Just...insane.
Mar. 5th, 2003 10:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
whitereflectionhttp://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&cid=519&e=1&u=/ap/20030305/ap_on_re_us/mall_activists
And the comment about the mall being private property? Oh come now. At the most, places like that which allow heavy public access can only consider themselves semi-private, and really can only restrict clothing to the extent of obscenity and the classic 'no shirt-no shoes-no service' adage. And think about it--when demanding the man and his son take off those shirts or leave, wasn't that the same as saying 'leave or leave', since people truly *aren't* allowed to go walking through a mall without a shirt?
Makes me wonder, were those guards going after people with cursing or swearing on their shirts? How about the shirts that show cartoon objects screwing in different positions? Or those that go on about 'Big Johnsons'? What do you suppose of someone had a shirt on that said "Fuck Saddam", they wouldn't have minded--but if it had "Fuck Bush", they would have had them arrested just like this man? (And what if they were wearing the shirt that says "I Still Hate Bush" sold on the website tshirthell.com ?)
Seriously. Is the phrase "Give peace a chance" that offensive? Doesn't matter if you're for or against the war with Iraq, or war with *anyone*, it's just a phrase, just on a shirt. And that's not offensive to the point of demanding someone leave, and arresting them for tresspassing if they don't.
And *christ*, the man and his son *bought* their shirts at that mall. Are the guards going and telling the store to stop selling them? What, they don't have a right to? Geeeeee, maybe that says something there.
I'm of a rather mixed position on the Iraq situation, and on warring in general--but I think I may buy one of those shirts. Or I'm thinking of having a shirt made that says "I Didn't Vote For Him" on the front and "Don't Ignore the Majority" on the back.
And it makes a person wonder...with us now fighting amongnst ourselves and polarizing to the point of hating each other, with us giving away freedoms or letting them slip away little bit by little bit, with us living more and more in fear and terror (Terror Level: Plaid)...doesn't this mean the terrorists are winning? Or making our country just like the ones they live in?
One other thought is that some say "Oh, the journalists here aren't telling the whole story". Oh come now (again)--in this country where reporters like to tell and show everything, especially if the ones they're writing about were somehow making a scene or fools of themselves, the journalist here would *definitely* have said if the man were causing a disturbance or commotion. As it stands, it's basically as the article states: he was harassed by guards for the shirt he was wearing, then was arrested for tresspassing because he wouldn't take the shirt off or leave.
Insane. Freaking insane.
And the comment about the mall being private property? Oh come now. At the most, places like that which allow heavy public access can only consider themselves semi-private, and really can only restrict clothing to the extent of obscenity and the classic 'no shirt-no shoes-no service' adage. And think about it--when demanding the man and his son take off those shirts or leave, wasn't that the same as saying 'leave or leave', since people truly *aren't* allowed to go walking through a mall without a shirt?
Makes me wonder, were those guards going after people with cursing or swearing on their shirts? How about the shirts that show cartoon objects screwing in different positions? Or those that go on about 'Big Johnsons'? What do you suppose of someone had a shirt on that said "Fuck Saddam", they wouldn't have minded--but if it had "Fuck Bush", they would have had them arrested just like this man? (And what if they were wearing the shirt that says "I Still Hate Bush" sold on the website tshirthell.com ?)
Seriously. Is the phrase "Give peace a chance" that offensive? Doesn't matter if you're for or against the war with Iraq, or war with *anyone*, it's just a phrase, just on a shirt. And that's not offensive to the point of demanding someone leave, and arresting them for tresspassing if they don't.
And *christ*, the man and his son *bought* their shirts at that mall. Are the guards going and telling the store to stop selling them? What, they don't have a right to? Geeeeee, maybe that says something there.
I'm of a rather mixed position on the Iraq situation, and on warring in general--but I think I may buy one of those shirts. Or I'm thinking of having a shirt made that says "I Didn't Vote For Him" on the front and "Don't Ignore the Majority" on the back.
