"Battle of Seattle"
report from the living room
Hi Lighters, I survived the WTO week in Seattle and would like to present my comments from
what little I know from my angle in case some of you are wondering what's that all about.
To begin with, I know nothing about WTO except China was very keen on joining and along
with Hong Kong was very excited the last week of November that US finally agreed to allow
China in.
Despit the preparation by the city folks as reported by last Tuesday evening, Seattle was
way too soft on the demonstrations at first and then got too tough toward the rioters
afterward. I distinguished the two types because the first groups were all ligit unions
and environmental groups in number as high as 50,000 strong. Its the redicals that failed
to clear the streets after the main groups done with their protesting and went home. These
reminded me of the viet nam era but this gereration of protesters is much more ignorant
and egocentric than the last. Both the media and the officials so far have failed to make
that difference and is very confusing and frustrating to read and discuss who did what.
So far, these noisy groups are taken over the press coverage and all claimed police
brutality because they got sprayed with tear and pepper gas. In short, they are but a
bunch of cry babies, spoiled brets and real loosers. None of them hold real productive
jobs, most of them work for professional protesting organizations. I say, they don't how
lucky they are that the police was around them, other wise, some other extremists may even
rush in and crack their heads.
These protesters talked about freedom for all while denying the WTO delegates the freedom
to assemble and talk about issues that the protesters are fighting for. Rediculous, isn't
it.
Then the Anarchists. The building they occupied for two weeks happened to belong to a
friend of mine who while interview on TV and newspapers said that he feel violated and
that these people's position is so juvenile and think the world is so simple, that there
is no point to even talk to them.
So much for talks. As for real on-site, hands-on experience in this Marshall-law-ed
no-protest zone in downtown Seattle, the closest I got was two blocks from the battle zone
after an appointment in another part of downtown last Tuesday. I drove as close as I can
among street full of demonstrators and finally got turned away by the traffic cops. Didn't
want to leave my car in the middle of the street since there was no way to park under that
condition. Darn, can't even get a taste of the tear gas to tell my grand kids about.
The rest is what covered in the media.
So far, I have written one letter to the Mayor telling him got to be tough and not be
fooled by the protesters whom the naive mayor tried to have "dialogue" with like
in the 60s.; one letter to the police chief to support his staff that too bad he did not
use water cannon and stun guns so that at least they live up to the accusation of
"brutality". E-mailed to all City council members about not to mixed up the real
demonstrators with the mob who got the nerve to blockade the jail to demand release of the
400 or so fellow rioters. One e-mail to the CIty attorney questioning him is it true that
if as long as a lot of people breaking the law together, then its not breaking law ?
From my Vietnam year of protesting, I use to be on the "people" side and the
hell with the pigs. Is it age " or "wisdom" that my attitude is changed 180
degree? This time I failed to find one ounce of sympathy toward the gased protesters. Is
it true that when one started to get "established" and accummulating material
wealth, one turns conservative ? There are others agreed with my position. In fact, the
paper quoted someone saying the guy accusing the police kicked his groan when he failed to
disperse was asking for it, otherwise he should receive the kick on his butt instead.
Good day.
|
Get
your own Free Home Page 