abroad. In times like this, much as it was in the civil rights era, it is in the hands of the people. The protestors say it's about the 99%. Shamefully Congressman Eric Cantor says they are the mob. They are not the mob, --they are the American People. You too should resist the temptation to marginalize them as anything other than Americans. They're also not just a group of unemployed either. Clearly that's no longer all of it. It's becoming less about economics and more about social justice; about cozy politics and big money interests. We should ask ourselves today what side of history we'd like to be on.
Mr.Obama,
In the office of the Presidency, are you really able to follow your conscience and choose good over evil? The Occupy Wall Street/DC protesters assume that you do not have that power to choose. They're calling for an end to the proverbial tail waging the dog. They know that neither you nor the legislature has enough blood, sweat and tears to invest in fixing the machine. How many boom busts cycles wrapped in corporate bailouts and excessive government debt can our system withstand. How many times must Americans endure plans that lack accountability; lack real and meaningful punishments for those who rape our democracy both at home and abroad. In times like this, much as it was in the civil rights era, it is in the hands of the people. The protestors say it's about the 99%. Shamefully Congressman Eric Cantor says they are the mob. They are not the mob, --they are the American People. You too should resist the temptation to marginalize them as anything other than Americans. They're also not just a group of unemployed either. Clearly that's no longer all of it. It's becoming less about economics and more about social justice; about cozy politics and big money interests. We should ask ourselves today what side of history we'd like to be on.
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Whose Glory
10/4/11 comments on Yahoo News article on Gov. Perry and Confederate symbols
A sincere southern gentleman once said to me, "the south will rise again." I must admit I'm not entirely sure what he meant and I haven't spent too much time thinking about the Civil War era. The more I hear about the Southern Confederacy the more I'd like to assume it's a purely academic study of history, but I'm afraid there's more beneath the surface. I've driven along the western hills of Virginia and seen pleasant neighborhoods with modest homes along the way flying Confederate flags. It seems a little weird to me. I can understand a historical plaque or a history textbook, but flying a newly woven cloth in the Confederate colors seems like a current affirmation of something and just like flying Old Glory I think of it as a symbol of allegiance. I grew up pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..., and that's it; just the one flag and one nation under God. I also remember pledging one nation...indivisible. So my question is whether "the south will rise again" really means there is hope the Confederacy will rise again. Tongue in cheek of course, I ask myself will that mean that a southern agrarian economy built on slave labor is in our nation's future? I can't say whether southerners have a legitimate gripe this many years after that terrible war, but if anyone in this country, whether northern or southern born, believes that the Civil War was glorious or that sedition against the U.S. Government is a noble and viable political option or that a slave economy is a sustainable and logical system, then I'm afraid we have real and deep social problems to deal with as a nation.
A sincere southern gentleman once said to me, "the south will rise again." I must admit I'm not entirely sure what he meant and I haven't spent too much time thinking about the Civil War era. The more I hear about the Southern Confederacy the more I'd like to assume it's a purely academic study of history, but I'm afraid there's more beneath the surface. I've driven along the western hills of Virginia and seen pleasant neighborhoods with modest homes along the way flying Confederate flags. It seems a little weird to me. I can understand a historical plaque or a history textbook, but flying a newly woven cloth in the Confederate colors seems like a current affirmation of something and just like flying Old Glory I think of it as a symbol of allegiance. I grew up pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..., and that's it; just the one flag and one nation under God. I also remember pledging one nation...indivisible. So my question is whether "the south will rise again" really means there is hope the Confederacy will rise again. Tongue in cheek of course, I ask myself will that mean that a southern agrarian economy built on slave labor is in our nation's future? I can't say whether southerners have a legitimate gripe this many years after that terrible war, but if anyone in this country, whether northern or southern born, believes that the Civil War was glorious or that sedition against the U.S. Government is a noble and viable political option or that a slave economy is a sustainable and logical system, then I'm afraid we have real and deep social problems to deal with as a nation.
Friday, September 23, 2011
No Progress
9/23/11 to Whitehouse.gov
All Americans are grappling to understand a new normal political environment. We should remember the shameful misguided policies of the Bush administration so fundamentally flawed in their understanding of the middle east. The Obama administration of late seems equally flawed. U.S. tolerance and defacto support of Palestinian oppression by our unwavering support of Israel compromises our credibility. Recently the President said Israel and its neighbors must determine their own fate, but no matter what we say peace CAN'T happen if we unconditionally support either side during the process. Our unconditional support emboldens Israel causing an imbalance and "un-justice", but it will never bring conciliation. It's clear that the same Bush policy advisors are alive and well in Washington.
All Americans are grappling to understand a new normal political environment. We should remember the shameful misguided policies of the Bush administration so fundamentally flawed in their understanding of the middle east. The Obama administration of late seems equally flawed. U.S. tolerance and defacto support of Palestinian oppression by our unwavering support of Israel compromises our credibility. Recently the President said Israel and its neighbors must determine their own fate, but no matter what we say peace CAN'T happen if we unconditionally support either side during the process. Our unconditional support emboldens Israel causing an imbalance and "un-justice", but it will never bring conciliation. It's clear that the same Bush policy advisors are alive and well in Washington.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)