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protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 8:58 am
by cowsmanaut
anyone else seen this?
protest

Aside from being horrible actors "why are you arresting us.. we're in love" .. yeah.. right..

This protest was set up via facebook and twitter and will apparently be repeated next saturday june 7. All in protest to a ruling that they are not allowed to do public protests at Jefferson Memorial.

Apparently in 2008 there was a public display where people went there and danced, supposedly in Jefferson's honour for his birthday, one woman was arrested and the rest of them were shoed off the grounds. There was a counter suit in 2009 from this woman against the park for invasion of her right to free expression. This was eventually taken out and a ruling made in favor of the park control to keep the memorial free of public displays. For the continued enjoyment of others visiting the memorial, and for the respect of what is seen as something 'akin to a shrine or a temple' as the judge put it. This ruling happened in 2010.

Now to me, this is a bunch of people simply picking a fight. After all their right to protest or dance has not been revoked. They have been simply told they can not do it at the memorial. It's much the same as if they wandered into your house and began protesting. I would imagine you'd do your damndest to have them removed.

So as a result, I fail to see where their just cause is. All I see are a bunch of self important brats looking to manipulate the public with bad acting, as they pretend to not resist arrest or to innocently kiss and be in love :P Is this a case of protest simply for the sake of protest? Is it just me or are these people just looking for a fight.. to "stick it to the man" ..? a "screw the cops" moment..?

I see so many people, including some of my friends buying into this video (because of the staging) and I nearly did too.. before Sandie and I went looking for more info. I think a number of others are also buying into it because they don't know the history behind it... and can not seem to see the reasoning for this very simple ruling. As such, they are having yet another protest.. as mentioned above.. so more people will be arrested for what reason?

does anyone see something I don't? anyone have a debate to offer over this.. perhaps some devils advocate? :P We're in the informal section.. so feel free to "get your debate on" ;)

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 5:27 pm
by Jan
Crazy. These kids have obviously nothing better to do. I wish I had their time. But some people simply do need something to fight against and they have to protest against something... or anything. But it's just a "storm in a water jar" as we say, it just happens. You know the IT Crowd series... "A lot of sexy people, not doing much work and having affairs!". :wink:

(Oh, and did you see that cop neutralising that cool-looking-guy at ca 2:00? Wow! He certainly knows his job.)

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Mon May 30, 2011 7:27 pm
by cowsmanaut
you mean the body slam? the guy was resisting, holding his arms firm. Also the guy on the floor earlier, claiming to not resist but his arms were stiff and he was clearly not allowing him to put on the cuffs. "I have a bad shoulder.. I have a bad shoulder".. oh really.. well how about you don't protest on government property without a permit? ..... then you have nothing to worry about.

This whole thing was shot to look as extreme as possible, it appears they had been waiting for enough cops and dancers to be present to make it look as potent as possible, and despite the law defined saying they would not get warnings, they got all kinds of warnings before, AND in the video, despite having been doing it for probably an hour or more at that point..

What I don't get.. still.. is what was it's purpose.. their rights have not been violated.. so what is the reason.. I keep hoping for something intelligent to arise, to in some way justify their actions.. but I don't think it will.. *argh!*

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 7:27 pm
by Sophia
These people should go protest the fact that the Patriot act has just been renewed instead. That's a worse violation of their civil rights than any ban on dancing.

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Tue May 31, 2011 8:26 pm
by Gambit37
cowsmanaut wrote:I keep hoping for something intelligent to arise
You'll be a long time awaitin' ;-)

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:19 am
by cowsmanaut
you can visit their facebook page and tell them... ;) Because I think they're just looking for something to protest.. may as well set them on something useful :)

Re: protest for the sake of protest?

Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 9:41 am
by Jan
cowsmanaut wrote:may as well set them on something useful :)
Like protesting against photosynthesis?

Like protesting against Mr. Chaos striking back in Chaos Strikes Back?

Like protesting against Galadriel appearing in The Hobbit movie?