Macleod downtown shutdown due to Palestinian protests

[PsYcNeT]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

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?

Like I said earlier, everyone is cool blaming victims of assault. It's pretty gross.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by 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.

Both Israeli and Palestinians have the right to protest. I am proud that our country allows for peaceful protest.

I have no time or respect for either side once the prostest moves away from being peaceful.

[CaptainYooh]

[QUOTE=CaptainCrunch;4852664]

Originally Posted by nik-

I would disagree, the cop isn't allowed to be selective in law enforcement because of what a person has on.

It goes against freedom of expression especially if the guy is non violent.

If the guy gets assaulted because he's wearing a Israeli flag the cop has to intervene and arrest the assaulter and offer protection to the assaultee.


Its not up to the cop to say, well you got assaulted for wearing that flag, oh well lesson learned.

The cop was wrong.

Agree 100%. Pro-Palestinians want to gather in front of a municipal building, block traffic and protest - that's OK, we're free country and they have the democratic right to protest. Pro-Israelis want to do the same - that's STUPID and PROVOCATIVE? Are you f...ng kidding me? The police officer should have been strictly reprimanded for saying this. Herald article said that the guy wearing the flag was physically assaulted. How is that a peaceful protest?

Here's a true story. A friend of mine once cornered and punched a guy who gave him a middle finger salute at a parking lot. The guy complained to the police and my friend was charged with an assault. The provocation (finger) was dismissed by the police as irrelevant. Policeman said, quote: "Anyone can show anyone a middle finger and this is not a valid justification for a physical altercation. What's more, this is not a valid reason for a police complaint." How is wearing a flag (provocation) different from the above situation?

Democratic protests MUST be peaceful. Otherwise, they have no credibility.

[nik-]

Again, I'm not saying the guy deserved to get hit ... just that it shouldn't be a shock that it happened. Nowhere did the cop say that the other guy was fine to hit him because he had the flag over his shoulders, only to question what the guy expected to happen.

I see no problem with the cop's actions at all.

[AltaGuy]

It's unsurprising that some protesters became violent, but it doesn't make it right. I hope that everyone involved in the protests is more prepared to encounter provocation (on both sides) for the next one, and hopefully everyone realizes that violence is both wrong and does a disservice to the aims of the protest.

For what it's worth, apparently certain members of both sides were extremely provocative, well beyond just wearing an Israeli flag. Hopefully cooler heads will reign in those pushing things too far next time. I hope to make the next one.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by nik-

Again, I'm not saying the guy deserved to get hit ... just that it shouldn't be a shock that it happened. ...

I see no problem with the cop's actions at all.

There are two conflicting messages in this post:

I am also not surprised that the guy got hit. Pro-Palestinian rally participants frequently turn violent, which, to me, supports the general notion of the Palestinian cause being more violent than not.

Seeing no problem with what the police office said, is a big deal. Just project this same phrase over any similar situation - raped while wearing a short skirt, beaten at an arena by an opposing team fans, having your wallet stolen while falling asleep drunk. Physical violence is against the law in a democracy, unless your life and safety are imminently threatened. For an officer of the law to suggest anything to the contrary is ridiculous, reprehensible and unacceptable.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

There are two conflicting messages in this post:

I am also not surprised that the guy got hit. Pro-Palestinian rally participants frequently turn violent, which, to me, supports the general notion of the Palestinian cause being more violent than not.

Seeing no problem with what the police office said, is a big deal. Just project this same phrase over any similar situation - raped while wearing a short skirt, beaten at an arena by an opposing team fans, having your wallet stolen while falling asleep drunk. Physical violence is against the law in a democracy, unless your life and safety are imminently threatened.

It's not the same situation as a rape, so lets not go there. It's this situation. It's not a black or white thing, it's a million shades of grey, and that's why sometimes selective policing happens. And yes, I think it's more likely that this scenario happens than if the parties were reversed.

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

There are two conflicting messages in this post:

I am also not surprised that the guy got hit. Pro-Palestinian rally participants frequently turn violent, which, to me, supports the general notion of the Palestinian cause being more violent than not.

You're going to get flamed for your bigotry, and so you should.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

You're going to get flamed for your bigotry, and so you should.

He is just giving his interpretation of the post.

He didn't say that it was his opinion.

Also, what do you think is meant by the bolded part?

Originally Posted by nik-

It's not the same situation as a rape, so lets not go there. It's this situation. It's not a black or white thing, it's a million shades of grey, and that's why sometimes selective policing happens. And yes, I think it's more likely that this scenario happens than if the parties were reversed.

[nik-]

Yeah, the bolded part is a little bigoted on my part, but the situation seemlingly has one side feeling much more like the victim than the other and as a result they might be more likely to result in anger.

I'm not suggesting that Palestinians are more genetically disposed to violence.

[Swift]

Umm, sometimes victims are to blame. It's not always so black and white.

If I see a hornet's nest, go over and start jumping around antagonizing them, and get stung, is anybody going to feel sorry for me?

I suspect the general reply would be "Well, what did you expect would happen?"

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by Cameron Swift

Umm, sometimes victims are to blame. It's not always so black and white.

If I see a hornet's nest, go over and start jumping around antagonizing them, and get stung, is anybody going to feel sorry for me?

I suspect the general reply would be "Well, what did you expect would happen?"

So to be clear, we are comparing the actions/reactions of bees to humans.......reaching there a bit.

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by GaiJin

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..

Oh yeah for sure.

Or how about this one... some dreadlocked Occupy Wall Street-type strolls into the World Petroleum Show and starts his shaking his finger in people's faces. A scuffle ensues, nobody gets hurt, and he goes and whines to the cops.

Cop says "you shouldn't have been here...".

The outrage on this board and in Calgary would be more intense than the heat of a thousand suns.

Originally Posted by GaiJin

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?

Totally. Or if some guy kills 25 people with a chainsaw in a hardware store? Hey, they sell chainsaws there, what do you think is going to happen. Shrugs all around, right?

[AltaGuy]

Originally Posted by nik-

Yeah, the bolded part is a little bigoted on my part, but the situation seemlingly has one side feeling much more like the victim than the other and as a result they might be more likely to result in anger.

I'm not suggesting that Palestinians are more genetically disposed to violence.

FWIW, I misinterpreted both you and captainyooh, for which I apologize.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So to be clear, we are comparing the actions/reactions of bees to humans.......reaching there a bit.

Well Yooh tried to align someone punching someone with rape. So ...

[Arya Stark]

Originally Posted by CaptainYooh

There are two conflicting messages in this post:

I am also not surprised that the guy got hit. Pro-Palestinian rally participants frequently turn violent, which, to me, supports the general notion of the Palestinian cause being more violent than not.

Are you talking in general or in Calgary? Because in Calgary the only protests I recall turning violent are the skinhead ones.

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by AltaGuy

FWIW, I misinterpreted both you and captainyooh, for which I apologize.

It's CaptainYooh.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by nik-

Well Yooh tried to align someone punching someone with rape. So ...

...so at least both involved the same species with similair cognitive ability....but I mean bees......bees...really

[CaptainYooh]

Originally Posted by nik-

Well Yooh tried to align someone punching someone with rape. So ...

No. I am trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to show you that being not surprised at and justifying a violent act are not linked. Your post suggested otherwise.

[nik-]

Who's justifying it?