Thoughts on Riot Culture

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Thoughts on Riot Culture

Submitted by Rob Richards on Tue, 08/21/2007 - 6:33pm.

Rob Richards's blog
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Wow

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 7:38am.

Thanks for posting this Rob.

Dehumanization is a tool and any time any of us can point out when it is being used, the better.

Racisim and rebuilding

Submitted by Tschida on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 11:33am.

We are racist because we dehumanize oppressive murderous thugs and their government, particularly as we eliminate them in battle; but we rebuild their infrastructure, provide humanitarian relief and foster democracy where it didn't exist? Something doesn't seem to fit.

I am curious where this was filmed.

You are way off the point here.

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 11:59am.

The point of this is not to start a conversation about the war. If this turns into a conversation about that stupid war I'm deleting it. This is about how we view one another. How is it that we've come to a place in our existence where one American can look at another as an enemy, and further, why do we let that atmosphere exist? Cops are dehumanized by protestors and vice-versa. That dehumanization immediately justifies any act of violence against the "pigs" or the "hippies". We are programmed that we are responsible to other human beings, but not to our enemies.

They must find it difficult...
Those who have taken authority as truth,
rather than truth as the authority."
- Gerald Massey

I understand what you are saying.

Submitted by Tschida on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 3:34pm.

You are to an extent correct as there have been perpetrators of hate and crime on both sides of the line when it comes to protesting. On this we do not disagree. However the police are an instrument of the government, and your issue, what ever it may be, is almost without exception, with those policy makers. So as I see it as the protest being in the wrong place. It should be with those policy makers not the police. Perhaps it would be more effective and less volatile to protest the policy makers rather than attempt to put the police in a strained position. A collateral result of that may be less attention in the press but it well could be more effective in forwarding an agenda. Even if you want you protest the police, I do not believe it would be expedient to protest the cops on the street so to speak, as much as it would be to protest the Chief of police and those in his administration. In my world view I want for you and those who think like you, to be free to protest with out fear of retaliation or harm. I also want protesters to think a little more clearly how and why they protest. I think most acts of 'civil disobedience' are less about not tolerating a ridiculous law and more about media attention. I believe there is room for both sides, and surely enough room to treat each other with respect.

Respect

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 3:45pm.

Tschida, this is a well written and expressed comment. Thank you.

You leave plenty of room for others to agree to disagree, you express concern for everyone's safety, and you tell us what you believe with "I" messages . You clearly tell us where you are coming from. I really really appreciate this.

I myself believe also that there is room for both sides, and the way I see it, there are more than two sides. I believe there is some way to discuss and debate and resolve conflict with mutual respect.

"Police are instruments of the government"

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 4:11pm.

I think that's a good example of the culture Rob is talking about. A culture that not only dehumanizes the opposition, but dehumanizes its own agents to absolve them of responsibility of enforcing the will of an institution.

But, yes, policy makers are most responsible and should be subject to more direct action.

The protesters went to the

Submitted by Rob Richards on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 3:51pm.

The protesters went to the port to protest military shipments, the police were put there by the government to protect the shipments. This protest was not about the police, in the video, the young man was addressing the police to state his views on the culture that policymakers have created. We all, cops and citizens, perpetuate this culture by not refusing to be a part of it.

I agree completely that more protests should be focused on policy makers and in my organizing I certainly plan to hold policy makers accountable for their decisions, especially on the local level where experience tells me I can make a difference.

Refusing to be part of it

Submitted by Sarah on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 4:03pm.

Rob can you write more on "refusing to be part of it"?

Rebuilding the infrastructure

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 12:06pm.

that we destroyed does absolve us. You can't create a desert and then expect praise because you bring in water trucks. As for "fostering democracy"...it is not democracy if we will only allow those friendly to American interests to be in power. It all fits perfectly well. And I won't talk about the war anymore here.

Let's none of us mention it.

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 12:43pm.

Let's none of us mention it. I'm at work so I can't watch the film yet. If anyone is bored and wishes to give me a synopsis I'd appreciate it. 99% of the time things that Rob posts tend to hold my interest.

Rob's comment

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 1:27pm.

pretty much captures the gist of it. Coercion is easier if you create a culture that encourages you to dehumanize the other. That kind of culture is an impediment to dialog and peaceful, democratic resolution of conflict. Once we become “hippies” and “pigs,” it’s harder to behave like humans.

That should read

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 1:16pm.

"does NOT absolve us."

I kind of figured. Although

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 1:22pm.

I kind of figured. Although your analogy about creating a desert is funny. Iraq was a desert long before we got there ;)

It's a metaphor dude

Submitted by Guglielmo on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 1:28pm.

but I did pick a dumb geography to use it in. Doh!

Just having a bit of fun

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 1:34pm.

Just having a bit of fun with you =)

Not sure who that is

Submitted by Norm on Wed, 08/22/2007 - 4:32pm.

but he is really well spoken. I "think" I am understanding what he is saying, but I'm not sure that I agree with him.

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