Other than the (inset your favorite string of derogatory adjectives) fascist trolls over at the Olympian comments section, I have yet to read any comments critical of your role in this May Day or any other. Maybe I missed something.

There is a silver lining to the Black Bloc's cowardly actions in that polar opposite factions as represented by Jeff Bingham and Rob Whitlock have found common ground. Let's build on that.

What really needs to happen is for every citizen, whether as an individual or as part of a group, to ensure that their exercise of free speech DOES NOT infringe upon the rights of other citizens. This includes NOT injuring other citizens, NOT damaging private or public property, and NOT violating the law. Certain individuals and groups need to stop using euphemisms such as "civil disobedience", "direct action" and "affinity groups" as tools to excuse violence, and violation of the law. And stop blaming the police.

Another poster on Olyblog used the anology of hosting a party with unlimited booze. It's a good lesson. If you host a party with unlimited booze and then, when drunks start fights and drive drunk, you say "It's not me. It's the Black Drunk Bloc!". The anology fits our current situation.

We have experienced too many occasions of violence and property destruction at events organized or sponsored by groups saying they are peaceful and non-voilent. Sorry, saying it is no longer enough. Sorry, the pointing of fingers elsewhere and crying "It's not us, it was the Black Bloc" no longer cuts the mustard. You host the party, the "affinity groups" attend your party, it's still your party.

Use your First Amendment rights but you have an obligation to follow the law and not violate the rights of you fellow citizens. Stop making excuses! Your political beliefs do not entitle you to block streets, etc. Your right to swing your arm ends at my nose. Host your events by following the law and with real non-violence.

Jeff Brigham

"The best defense against terrorism is a strong offensive against terrorists. That work continues.”

President George W. Bush

I'd like to ask people on all sides of this to look beyond the face value of the words that each of us are saying and find the real meaning. If it's not immediately clear to you what someone is getting at, ask questions. It's too nice outside to argue.

I already hit my button!

...having the Social Contract is a good thing, and I think having it around is a good idea...

great experiment!

I was pretty amazed how quick I hit my limit reading "open comments", so I hope everyone realizes that my post was more to document where I'm at as far as my borders and not a serious request for docent intervention, open thread and all!

play nice & see ya all on the 'blog later-

I think most of this thread has been good, my slide into a personal attack not withstanding. The problem with your premise is there isn't much more to be said on this topic.

Olyblog readers and contributors understand. Those who threw rocks were wrong. The activist community has disowned them. We must adopt strategies to prevent that kind of counter-productive behavior on the part of a small minority. One person new to this forum has defended the actions of the rock throwers and has been roundly condemned for his opinions and his rhetoric. Have I missed something? I probably have but I'm sure it's been covered by others. Is this subject worthy of any more electrons spilled? I say no.

I'd say it's time to close this thread and maybe the rest of the May Day threads. I for one am ready to move on. And I think I will...

We NEED to go beyond the "you're wrong, and that's that" mentality, and start asking serious questions of one another. How do we prevent another incident like this if we don't understand why it happened? These were nuanced human beings who did this, not whatever identifying labels (communist, anarchist) we find it easy to slap on them.

The one intrusive thought that I can't get out of my head (and this shit has been on my mind almost constantly since May Day), is that no matter how I feel about what happened, I can't change it, and I can't change the fact that people are going to do these sorts of things again. That's my starting block. That's where I'm going to start trying to mend things from. It doesn't matter whether I think it's morally wrong to target people with violent acts and it doesn't matter that I'm angry that a day I care about was hijacked and devalued. Those emotions get us no closer to progress than those broken windows did that day. I choose to start with an open mind and listen. Not enough time is spent just listening. We'll get so much farther as a community if we can shed the dualistic, divisive attitudes and attempt to locate at least a kernel of commonality within us all.

An assigned escort for anyone who chooses to conceal their identity.

I don't know about you but I have a pretty good idea of why tags and rocks were thrown. Those reasons have been articulated on Olyblog and other web sites.

Rob, you way over-thinking this. And yes, it does matter that your angry. You should be angry. They attacked a city council member's businesses and defaced another's. Joe and Jeff have been violated. We all have been violated. It will be appropriate to forgive when those who advocate such tactics renounce them but there's nothing to mend with perps who brag about their assault and their intention to do it again.

I'm sorry Rob, but there are rights and wrongs in this world. Those who hijacked May Day were wrong. 

And with that, I bow out of this conversation.