When you go into a situation planning on getting arrested you aren't doing your civic duty, you are just being a criminal.
And when you make up stats like "95% of the earth disagree with our regime" no one takes you seriously.
No one "had you arrested," you broke the law and got arrested. Try wearing some personal responsibility instead of that stupid sign.
25 comments:
Yep, you are right. Dr. King was nothing but a criminal.
Also: you left out "on planet earth." Just a bit of a wake up call, but an overwhelming majority of the people on earth strongly disagree with what we are doing in Iraq.
Daniel,
Do you know that more than 5% of the world's population agree with Bush's foreign policies, or are you making that up?
What's your source?
Meanwhile, the illegal aliens roam the United States freely... Who's arresting the illegals? Hmmmm?
I thought conservatives are in favor of a free market.
Yet, they oppose free labor markets, instead favoring protectionism.
Sad... arguing the case against refuting arbitrarily made-up numbers by asking for proof. In my world, the burden of proof lays with the party who actually presents the numbers.
As to Dr. King... he was specifically protesting laws that shouldn't be... getting arrested for reasons that no one should be arrested. I don't think that's the case here, then again, it's hard to tell since these guys seem to blow out lots of rhetorical nonsense without much sense behind it.
Finally, I must have missed the part when Senator Smith and his private police squad arrested these guys. Only in Oregon would idiots go out and get arrested as a means of targetting their protest against one of the only two Republican senators to actually vote the way they wanted.
Or to put it simply for you:
1) Gordon Smith can't arrest anyone (although he does have some tiny authority that way on Capitol Hill in D.C.)
2) Protesting someone over an issue where he obviously agrees with you and acts the way you want... already.... is pointless.
By the Reliving the Past Index, it must be almost time to relive disco. Yeesh.
The 95% figure may be a little exagerated, but it's in the ballpark. Surveys in 2004 showed that 80% of people worldwide opposed the U.S. occupation of Iraq.
It seems likely that support for the U.S. position has eroded since then. The question is whether it's eroded by 75%.
Gordon Smith's actions are, frankly, puzzling. He seems to be trying to have it both ways--seem like a war supporter to those who support it and to seem like a war opponent to those who oppose it.
Unfortunately for him, the opposite has happened--he seems like a war opponent to those who support it and a war supporter to those who oppose it.
Sucks to be him. Will suck even more on November 5, 2008.
Eddie, citizen's arrest, maybe?
Daniel,
Actually, five people were arrested while trying to go up and lobby Senator Smith. They were quiet, calm--not a single derogatory word or chant. They were well within the law with their 20 person rally on the Portland Public sidewalk. And well within their constitutional right to lobby their Senator.
The five people, who wished to speak to their Senator, approached the escalators to go up and lobby Senator Smith. They were told by corporate security that they were "trespassing" on "private property". This same "private property" is where Senator Smith's office is located. An office funded by ALL OF US taxpayers.
After asking time and again to speak to their Senator, the group was told continously by corporate security that they were trespassing and would be arrested if they didn't leave. The five stood fast and were eventually arrested.
I know you weren't there and are just making your silly childish assumptions, but this was a little disturbing. As a freelance photographer and observer, I am puzzled how a calm, quiet and respectful five people could be arrested for going to an office of a Senator for which we fund.
With all due respect, I think if you are going to write bullsh*t, at least you should be there to know what the hell you are talking about. If this had been you and your three other Minutemen trying to go up to Senator Smith's office to lobby him on something he disagrees with YOU about, you probably would have been told you were trespassing, too.
BTW: If you had been there, you would know that the group of five were attempting to lobby Senator Smith to Defund the War, not just "opoose it".
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.
These people were attempting to petition the government for a redress of grievances, for which they were arrested.
It's sad the way the uber patriot right oppose the rights guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution.
Daniel,
I guess you know what you're talking about when you talk about "just being a criminal."
http://www.publications.ojd.state.or.us/A111137.htm
Daniel,
I think it's odd that you would condemn these people for getting arrested for what appears to be constitutionally-protected behavior, when you were once arrested, and convicted, for behavior that is clearly illegal.
Furthermore, you appealed your conviction on the basis of what the right likes to call "technicalities". You lost your appeal.
You're living in a glass house when it comes to criminal behavior--you'd be wise not to throw stones.
MLK didn't do things for the sake of getting arrested. Idiot.
95% is NOT in the ballpark. "surveys" by who?
These people weren't trying to "petition" Smith. They were making asses of themselves by imposing themselves and their ideas onto people.
These people didn't do things for the sake of being arrested, either.
They're trying to put an end to Bush's Folly, which has led to the deaths of over three thousand American troops, who knows how many American contractors, and hundreds of thousands of Iraqis.
By one estimate (using well established methods for determinig casualties), over 600,000 Iraqis have been killed in this war, equal to over 200 September 11 attacks.
http://www.iht.com/articles/2004/09/09/poll_ed3_.php
It's amazing that they were arrested for trespass for trying to go to the office of a U.S. Senator.
Imagine if they were arrested for trying to go to Ron Wyden's office to complain about his votes on immigration bills. I'm sure the righties would be throwing a fit.
They went into the situation with the intent of being arrested. (Unless they were referring to something else when they talked about the "clink of the handcuffs") Afterwards they show pride in their arrest. Real great.
So, Daniel, do you also have no respect for anti-abortion protestors who go into situations with the intention of being arrested?
Sorry, I've only been to my senator's office twice in this lifetime, and both times I made an appointment.
Silly me.
You know this kinda guy supports abortion. Otherwise his secretary's would have to have the kids he put in their belly's. Than you know his wife would find out that he cheats all the time and isn't even smart enough to use protection. So of course this kinda guy supports abortion silly! Don't ask question you know the answer to. So of course he wants anti-abortion protestors arrested! Silly Silly People!
...and everyone knows the LAW is always right! Follow your gov't like a sheep..don't question..don't read...don't educate..just follow.
NO THINKING!
STOP THAT! I SEE YOU THINKING!
We all know America was founded on NO THINKING! Oh..wait....
Well, if these lefty idiots were falsely arrested, where, praytell, is the american criminal liberties union?.....I thought so. You anti-Americans always claim oppression, bigotry, genocide, etc., etc., when your only desire is a news camera......sheesh.
Bear,
Since the protest just happened yesterday, it may be a little early for the American Civil Liberties Union to be involved. Or, maybe they're involved, but it hasn't hit the news yet.
You also might recall that the host of this blog is a convicted criminal himself, who tried, unsuccessfully, to get his conviction overturned on "technicalities."
Bush's Folly...ha, you didn't think that up yourself. Besides, I call BS on you.
Actually, the group notified the city of Portland letting them know that they would be having a small rally on the sidewalk in front of the world trade center. The group leaders also made an appointment with Senator Smith's office, which they were denied. The fact is there are no restrictions to going up to Senator Smith's office with six people to deliver a verbal message. It is well within the permited fire code restrictions and other "rules" of the World Trade Center.
The question is why would Senator Smith's office have corporate security at the escalators turning these six people away? Even an Oregonian Reporter was threatened with arrest if he didn't stay off the WTC property. Because I have had meetings with Kerry Timchuck, I am a little amazed that they would have Corporate Security and Portland Police Bureau supress individuals wanting to visit the office. Again, especially a calm, non-chanting, peaceful group of six.
This should really not only concern anti-war activists, it should worry any citizen wishing to lobby their Senators. I suspect Daniel and others like Bear are just being a-holes for kicks. Whatever you monkeys are trying to do, wake up and THINK about it!
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