Politics & Stuff

[Spike 12,049]

The methods have not changed since the French revolutions. Think of all the major uprising in recent history: Civil rights movement in the US, the struggle against Apartheid in South Africa, Women's rights movements around the world, Iran Islamic revolution...etc. Here is an article a quick google search comes up with on the important role that violent rebellion prior to 1940 played in India's independence: https://kurukshetra1.wordpress.com/2013/04/19/no-non-violence-didnt-free-india-from-the-british-empire/

The Indian independence is only the least violent, but as far as uprisings go, this one right now pretty peaceful. Violent uprisings would be like the ones in Lybia, Yemen, Syria...etc. and I mean even before the foreign interventions.

No, I don't think it's okay that people are getting hurt, but I realize that is a necessity for uprisings. I don't need to condone something to understand it. It does not make it right and the people doing it should be punished. But this sudden violence is not even comparable to regular violence that you have become accustomed to. Again, if people are given their rights there would be no violence and this violence is only momentary while rights abuses and racism have been ever present.

So there was a violent act that was succeded by a peaceful revolution? America has had it's fair share of violence that instigated change so why can't it transition into peaceful change? Why couldn't the Ferguson riots be the violence that brought peaceful movements? America is stuck in a cycle of violence that needs to change, both from the powers that be and the people. Violence will only beget violence.

[iseah100 5,612]

There is no changing it. Rioting is their way of venting frustration. I know what they've gone through, from first hand experience. Racism is a big problem in the states, but there is no getting rid of it, especially not within the police force.

[Fulham Broadway 17,333]

Having graduated in politics, we learned about riots.

They are an important part of the progress and advancement of ordinary , working class people. They are not as effective as reformism, but are an important tool in our armoury. They are usually spontaneous and result from frustration and anger.

Rulers and Governments hate them, and get their lackeys in the corporate media to condemn without hesitation. The corporate media inevitably describe such events thus " It started off peacefully, but a hardcore etc etc," " the majority were peaceful, but a minority were hellbent etc etc "

The main reason is that Violent Behaviour is solely the legal preserve of governments, police and armies. They panic if their monopoly over violence is encroached upon. They fear it and have visions of past revolutions.

I wont go over the successes that riots have accomplished, they can be looked up, from food riots to poll tax etc.

[CHOULO19 24,332]

So there was a violent act that was succeded by a peaceful revolution? America has had it's fair share of violence that instigated change so why can't it transition into peaceful change? Why couldn't the Ferguson riots be the violence that brought peaceful movements? America is stuck in a cycle of violence that needs to change, both from the powers that be and the people. Violence will only beget violence.

Because the situation does not allow for it to happen? The systematic racism in the US goes too deep and the system is too powerful, it cannot be changed peacefully, imo. There were more than two weeks of peaceful demonstrations after Fredie Gray's injuries and until his death, how much did you hear about it? Did any major new network in the US even mention it? I know about it because I watch Democracy Now, the vast majority of US citizens who watch CNN or Fox and the vast numbers who don't watch the news at all knew nothing about it.

There are literally tens of peaceful demonstrations all over the US every single day and it is the exception to the rule when they actually manage to achieve something. From memory, the only achievement by peaceful protesters in the US in the past year was probably stopping an Israeli ship from docking in Michigan during the assault in Gaza. That's about it. Peaceful protests usually go without notice, at most a few people are arrested if they attempt to close down a road or block the entrance of a company.

Uprisings achieve things because it scares the people in power about their power actually being shared with the majority. Already this "violent" uprising has already managed to get the cops who killed Fredie Gray charged with homicide which would not have happened otherwise and did not happen in various similar cases even this past year. Again as far as uprisings go, this one is very peaceful. And if it manages to get police brutality against minorities even by 10-20% I'd very impressed and the dozen cars burnt would a very small price.

Funnily enough, I came across this comic today which perfectly fits this discussion:

[CHOULO19 24,332]

The main reason is that Violent Behaviour is solely the legal preserve of governments, police and armies. They panic if their monopoly over violence is encroached upon. They fear it and have visions of past revolutions.

[Spike 12,049]

Do you people even know why I believe peaceful revolution is possible? Because it has happened several times in Australia. Nobody ever mentions all the work people like Eddie Mabo, PM Gough Whitlam and Gurindji People did for Indigenous rights. Sorry it wasn't in your condescending cartoon, Cholou. I guess Aboriginal rights movments are mainstream enough to be thought relevant.

If people that have faced segregation, institutional racism, their children stolen from them, their land stolen from them, their people murder ted, can instigate man changes in a peaceful manner, then anyone can. Even now with the threats of the stupid far right government taking their lands away (again) the Indigenous people (and everyone else in between) of Australia are protesting in a peaceful manner.

[Spike 12,049]

I don't even know why you lot are arguing with me so much. I'm just saying that it could be done peacefully FFS and that violence isn't the only answer. I don't even see the arguement. Sometimes violence gets shit done, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes peaceful revolution is an option, sometimes it isn't.

[Kieran. 6,317]

"Violence isn't the answer, be more like MLK!"

Yeah, and he was murdered.

[Spike 12,049]

"Violence isn't the answer, be more like MLK!"

