Macleod downtown shutdown due to Palestinian protests

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by nik-

Haha what? Selective law enforcement happens all the time. Showing up with the flag crapped over yourself is antagonistic, the guy doing it knew it and the cop knew it. Not saying anyone deserves to get hit, but lets not go the babe in the woods route here.

And like I said the cops were not there at all during the fights. You can see it in the videos they show up well after the fights are already done. The cop was talking to him after he had gotten into a fight so how could he intervene?

[Johnny199r]

What does this type of protest accomplish? Do they hope the Canadian government will change their policy? Are they trying to get neutrals on their side? What is it? I'm not really sure what waving flags and yelling in public in the other side of the world from the conflict does. Honest question.

Clearly, I've never protested anything before. Although when I don't like a restaurant, I don't go back, is that a protest?

[nik-]

Yes, the protest is ridiculous. I mean city hall? Maybe Harry Hays I get ... but city hall?

[Teh_Bandwagoner]

I'm genuinely disappointed that I missed out on MuscleOnTheBlvd's rant as it was happening. But I'm glad he managed to actually throw in the "I'm not racist, but..." card into the deck before he got banned though. Always nice to hear a classic! "I'm Canadian and I'm not ignorant" was a fun one too. He could put together a whole album of racist cliches!

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MuscleOnTheBlvd

Send them all back to where they came from, and I'm not even kidding.

This is not the Canadian way.

A little late to the party, but...

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by nik-

Haha what? Selective law enforcement happens all the time.

What? Never!

Signed,
African-Americans

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by MuscleOnTheBlvd

I'm Canadian and I'm not ignorant. I'm neither Jew or Muslim and you people, a lot of you, are disrupting our way of life.

The brain says no more, but the rum says, "hit it again."

[pylon]

Originally Posted by rubecube

A little late to the party, but...

You know, all these years, I have tried to explain to the redneck morons that bitch and moan about immigrants the fact that we are the biggest a-hole immigrants that ever existed. I think that picture explains it a whole bunch easier.

Thanks for that. I will put it to good use.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by pylon

You know, all these years, I have tried to explain to the redneck morons that bitch and moan about immigrants the fact that we are the biggest a-hole immigrants that ever existed. I think that picture explains it a whole bunch easier.

Thanks for that. I will put it to good use.

Yeah, except those guys are only actually upset about immigrants with shall we say a darker shade.

[rubecube]

Originally Posted by pylon

You just called us dumb, but you don't know what xenophobic means?

That is another example of irony, and not the Alannis type.

Not really irony as much as blatant ignorance and stupidity.

[fatso]

When I saw the thread title, the first thing that popped into my head was:

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Johnny199r

What does this type of protest accomplish? Do they hope the Canadian government will change their policy? Are they trying to get neutrals on their side? What is it? I'm not really sure what waving flags and yelling in public in the other side of the world from the conflict does. Honest question.

Clearly, I've never protested anything before. Although when I don't like a restaurant, I don't go back, is that a protest?

It's a decent question for sure. While I doubt that the Gov't of Canada will spring into action because of this, it does (theoretically) accomplish a few things:

1. Raise awareness that something is happening in the Middle East (for those living under rocks....). We are talking about it now, I suppose.

2. Build a sense of community amongst the protesting group, which could be leveraged into more practical activities such as a letter writing campaign

3. Gives the participants, who are clearly passionate about the situation, a chance to feel like they are contributing to the cause rather than feeling helpless to affect change.

As someone else mentioned - Harry Hays building was probably a more logical location overall, but you can't beat the visibility that's available around City Hall/Olympic Plaza.

[GGG]

I think changing Canadian policy could be a viable outcome of a protest. Not neccessarily this one but non-violent protest can accomplish something.

At a minimum it raises awareness to the palestinian human issues rather than just the Israel vs Hamas lens that things tend to be reported through.

The Israeli protestors are a bunch of dicks though. Its like the pro-life people showing up to an abortion clinic or a pro choice rally. Nothing good can come of it.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by rubecube

A little late to the party, but...

Hate the break it to you but all people that don't live in Botswana are immigrants. I have the same amount of control over the fact that some came here 20,000 years ago or 300 years ago.

[Calgary14]

I find it ironic that both sides were clearly wanting to end the violence - and then they ended up getting violent with each other.

[PsYcNeT]

I like how this thread went from everyone uniting against a common aggressor, to arguing about whether it's okay to blame the victim.

[calgarygeologist]

Originally Posted by pylon

Secondly, I don't give a flying F about what is going on in the Middle East. I have no clue who is right, and who is wrong. And I am utterly confused why some many people who are completely non-involved, or impacted in any way shape or from are getting so worked up over it. Both sides are stupid.

You are right. The global community needs to pull out of the conflict zone, turn it's back and let the two sides go all out and fight this battle to the end. By trying to step in and create peace between the two sides the global community is just creating tension which gets released periodically.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yes, the protest is ridiculous. I mean city hall? Maybe Harry Hays I get ... but city hall?

It is very common for rallies and protests to be held around City Hall. Particularly given Olympic Plaza is across the street. Happens all the time, but most aren't really newsworthy. "Group held signs and cheered for two hours, people drove by and waved. Group went home."

A few years ago, I walked through competing protests related to Syria (iirc). One group supporting the government, the other the rebels. They kept a couple blocks apart, however.

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

The cop nails it on the head.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...336/story.html

Wonder if that Jeff Willerton is the same lunatic who has run - and failed miserably - for several political offices, including (and especially) the Wildrose leadership.

[GaiJin]

Originally Posted by Arya Stark

The cop nails it on the head.

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/po...336/story.html

So substitute Rainbow flag for Israeli flag, and Redneck Bikers for Palestinians and Cop's statements still hold true?
Its against the law in this country to beat people up for what they are wearing last time I checked..
That cop is one you would want on a rape case for sure right? Hey she went to a bar wearing a mini-skirt, what do you think is going to happen? shrugs all around right?