Comments on: Homeland Security memo warned of violent threat posed by Occupy Wall Street http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Wed, 19 Jun 2013 05:45:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: TallDave http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1358235 TallDave Thu, 01 Mar 2012 19:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1358235  Plus, many Tea Partiers also drive cars, which could also be used violently!  This is much more relevant than the hundreds of <i>actual violent crimes</i> committed by OWS. Or maybe "status quo" is some trendy new synonym for vaj?  Hard to tell.  Plus, many Tea Partiers also drive cars, which could also be used violently!  This is much more relevant than the hundreds of actual violent crimes committed by OWS.

Or maybe “status quo” is some trendy new synonym for vaj?  Hard to tell.

]]> By: travtastic http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1357265 travtastic Wed, 29 Feb 2012 21:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1357265 This is a perfectly reasonable comment! This is a perfectly reasonable comment!

]]> By: roddy boyd http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356894 roddy boyd Wed, 29 Feb 2012 17:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356894 Looks to me that whatever else the Tea Party was about, it's perception by authorities--and its track record--was sharply different than that of the OWS# set. Everyone's politics are their own, of course, but how the Right and the Left went about it are very different (and telling.) Looks to me that whatever else the Tea Party was about, it’s perception by authorities–and its track record–was sharply different than that of the OWS# set.

Everyone’s politics are their own, of course, but how the Right and the Left went about it are very different (and telling.)

]]> By: aaronmhill http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356728 aaronmhill Wed, 29 Feb 2012 15:02:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356728 Has the DHS not seen college towns during tournament finals week? I've seen cars flipped over / set on fire in columbus-freakin-ohio. Where's the DHS notice about THAT? Has the DHS not seen college towns during tournament finals week? I’ve seen cars flipped over / set on fire in columbus-freakin-ohio. Where’s the DHS notice about THAT?

]]> By: msbpodcast http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356633 msbpodcast Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:43:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356633 <i>"large scale demonstrations also carry the potential for violence, presenting a significant challenge for law enforcement."</i> Specially when said law enforcement agencies are, quite visibly and caught on video, the source of <b>all</b> of the violence. Then said law enforcement agencies look like the psycho-sociopathic pile of human excrement they reveal themselves to be. “large scale demonstrations also carry the potential for violence, presenting a significant challenge for law enforcement.”

Specially when said law enforcement agencies are, quite visibly and caught on video, the source of all of the violence.

Then said law enforcement agencies look like the psycho-sociopathic pile of human excrement they reveal themselves to be.

]]> By: AnotherExNortel http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356620 AnotherExNortel Wed, 29 Feb 2012 12:01:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356620 The Tea Party was subjected to similar scrutiny. See <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mobileweb/2009/04/14/homeland-security-report_n_186834.html" rel="nofollow">this Huffington Post article</a> from 2009. And even when Speaker Pelosi tried to provoke a response by walking through the Tea Party crowd on the way to vote for the Affordable Care Act, the protesters refused to react illegally. In the Occupy protests, there were instances of sexual assault, public indecency, and trespassing (other than the intended protest areas), definitely with more arrests than Tea Parties. The Tea Party was subjected to similar scrutiny. See this Huffington Post article from 2009.

And even when Speaker Pelosi tried to provoke a response by walking through the Tea Party crowd on the way to vote for the Affordable Care Act, the protesters refused to react illegally. In the Occupy protests, there were instances of sexual assault, public indecency, and trespassing (other than the intended protest areas), definitely with more arrests than Tea Parties.

]]> By: elix http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356576 elix Wed, 29 Feb 2012 09:47:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356576 I think it comes down to <a href="http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/ScrewTheRulesIHaveMoney " rel="nofollow">Screw The Rules, I Have Money</a> (RL section), along with a slow loss of empathy because of all the people you've had to fuck, knife, or fire to get where you are. I don't think they're surprised, the lower classes are never satisfied and are always jealous of them being so rich, but tough for them, they should strike oil like daddy did. Let them grumble, a new season of Survivor is coming to pacify them. What they might be surprised about is that, thanks to the Internet, <b>it's working</b>, and now they're dealing with a credible threat. I think it comes down to Screw The Rules, I Have Money (RL section), along with a slow loss of empathy because of all the people you’ve had to fuck, knife, or fire to get where you are.

I don’t think they’re surprised, the lower classes are never satisfied and are always jealous of them being so rich, but tough for them, they should strike oil like daddy did. Let them grumble, a new season of Survivor is coming to pacify them.

What they might be surprised about is that, thanks to the Internet, it’s working, and now they’re dealing with a credible threat.

]]> By: Fnordius http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356563 Fnordius Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:59:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356563 Kind of how I read it as well: that they wanted to keep an eye out for those who hide within larger protests, using them as a crowd to melt into and escape. The sorts of vandals who think the crowd gives them some sort of anonymity/invulnerability Kind of how I read it as well: that they wanted to keep an eye out for those who hide within larger protests, using them as a crowd to melt into and escape. The sorts of vandals who think the crowd gives them some sort of anonymity/invulnerability

]]> By: Fnordius http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356559 Fnordius Wed, 29 Feb 2012 08:56:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356559 Or taken another way, this is an admission of sorts that the Tea Party was not really a mass demonstration. Or taken another way, this is an admission of sorts that the Tea Party was not really a mass demonstration.

]]> By: desiredusername http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356527 desiredusername Wed, 29 Feb 2012 05:51:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356527 2 weeks later..Scott Olsen 2 weeks later..Scott Olsen

]]> By: Sean McKibbon http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356485 Sean McKibbon Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356485 Bulletin: growing movement called democracy poses threat to people in power doing whatever they want. Bulletin: growing movement called democracy poses threat to people in power doing whatever they want.