Yeah, and he was murdered.

That doesn't discredit anthing he did. Malcolm X was a proponet of any means necessary, I believe he was murdered also.

[Spike 12,049]

Looks like there has been justice for the guy that died in police custody. I don't agree with the methods necessarily but at the end of the day hopefully this is the start of more justice. At the very least no one else died...

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Do you people even know why I believe peaceful revolution is possible? Because it has happened several times in Australia. Nobody ever mentions all the work people like Eddie Mabo, PM Gough Whitlam and Gurindji People did for Indigenous rights. Sorry it wasn't in your condescending cartoon, Cholou. I guess Aboriginal rights movments are mainstream enough to be thought relevant.

If people that have faced segregation, institutional racism, their children stolen from them, their land stolen from them, their people murder ted, can instigate man changes in a peaceful manner, then anyone can. Even now with the threats of the stupid far right government taking their lands away (again) the Indigenous people (and everyone else in between) of Australia are protesting in a peaceful manner.

All very nice but does not give a viable plan how peaceful protest can make actual change in the US.

I don't even know why you lot are arguing with me so much. I'm just saying that it could be done peacefully FFS and that violence isn't the only answer. I don't even see the arguement. Sometimes violence gets shit done, sometimes it doesn't. Sometimes peaceful revolution is an option, sometimes it isn't.

I think I have failed to communicate this to you properly so let me try again:

We are (or at least I am) arguing with you because when you repeat the media rhetoric about the violence you are (advertently or otherwise) discrediting the people protesting for their lives and distracting from the main issue.

The violence while regrettable and again must be punished, should NOT take away from the validity of the claims by the protesters. It should not even be mentioned in the same breath as the reason for the protesting because it is a completely minor issue in comparison to the civil rights of minorities. The amount of discussion it is getting is beyond ridiculous while almost no talk is going into the main issue: The fact that the US was built on slavery and that the resulting racism has not been truly addressed and amended for over four centuries.

One of the main tools of oppression throughout history is the dehumanization of those oppressed by the powerful. Because the 'unpeople' cannot be equals of humans and have the same rights. Terms such as "Thugs", "Savages", "Backward societies", "Hip-hop culture"...etc. are tools of oppression.

[Kieran. 6,317]

All very nice but does not give a viable plan how peaceful protest can make actual change in the US.

I think I have failed to communicate this to you properly so let me try again:

We are (or at least I am) arguing with you because when you repeat the media rhetoric about the violence you are (advertently or otherwise) discrediting the people protesting for their lives and distracting from the main issue.

The violence while regrettable and again must be punished, should NOT take away from the validity of the claims by the protesters. It should not even be mentioned in the same breath as the reason for the protesting because it is a completely minor issue in comparison to the civil rights of minorities. The amount of discussion it is getting is beyond ridiculous while almost no talk is going into the main issue: The fact that the US was built on slavery and that the resulting racism has not been truly addressed and amended for over four centuries.

One of the main tools of oppression throughout history is the dehumanization of those oppressed by the powerful. Because the 'unpeople' cannot be equals of humans and have the same rights. Terms such as "Thugs", "Savages", "Backward societies", "Hip-hop culture"...etc. are tools of oppression.

Well said

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Check this tweet and all the replies to it for extracts from a report by the Israeli Breaking the Silence group with testimonies from 60 soldiers who participated in the last assault on Gaza:

Not surprising but pretty revealing.

[Fulham Broadway 17,333]

Check this tweet and all the replies to it for extracts from a report by the Israeli Breaking the Silence group with testimonies from 60 soldiers who participated in the last assault on Gaza:

https://twitter.com/DanielWickham93/status/595162303424757760

Not surprising but pretty revealing.

but lets never forget the holocaust that is dragged up every five minutes...

[The Skipper 20,609]

Question about the general election here.

I've lived in the UK for 10 years but still have a Dutch passport. This still makes me ineligible to vote right?

[Fulham Broadway 17,333]

Question about the general election here.

I've lived in the UK for 10 years but still have a Dutch passport. This still makes me ineligible to vote right?

You need to be on the Electoral roll to vote , are you on this ? Its too late to register to vote now if youre not, but might be worth it if youre planning on staying in the UK

[The Skipper 20,609]

You need to be on the Electoral roll to vote , are you on this ? Its too late to register to vote now if youre not, but might be worth it if youre planning on staying in the UK

Yeah I'm on it. I registered to vote. Not sure if I'm eligible though.

[Fulham Broadway 17,333]

Yeah I'm on it. I registered to vote. Not sure if I'm eligible though.

They should have sent you a polling card -but you can still vote if you dont have one. Go down the polling station Thursday and kick off

[lucio 5,418]

So much filth comes out of ukip candidates. Men can rape their wives , bring back guns ,forcibly abort babies with problems , reverse smoking ban, gay families are unhealthy . I understand these aren't official policies and agree immigration should be addressed , but its impossible to vote for and be associated with this unpleasant group . Even the ukip voters i know personally are rude , nasty and unintelligent

[CHOULO19 24,332]

Sooo...which way is this one swaying?

Would you know who will be the next prime minister from the results or do you have to wait to see how the coalitions inside the parliament will shape up?