Atlantic essay

Riots also often kick off after an indended peaceful protest. But the authorities can determine often which protest marches should be allowed to go ahead. I don't think it was a coincidence that the British authorities stopped the EDL a fascist organisation from marching but allowed the student demonstrations.

Had they stopped the student protests it would have looked bad on the government. As it was there were enough idiots both students and thugs to start a violent riot and thus leave most of the country siding against the students.

Rick McCullough said:

Old-school 'rioting' usually backfires.  Look at '68.  The rioters then practically handed the election to Nixon.  That doesn't mean some form of direct action is never warrented.  Last year in Wisconsin, protests, demonstrations and sit-ins focused attention on their governor's war on public-sector unions, leading eventually to an unprecedented (in terms of signatures) recall effort.  If there had been actual rioting, the GOP and its media arm would've claimed the moral high ground. 

Agreed on all points. Here's hoping that ass leaves w/ a HUGE boot-mark on his ass.

Rick McCullough said:

Old-school 'rioting' usually backfires.  Look at '68.  The rioters then practically handed the election to Nixon.  That doesn't mean some form of direct action is never warrented.  Last year in Wisconsin, protests, demonstrations and sit-ins focused attention on their governor's war on public-sector unions, leading eventually to an unprecedented (in terms of signatures) recall effort.  If there had been actual rioting, the GOP and its media arm would've claimed the moral high ground. 

Oh, yeah, the powers are losing their shit here. With police and FBI/CIA putting the screws to people, non-resistance really makes them look like the frightened pols that they are.

So, we are winning, it simply may be a cumulative effect over time. Take heart.

Breaking-#Occupy un-occupies its May Day strike campaign

Old-school 'rioting' usually backfires.  Look at '68.  The rioters then practically handed the election to Nixon.  That doesn't mean some form of direct action is never warrented.  Last year in Wisconsin, protests, demonstrations and sit-ins focused attention on their governor's war on public-sector unions, leading eventually to an unprecedented (in terms of signatures) recall effort.  If there had been actual rioting, the GOP and its media arm would've claimed the moral high ground. 

Yes, in the US riot usually means to some people race riot. So, yeah dave, I get that. And of course, property damage of any description gets Americans all freaked out. Like, oh no! You can't break stuff!!! And of course, the only people who really suffer are the people who are the least likely to recover from looting and violence.

There were good examples of that in the riots in London not so long ago. No one went to the estates of Surrey to destroy and loot right?

Isn't the non-violent aspect of Occupy freaking authorities out more than anything? Just a question... mel

dave said:

It's a good question. Is it a trait in a nation's make-up? The Greeks have never had a problem talking back/debating. Mebbe 'riot' here in the USA makes people think of Detroit in the 40s and 60s: violence and anger. Once you define a concept you control it.

p.s Put a reply in yr inbox.

Dave

michael moorcock

What has living in the United States brought to your work as an artist?

A little more understanding of a country which is often baffling to Europeans because they feel it should be a better version of Europe- certainly better than the Europe that settlers left behind. That it is in several ways a worse version is a bit of a shock to us.

The anti-intellectual tradition and the over-intellectualized tradition are both a bit depressing.
- from the interview in Modem Times 2.0

It's a good question. Is it a trait in a nation's make-up? The Greeks have never had a problem talking back/debating. Mebbe 'riot' here in the USA makes people think of Detroit in the 40s and 60s: violence and anger. Once you define a concept you control it.

p.s Put a reply in yr inbox.

Dave

I'm pretty sure Aussies aren't rioters, though we like an occasional protest by students and unions.

I've been playing "White Riot" every day and wondering the same thing -- why no riots? Too comfy still in the West?

Must admit, the best form of protest against guns and gas is non-violent resistance. American police seem to have no idea how to deal with that.

Look at this- Jacob Appelbaum calls for political action with Anonymous!

sage advice

As far as Oskar had it figured, America hadn’t really been suited for its long aand tiresome role as the Last Superpower, the World’s Policemen. As a patriotic American, Oskar was quite content to watch other people’s military coming home in boxes for a while.

The American national character really wasn’t suited for global police duties. It never had been. Tidy and meticulous people such as the Swiss and Swedes were the types who made good cops. America was far better suited to be the world’s Movie Star, the world’s tequila-addled pro-bowler, the world’s bipolar stand-up comedian. Anything but a somber and tedious nation of socially responsible centurions.
-from bruce sterling’s Distraction

I imagine if the American police put their guns down for a second they would. I was talking to an Iraqi a few weeks ago and he was talking about the British-American occupation and how ultimately the chaos at the moment isn't all the fault of the invasion but there is still very good reason to hate the American occupiers in particular.

The difference he made was when the Iraqis get angry they throw stones at the soldiers and while the British tend to fight back with fists where stones and fists were concerned the Americans readily shot the people. The last year there were a couple of cases where the police in Britain acted with much too much force against some rioters, involving some deaths, but there were no guns and no water canons.

Correct me if I'm wrong but had those riots happened in America after the student protests or the disgusting violence during the Summer in London would there have been so few deaths?