SPOLIER ALERT: This is all opinion
If you have paid attention to the news in the last year or so revolutions are at the top of the list. They may not be reported as much but they are there all over the world. Arab spring was big in the news with 16 protests/occupations/revolutions going on and it was hard to not notice. The one I want to pick out of the bunch has connections with the current Occupy Wall Street occupation and every other occupy occupation in the world. Egypt to me draws parallels to the Occupy movements going on because what the US Government said basically set the tone of enforcement. The army took the side of the people, which was so moving but the United States Government also took the side of the people in Egypt who were occupying Tahrir Square. Many American's I knew were pleasantly surprised, who else but the US would back a movement for equality and free speech. I was never happier to be an American but this changed when the Occupy Wall Street movement started.
As with many other people I was shocked to see the OWS protestors being dragged, beaten, pepper sprayed all for peacefully assembling in opposition to big business and the government in cahoots with each other. Now I can't blame the government and big business as most American's were not paying any attention, they system was unchecked so it grew like mold in a moist and dark place. The past few years I have grown frustrated because I knew that they were not paying attention and when I wanted to talk politics with friends or friendly strangers their smile would turn upside down into a frown. "Politics doesn't effect me so I really don't care," or variations was a common statement but that is another story. The point of that little rant was to show that when people didn't pay attention and would peacefully assemble, like at "hippie hill" in San Fransisco, CA to play bongo drums and other musical instruments it wasn't much trouble. They stayed away from the business man and the business man stayed away from them but now that common American is all up in their business exposing the unfair practices and it's not appreciated to much. So this time when citizens are protesting unfair business practices their freedom of speech is trying to be taken away by the enforcement from government paid employee's a.k.a the police. Though it is easy to blame them and many are, at first I think they are thinking that this job puts money in their pocket and food on the table for their families but they need to get away from this thinking. Anyways back to my point.
The US Government backed the people's movement in Egypt and the military sided with the people, very moving but I think that a main reason why the Egyptian military took the side of the people was because their paychecks probably came from the US. I say this because the US Government funded, not sure if they still do, but funded the Egyptian military with US$1.3 billion a year1. To me this goes hand in hand with what the police are doing in the US right now, they are following the orders of their boss and they are doing what American's are taught to do, look after themselves. That is the American Dream right? To be the best at your job, beat everyone to the top and don't look back. These police are doing just that, looking after their family and not looking after the best interest of the people. Now how can this be fixed because it is a pain in the ass when people complain and don't offer a solution.
Well I will say that I don't have an immediate solution but I did learn something with my four-years in the military. That was a solider/sailor/airperson does not have to follow a direct order if they feel it to be unlawful. I would hope that there is some similar rule in the police force. If the officers feel that what they are doing is unconstitutional why can't they just say so? Is there fear of retaliation by other officers or that their job will be on the line? I can't say for sure but I am sure there is a common bond with police officers and they say to stand in solidarity with each other. My solution would be that police officers need to stand up for themselves and do not fear being fired. So what if your fellow police officers don't like you and your boss is pissed at your, welcome to a common workplace. At least your have your pride and haven't sold your soul to financial greed.
The police officers and politician's are claiming to holding up the rule of law but right now it seems to be more like an iron fist. It is my hope that the police see that they are breaking down the fabric of our constitution and backing the politicians that are using them as pawns.
In my city of Sacramento a lot of police show up to Cesar Chavez park to arrest people who are standing up for themselves. Police officers are pulled away from their regular beats to come and assist, in riot gear, to arrest people who are assembling peacefully while real crimes are being committed. I think it's just to prove a point but I am not sure what positive impact their point is.
So money rules all as we all pretty much know and the government has the ability to throw a lot of it down the drain while the rest suffer. I just hope the US society can make something work before it's to late.
Sources
1. Egypt's military gets paid by the US Government
If you have paid attention to the news in the last year or so revolutions are at the top of the list. They may not be reported as much but they are there all over the world. Arab spring was big in the news with 16 protests/occupations/revolutions going on and it was hard to not notice. The one I want to pick out of the bunch has connections with the current Occupy Wall Street occupation and every other occupy occupation in the world. Egypt to me draws parallels to the Occupy movements going on because what the US Government said basically set the tone of enforcement. The army took the side of the people, which was so moving but the United States Government also took the side of the people in Egypt who were occupying Tahrir Square. Many American's I knew were pleasantly surprised, who else but the US would back a movement for equality and free speech. I was never happier to be an American but this changed when the Occupy Wall Street movement started.
As with many other people I was shocked to see the OWS protestors being dragged, beaten, pepper sprayed all for peacefully assembling in opposition to big business and the government in cahoots with each other. Now I can't blame the government and big business as most American's were not paying any attention, they system was unchecked so it grew like mold in a moist and dark place. The past few years I have grown frustrated because I knew that they were not paying attention and when I wanted to talk politics with friends or friendly strangers their smile would turn upside down into a frown. "Politics doesn't effect me so I really don't care," or variations was a common statement but that is another story. The point of that little rant was to show that when people didn't pay attention and would peacefully assemble, like at "hippie hill" in San Fransisco, CA to play bongo drums and other musical instruments it wasn't much trouble. They stayed away from the business man and the business man stayed away from them but now that common American is all up in their business exposing the unfair practices and it's not appreciated to much. So this time when citizens are protesting unfair business practices their freedom of speech is trying to be taken away by the enforcement from government paid employee's a.k.a the police. Though it is easy to blame them and many are, at first I think they are thinking that this job puts money in their pocket and food on the table for their families but they need to get away from this thinking. Anyways back to my point.
The US Government backed the people's movement in Egypt and the military sided with the people, very moving but I think that a main reason why the Egyptian military took the side of the people was because their paychecks probably came from the US. I say this because the US Government funded, not sure if they still do, but funded the Egyptian military with US$1.3 billion a year1. To me this goes hand in hand with what the police are doing in the US right now, they are following the orders of their boss and they are doing what American's are taught to do, look after themselves. That is the American Dream right? To be the best at your job, beat everyone to the top and don't look back. These police are doing just that, looking after their family and not looking after the best interest of the people. Now how can this be fixed because it is a pain in the ass when people complain and don't offer a solution.
Well I will say that I don't have an immediate solution but I did learn something with my four-years in the military. That was a solider/sailor/airperson does not have to follow a direct order if they feel it to be unlawful. I would hope that there is some similar rule in the police force. If the officers feel that what they are doing is unconstitutional why can't they just say so? Is there fear of retaliation by other officers or that their job will be on the line? I can't say for sure but I am sure there is a common bond with police officers and they say to stand in solidarity with each other. My solution would be that police officers need to stand up for themselves and do not fear being fired. So what if your fellow police officers don't like you and your boss is pissed at your, welcome to a common workplace. At least your have your pride and haven't sold your soul to financial greed.
The police officers and politician's are claiming to holding up the rule of law but right now it seems to be more like an iron fist. It is my hope that the police see that they are breaking down the fabric of our constitution and backing the politicians that are using them as pawns.
In my city of Sacramento a lot of police show up to Cesar Chavez park to arrest people who are standing up for themselves. Police officers are pulled away from their regular beats to come and assist, in riot gear, to arrest people who are assembling peacefully while real crimes are being committed. I think it's just to prove a point but I am not sure what positive impact their point is.
So money rules all as we all pretty much know and the government has the ability to throw a lot of it down the drain while the rest suffer. I just hope the US society can make something work before it's to late.
Sources
1. Egypt's military gets paid by the US Government
No comments:
Post a Comment