I am so glad you are sticking with this story. What concerns me most about those who protest or oppose Israel is that when you query why they oppose Israel, it usually comes down to something anti-Semitic. The "I am not anti-Jewish just anti-Zionist." Recently a young male friend responded Israel has to admit they are settlers. This always strikes me as odd coming from anyone living in the US or Canada. Heck, let us throw in most from Central and South America. Unless one is of a pure ingenious bloodline, someone in their family was a 'settler.' The person didn't know that before WWI, maps were very different for the Middle East and even Europe displaying the power of the Ottoman and Prussian empires. They don't know all the bloody back and forth because they don't know history. If the argument is Israel is supposed to be an advanced democracy and respect human rights, for me that is a logically fair and consistent argument but I never hear this argument. Sometimes I will ask why protest this and not other humanitarian crises. Why not be concerned for Armenians, Nigerians, or those in Yemen? Usually, they aren't aware of the bloodshed. I appreciate that most of us focus on certain horrific events and not others. One might be concerned about the mistreatment of dogs or trafficked children. Again, I think one's reasoning needs to be fleshed out if you are going to block traffic or attempt an 'insurrection at a state capital.' The worst is when you strip away the proffered reasoning and get to their real truth - Jews rule the world and need to be punished. Some even go into some weird sect from the Ukrainian area that was offered a deal centuries ago. These are the most sickening of all and I have found most often espoused by whites. The reason woke ideology is so corrupt is that it was to punish a collective group for the sins of a few. The child of a poor Appalachian family is to pay the price for being white when his family has been the victim of exploitation. I find the same logic used against Jews. They are all to pay the price for what is happening.
“They’re typically the products of privilege who have no idea what it’s like to drive more than an hour to work to make just enough money to survive or put $3 in your gas tank because it’s all the cash you have.” Thank you so much for saying this! This is exactly what I thought when seeing these protests. As a former New Yorker, I can attest that the majority of people using these roadways are regular folks just trying to get to work or school, and have nothing at all to do with this conflict.
Absolutely. "...the majority of people using these roadways are regular folks just trying to get to work or school and have nothing at all to do with this conflict." The very definition of "innocent victims." And, not surprisingly, the typical object of terrorist actions. #LatherRinseRepeat
Using force to prevent millions of people from moving freely or having access to emergency services by blocking every entrance into the city is not peaceful. And when you use non peaceful means to further your political agenda that is by definition terrorism. Someone needs to drive out into one of these intersections and start doing donuts.
Very topical and current and important. These people are like the toddler having a temper tantrum in the grocery story with some poor Mom trying to deal with it. They are toddlers who don't get what they want, so they have a temper tantrum, the sole purpose of which is to annoy those who have the misfortune of being in the area. In my day a good swat or two on the behind usually solved such problems with toddlers. I recommend a similar approach with such toddler-adults.
As I wrote before...bear spray the whole line of them and they will immediately leave. One of your readers warned that what I suggested was a criminal act. I don't know if that's true or not, but I will point out that police often use pepper spray or tear gas on non-violent protesters to disperse them. The very same principle applies to such situations. The problem is that government response in the form of effective law enforcement action to confront such situations often takes hours...to the harassed working mother who is on the way home and must pick up her children from daycare, hours doesn't cut it. In fact usually 15 minutes is too long. The standard approach should be for police to respond immediately and pepper spray such scofflaws until they move. One will only need to do that several well publicized times before these adult toddlers and their temper tantrums stop. But if we keep playing pat-a-cake with them it will never end.
Virtue signaling claims another set of victims. I agree, wholeheartedly, with your assessment, Adam. (Shocking, I know!) However, I am forced to ask, how this set of protests is materially different than the German trucker protests, which caused traffic slowdowns, or the Canadian trucker protests, which did the same? My answer: the protests are not different. No matter how noble the cause, holding others hostage in its honor is the behavior of a coward or a psychopath, or a person with both maladies. (If I am talking out-of-school, I look forward to being educated.)
Actually, the Canadian truckers DID block traffic altogether. Either way, that's a small point. Shades of grey, at best. To be clear, I support the point-of-view of the Canadian truckers, particularly with respect to the antics and psychopathy of idiots like Trudeau. Still, it seems inconsistent to decry one (the apparently pro-Hamas) leftists and not the other (the ostensibly anti-covid-lockdown) truckers. That point aside, I figured this discussion would be instructive. #MissionAccomplished
If someone wants to 'change my mind', we should try having a conversation as equals. It can be done but the con is it takes time to build that kind of trust. OR one just make you comply to their will by blocking traffic and getting you in trouble with your boss/family/other for being very late. I just don't understand the 'pro' to this option. Will making someone late change how they vote in future elections? If it does, I have a feeling it won't go the way these protestors want. I will vote for the candidate that is willing to prosecute these despicable protest actions. Is this just the new 'black square' on FB?
Unfortunately this administration do negotiate with terrorists, besides let them in illegally to our country…. In my opinion These inside terrorists who are protesting, stopping traffic paid by the puppet masters behind the scene…. The lack of real education, teaching real history, discipline, responsibilities before demanding anything…. Are the consequences for this unruliness. Instead of these youngsters would sit down - Christians, muslims, jews, black, brown, white, yellow and just agree to disagree and make peace, there’s a constant disruption in the life of millions of honest, good hearted families…..
They pro-holocaust agitators did the same thing in Seattle last weekend - ZERO arrests. According to the WSP, they have video and *could* make arrests in the future. But they won't because the King Co prosecutor won't charge them. While their useful idiots disrupt everyone else's lives, our (s)elected bettors look down at us and laugh. They really do disdain the hoi polloi.