And it makes a person wonder...with us now fighting amongnst ourselves and polarizing to the point of hating each other, with us giving away freedoms or letting them slip away little bit by little bit, with us living more and more in fear and terror (Terror Level: Plaid)...doesn't this mean the terrorists are winning? Or making our country just like the ones they live in?
One other thought is that some say "Oh, the journalists here aren't telling the whole story". Oh come now (again)--in this country where reporters like to tell and show everything, especially if the ones they're writing about were somehow making a scene or fools of themselves, the journalist here would *definitely* have said if the man were causing a disturbance or commotion. As it stands, it's basically as the article states: he was harassed by guards for the shirt he was wearing, then was arrested for tresspassing because he wouldn't take the shirt off or leave.
Insane. Freaking insane.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-05 09:12 am (UTC)I didn't vote for him....
Date: 2003-03-05 04:58 pm (UTC)Thank you for speaking so carefully and intelligently about matters which are making me crazy. (er?)
Your point about fighting amongst ourselves. I see people using slogans of the past to try and explain away their impatience and selfishness. Using the excuse of a sanctioned hatred to stop trying to pretend to love their fellow man. It makes me want to turn my back on it all, to just try to life my own life in isolation from everything that is shown on the news every day. If I really thought I could get away with it I might try.
It all makes me really scared of what the world is going to be like when I'm old. I'm not sure I want to see it.
A few days ago I was listening to the music and words of an Iraqi musician on NPR. He was invigorated with the opportunity that a tour to five US cities to play traditional Iraqi music provided him with, energized to show people of the US what the Iraqi people were really like. "To show them that Iraqis' are not just terrorists and killers, but musicians and poets and artists and scientists and doctors and painters." As I drove and listened to the excerpts of music I thought in sadness about how this man's message would only be heard by a select demographic, that it wasn't out there on all the press sources for everyone in America to listen to and to learn from. Though I'm sure it wouldn't get nearly the ratings of "Pop Idol" or whatever that show is, I'd like to think that if people were exposed to such things over and over it would make them reflect a bit more carefully.
And then again I think I'm being far to idealistic.
Re: I didn't vote for him....
Date: 2003-03-06 10:22 am (UTC)I wish I myself would have known about that NPR program, and that it would have been publicized more. You're right that it's just a tiny percentage of the population who would have heard it.
And it's the same for me--part of me wants to be optimistic and idealistic and believe things can and will get better, part of me is bitter and cynical and despairing that it ever will (even in early to mid high school, I tended to express an opinion that the whole political/governmental system was fscked, and that nothing we did would matter--I let others convince me otherwise, but in reality, I think I was right back then). So I tend to be really torn as to what to think and do about things. As it is...I'm trying to make today a 'no political rants day', but after seeing the resignation letter from the now-former US Ambassador to Greece online at the NY Times, I'm tempted to post the link to it and rant more. After the past couple days, though, I'm just kind of tired and burned on it again, and wanting to just hide in escapist things. *flails*
Meh. In any case, thinking about ya bunches. And I'm curious if you (or you and Eric) have thought about Akon at all? Any chance you'll be going this year?
*hugs* Laters,
--Di
Re: I didn't vote for him....
Date: 2003-03-09 01:33 pm (UTC)Re: I didn't vote for him....
Date: 2003-03-17 06:28 am (UTC)Hmf...maybe keep calling the hotel periodically, seeing if anyone out there cancels (a long shot, I know). But other than that, crud, I dunno what to suggest as an option. I really hope there's a way that we can get you all at the same hotel--definitely want to have you close like last time! *hugs, holds you tight*
Oh, and very glad you enjoyed that URL. ^^ Been watching it repeatedly myself--got to show it to friends, and they were muchly amused. Heh. Stuff like that's all that's keeping me vaguely sane.
Anyway, thinking of you bunches, hon. Hope you're doing ok--take care. *extrahugs*
--Di