I know that every blogger and their sister has something to say about the arrests on Monday at the excel center where the Republican National Convention was being held, but I most certainly had to put my two cents in and, hopefully, spread the word to a few friends and family reading my blog who otherwise might not know.
10,000 gathered on the first night of the convention to protest the Iraq war, th republican party, and McCain's campaign. McCain has repeatedly voiced his approval of the war and a plan to keep our loved ones there. The protest was peaceful until a group of gestapo showed up trying to stop the protests without any cause, thereby infringing on our constitutional right to freedom of speech and the freedom to gather peacefully.
After stopping a march held by some 300 college students by blocking their path, the students began playing "freedom" music and dancing in the streets. A barrier was formed around the students and, without warning, the gestapo suddenly started firing pepper spray. Several students were burned.
In front of the convention site a barricade of police with megaphones announced that everyone was under arrest, not even attempting to weed out the supposed trouble causers from those who were standing quietly by. Several news teams nearby rushed over to cover the arrests and were then also told that they would be arrested. They were forced to kneel on the ground with their hands on their heads- an uncomfortable and unjust position to have to hold for an extended period of time. Over 250 protesters were arrested and charged with "conspiracy to incite a riot".
Our rights, as Americans, are slowly being taken away. Some may call me unpatriotic, but we are a nation known for challenging those in power. The constitution guarantees us freedom from tyranny. The second amendment, the right to bare arms, was not put there for rednecks to shoot deer and squirrels or for paranoid creationists to protect themselves from the homosexuals. It was put in place so that we had a way to protect ourselves from the government! Of course, with the invention of more powerful weapons the need for guns in the hands of th people is no longer valid since a musket won't going to hold a flame to a tank, but that's a discussion for another post. Our government is one of checks and balances for a reason! To ensure that no one has too much power!
But what power do the people have left? Do we have the power to vote into office our leaders? Obviously not since Bush was not the elected president. The popular vote did not go to him, meaning that more people didn't want him than did. And yet he was placed in power. Why? What kind of system do we have that a candidate can so easily cheat to win, not win, and still be placed as the commander and chief of our country?
MLK made great changes to this country because of his peaceful protests. He was also stopped many times the the police. Protesters were unjustly attacked, arrested, or even killed. And we look back at that time now and how do we see the people who worked so hard against him? Bigots, racists, ignorants, hate mongers.
We look back at the women's right movement and how do we see those who stood against it? Bigots, sexists, ignorants, hate mongers. Controlling men who thought they were better and smarter.
We look back at Vietnam and the hippies and how do we see them? Thy are the heroes who stood against an unjust war and spoke out against war crimes and hate. Though they were hated in their time, they are now a symbol of goodness and morality.
And what do these bigots and hate mongers have in common? They all com from the political right. The left has always fought, throughout history, for human rights, for freedom, for most of the things that are taken for granted today.
I've often wondered if the conservatives of yesterday who protested equal rights now feel ashamed. And I think, in 20, 30, or 40 years how will the political left be remembered? I am certain they will be seen as they always have in our history books, as those who fought for what was right. When gay marriage is as commonly accepted as interracial marriage or as women's right to vote, those who stand against it today will be seen as wrong, immoral, and hateful.
Those protesters are the heroes of tomorrow. Hopefully, one day, I'll be able to look back on what's happening now and say "I protested. I fought for what was right. I helped stand against corruption and hate".
I also want to note that there were also several arrests during the DNC (about half as the RNC) although they were 90% people who were actually causing trouble, unlike at the RNC where people were arrested with no cause. However, regardless of whether I agreed with these protesters (and they can be compared to the anti-negro protesters of th 60's, meaning that they are protesting for restricting rights and creating a religiously controlled government) they have rights as well. These gestapo techniques are unacceptable, no matter how bigoted and intolerant the protesters are.