I am so glad you are sticking with this story. What concerns me most about those who protest or oppose Israel is that when you query why they oppose Israel, it usually comes down to something anti-Semitic. The "I am not anti-Jewish just anti-Zionist." Recently a young male friend responded Israel has to admit they are settlers. This always strikes me as odd coming from anyone living in the US or Canada. Heck, let us throw in most from Central and South America. Unless one is of a pure ingenious bloodline, someone in their family was a 'settler.' The person didn't know that before WWI, maps were very different for the Middle East and even Europe displaying the power of the Ottoman and Prussian empires. They don't know all the bloody back and forth because they don't know history. If the argument is Israel is supposed to be an advanced democracy and respect human rights, for me that is a logically fair and consistent argument but I never hear this argument. Sometimes I will ask why protest this and not other humanitarian crises. Why not be concerned for Armenians, Nigerians, or those in Yemen? Usually, they aren't aware of the bloodshed. I appreciate that most of us focus on certain horrific events and not others. One might be concerned about the mistreatment of dogs or trafficked children. Again, I think one's reasoning needs to be fleshed out if you are going to block traffic or attempt an 'insurrection at a state capital.' The worst is when you strip away the proffered reasoning and get to their real truth - Jews rule the world and need to be punished. Some even go into some weird sect from the Ukrainian area that was offered a deal centuries ago. These are the most sickening of all and I have found most often espoused by whites. The reason woke ideology is so corrupt is that it was to punish a collective group for the sins of a few. The child of a poor Appalachian family is to pay the price for being white when his family has been the victim of exploitation. I find the same logic used against Jews. They are all to pay the price for what is happening.
“They’re typically the products of privilege who have no idea what it’s like to drive more than an hour to work to make just enough money to survive or put $3 in your gas tank because it’s all the cash you have.” Thank you so much for saying this! This is exactly what I thought when seeing these protests. As a former New Yorker, I can attest that the majority of people using these roadways are regular folks just trying to get to work or school, and have nothing at all to do with this conflict.
Absolutely. "...the majority of people using these roadways are regular folks just trying to get to work or school and have nothing at all to do with this conflict." The very definition of "innocent victims." And, not surprisingly, the typical object of terrorist actions. #LatherRinseRepeat
Using force to prevent millions of people from moving freely or having access to emergency services by blocking every entrance into the city is not peaceful. And when you use non peaceful means to further your political agenda that is by definition terrorism. Someone needs to drive out into one of these intersections and start doing donuts.
Very topical and current and important. These people are like the toddler having a temper tantrum in the grocery story with some poor Mom trying to deal with it. They are toddlers who don't get what they want, so they have a temper tantrum, the sole purpose of which is to annoy those who have the misfortune of being in the area. In my day a good swat or two on the behind usually solved such problems with toddlers. I recommend a similar approach with such toddler-adults.
As I wrote before...bear spray the whole line of them and they will immediately leave. One of your readers warned that what I suggested was a criminal act. I don't know if that's true or not, but I will point out that police often use pepper spray or tear gas on non-violent protesters to disperse them. The very same principle applies to such situations. The problem is that government response in the form of effective law enforcement action to confront such situations often takes hours...to the harassed working mother who is on the way home and must pick up her children from daycare, hours doesn't cut it. In fact usually 15 minutes is too long. The standard approach should be for police to respond immediately and pepper spray such scofflaws until they move. One will only need to do that several well publicized times before these adult toddlers and their temper tantrums stop. But if we keep playing pat-a-cake with them it will never end.
Virtue signaling claims another set of victims. I agree, wholeheartedly, with your assessment, Adam. (Shocking, I know!) However, I am forced to ask, how this set of protests is materially different than the German trucker protests, which caused traffic slowdowns, or the Canadian trucker protests, which did the same? My answer: the protests are not different. No matter how noble the cause, holding others hostage in its honor is the behavior of a coward or a psychopath, or a person with both maladies. (If I am talking out-of-school, I look forward to being educated.)
There is a vast difference between slowing traffic and stopping it altogether. It is your perogative to parrot the arguments of scum of course.
Actually, the Canadian truckers DID block traffic altogether. Either way, that's a small point. Shades of grey, at best. To be clear, I support the point-of-view of the Canadian truckers, particularly with respect to the antics and psychopathy of idiots like Trudeau. Still, it seems inconsistent to decry one (the apparently pro-Hamas) leftists and not the other (the ostensibly anti-covid-lockdown) truckers. That point aside, I figured this discussion would be instructive. #MissionAccomplished
If someone wants to 'change my mind', we should try having a conversation as equals. It can be done but the con is it takes time to build that kind of trust. OR one just make you comply to their will by blocking traffic and getting you in trouble with your boss/family/other for being very late. I just don't understand the 'pro' to this option. Will making someone late change how they vote in future elections? If it does, I have a feeling it won't go the way these protestors want. I will vote for the candidate that is willing to prosecute these despicable protest actions. Is this just the new 'black square' on FB?
THANK YOU for writing this!
My pleasure
Unfortunately this administration do negotiate with terrorists, besides let them in illegally to our country…. In my opinion These inside terrorists who are protesting, stopping traffic paid by the puppet masters behind the scene…. The lack of real education, teaching real history, discipline, responsibilities before demanding anything…. Are the consequences for this unruliness. Instead of these youngsters would sit down - Christians, muslims, jews, black, brown, white, yellow and just agree to disagree and make peace, there’s a constant disruption in the life of millions of honest, good hearted families…..
They pro-holocaust agitators did the same thing in Seattle last weekend - ZERO arrests. According to the WSP, they have video and *could* make arrests in the future. But they won't because the King Co prosecutor won't charge them. While their useful idiots disrupt everyone else's lives, our (s)elected bettors look down at us and laugh. They really do disdain the hoi polloi.
Well in Canada the cops are serving them coffee. We're not there yet but it's coming.