]]> By: That_Anonymous_Coward http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356486 That_Anonymous_Coward Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:22:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356486  The fact none of them ever suspected that eventually the people would get tired of being shit upon and try to do something about it still supports the idea of brain damage.  The fact none of them ever suspected that eventually the people would get tired of being shit upon and try to do something about it still supports the idea of brain damage.

]]> By: HahTse http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356479 HahTse Wed, 29 Feb 2012 04:09:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356479 Actually, I don't think this is so/was far fetched - with the rampant proliferation of guns in the US and the general level of pissed-off-ness there I have been (and still am) expecting someone there to pick up a gun and start shooting people in suits. One is all it takes... But of course this viewpoint may stem from the "US Americans are gun loving nut-cases"-cliché that is quite common in Germany. Disclaimer: I do not wish to see anybody harmed by anybody. I am really happy that the protests were largely peaceful and I hope they will stay this way. Please don't give them any excuse to whip out the "less deadly weaponry". Actually, I don’t think this is so/was far fetched – with the rampant proliferation of guns in the US and the general level of pissed-off-ness there I have been (and still am) expecting someone there to pick up a gun and start shooting people in suits. One is all it takes…

But of course this viewpoint may stem from the “US Americans are gun loving nut-cases”-cliché that is quite common in Germany.

Disclaimer: I do not wish to see anybody harmed by anybody. I am really happy that the protests were largely peaceful and I hope they will stay this way. Please don’t give them any excuse to whip out the “less deadly weaponry”.

]]> By: elix http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356471 elix Wed, 29 Feb 2012 03:50:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356471 The unknown (that which cannot be predicted, and therefore anticipated or controlled) is a threat to them. Therefore, disrupting the status quo is to threaten them with the one thing they cannot defend against: Change out of their control. Them being the 1%/banks/government/whatever the entrenched oppressors are, basically. The unknown (that which cannot be predicted, and therefore anticipated or controlled) is a threat to them. Therefore, disrupting the status quo is to threaten them with the one thing they cannot defend against: Change out of their control.

Them being the 1%/banks/government/whatever the entrenched oppressors are, basically.

]]> By: hypersomniac http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356411 hypersomniac Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:37:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356411 Meditation circles = a threat to the state Meditation circles = a threat to the state

]]> By: That_Anonymous_Coward http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356396 That_Anonymous_Coward Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:27:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356396 More evidence to support the idea that if you give people power, they develop what appears to be a form of brain damage. The find something they can't understand, and try to find a way to make sure it appears nefarious in nature. One wonders if we would have had the same heavy handed police response had there not been the implied threat that only exists in a few peoples minds. More evidence to support the idea that if you give people power, they develop what appears to be a form of brain damage.
The find something they can’t understand, and try to find a way to make sure it appears nefarious in nature.
One wonders if we would have had the same heavy handed police response had there not been the implied threat that only exists in a few peoples minds.

]]> By: EH http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356374 EH Wed, 29 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356374 Many already know that riots are started by law enforcement. Many already know that riots are started by law enforcement.

]]> By: we_the_people324 http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356363 we_the_people324 Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:41:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356363 Nothing new here. Even non-violent civil protests/movements have been watched over by the feds since well, the earliest i can remember is the civil rights and or anti war movements back in the 60's. Big brother is always watching. Nothing new here. Even non-violent civil protests/movements have been watched over by the feds since well, the earliest i can remember is the civil rights and or anti war movements back in the 60′s. Big brother is always watching.

]]> By: sean http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356357 sean Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:30:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356357 That memo was not  as over-the-top or as ridiculous as I expected or hoped. Saying  there is a potential for violence at any large demonstration seems logical. I went to demonstrations in the good old days and there was often a touch of violence- Nixon's inauguration in '72 was especially lots of fun. There were always the generic red brigades and anarchists to stir up a little shit, burning mattresses and flags, busting windows and cars up, and tossing crap at the cops. Ah, those were the days... That memo was not  as over-the-top or as ridiculous as I expected or hoped. Saying  there is a potential for violence at any large demonstration seems logical. I went to demonstrations in the good old days and there was often a touch of violence- Nixon’s inauguration in ’72 was especially lots of fun. There were always the generic red brigades and anarchists to stir up a little shit, burning mattresses and flags, busting windows and cars up, and tossing crap at the cops. Ah, those were the days…

]]> By: Southern B http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356355 Southern B Wed, 29 Feb 2012 01:28:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356355 Yes of course. Tea Partiers waltz around with guns strapped to their hips but they threatened no one in the status quo, of course no one batted an eye! Occupy Wall Street did and does threaten the status quo, as did the antiwar movement and as does most liberal protest movements. Of course Homeland Security was on high alert. Yes of course. Tea Partiers waltz around with guns strapped to their hips but they threatened no one in the status quo, of course no one batted an eye! Occupy Wall Street did and does threaten the status quo, as did the antiwar movement and as does most liberal protest movements. Of course Homeland Security was on high alert.

]]> By: thaum http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356335 thaum Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:46:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356335 Statelessness or leaderless ideas tend to terrify statist organizations in general. Statelessness or leaderless ideas tend to terrify statist organizations in general.

]]> By: gtrjnky http://boingboing.net/2012/02/28/homeland-security-memo-warned.html#comment-1356333 gtrjnky Wed, 29 Feb 2012 00:44:00 +0000 http://boingboing.net/?p=146308#comment-1356333 The  memo should have been sent to OWS warning of potential violence from law enforcement. "large scale demonstrations also carry the potential for law enforcement violence, presenting a significant challenge for peaceful demonstrators" The  memo should have been sent to OWS warning of potential violence from law enforcement.
“large scale demonstrations also carry the potential for law enforcement violence, presenting a significant challenge for peaceful demonstrators”

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