Circle A Cop Car

I don't know ... it's cool and all ... but, there is no immediate context provided along with this image and and without it - the image kind of reads, "Bored Kids Act Psuedo-Threatening for Five Minutes and Smash One Cop Car." In some ways, sure, we a see a concrete demonstration of resistance. But is this image perhaps a little disempowering for people with true longings for radical change, but who themselves might view such isolated events as actually watering down the value of the sentiments that are expressed in such actions and images?

And, might this image, taken in the general context of American cultue as it is, be read as, "just another example of impotent punks with too much time on their hands doing senseless damage to property that our hard-working tax dollars paid for?"

Is it fair to ask, when is it really effective to take such actions and broadcast such images? If it is a busy two days of unprecedented numbers all over the world speaking out and demonstrating for peace, and having some impact simply by the sheer volume and variety of their crowds - then, are relatively isolated events like these, doing harm to the working-class by feeding the them, the media and the establishment with evidence as to the futility and isolation of people who do infact take action? In some ways, might these isolated events (which do little to prevent the police from smashing a few people around and/ or locking 40 or so people up and also fail to substantialy thwart the war effort or modern American consumerism) so, might these actions, and their images taken out of context, be alienating to most of the working class? If their is a doubt here, it is possible then to follow with the observation that these types of images can be used to divide the working and lower-middle classes of America as they are right now? Any shock value, or ability to detourn a culture's way of thinking, must be done stratigically, at unexpected times perhaps, done in sufficient number to really impact local infrastructures and bring about some desired change (even if temporarily) for the crowd at hand, or the culture at large.

Is this image also becoming sort of a characature of itself. Haven't we seen it before? We were inspired ... sure. But, then what happened? Now, we are presented with the same image - and it comes across as even more isolated this time. Are time-honored archetypes of undirected human liberty becoming trite consumable images and clichés of by-gone days when workers of various stripes enjoyed some awaremess, strength and power amongst themselves? One could ask, "If class consciousness is what is lacking in today's overstimulated, electronically-manipulated culture, does one circle A, sprayed on one squad car really work to increase consciousness or does it widen the divide we sense among the workers and actually increase feelings of isolation and powerless?"

Are images like this a true expression of boundless hope for a new and different world and way of being? The are emotive and enlivening in many aspects. But, in short, are more people who see this image, turned on or off? And, if it is not meant for general consumption, but simply as a way to bring some cheer to a small group of overworked and sometimes insular activists - then, shouldn't the image (and the chuckles) be spread in different circles ... rather than posted in places where there is at least some presumption of credibility and maturity and all that ... ?

C Man raises these questions because they are questions and that is all.

You are correct, C Man. What we should have done is gone down to 850 Bryant and tore that place apart and dislodged this fucking occupying army from our city for good. Maybe next time we can do this?

the path to truth follows the money trail. The money is deeper than oil. The villain is always changing.

it's not real smart to leave your cruisers unmanned during raucous, fast moving situations such as protests.

but, then again... ;-)

Yes, Arnachy is beautiful in essence, but we have to be careful how we portray it to the mostly ignorant public. They will just see this as senseles destruction. Unless of course this was a direct action against the police officer in the car and not just the police in general. :) Peace out!

This is a tiny, tiny taste of what the government can expect if the invasion of Iraq proceeds as planned.

Okay...lemmie understand this...one of you just advocated the destruction of property and physical injury to individuals because they differ with you politically, yet you sign off with "Peace Out?"

You guys are such hypocrites.

The destruction of property and physical injury to individuals because they differ with you politically is *exactly* what the warmongers advocate as a foriegn policy.

Yet you criticize people who dare use the exact same tactics against you on the domestic front.

You guys are such hypocrites.

..was that the intent could have been specific to a certain cop. That is plausible, but it seems more plausible that it's just a dumb kid looking to cause some trouble.

To: Capitalist War Mongers & those that support them.

You do not represent the views of the people around the world. The people disagree with going to war so why don't you just give it up?

War will only bring more death, suffering, terror, and popular uprising. Nobody wants to die over stupid oil so companies like Chevron and Exxon can get rich.

That goes especially for FOX News. You have seen the world community unite against Bushes agenda for war. Yet, you still beat the drums of war as if you were gaining public opinion.

What the hell is wrong with you people?

The international community will be out in the streets the day after Iraq is attacked and I better see on the front page!

Peace,I'm out.

>>senseless destruction - This is a tiny, tiny taste of what the government can expect if the invasion of Iraq proceeds as planned.<<

Fuck the working class. Let's make life harder on them until they wise up and join us in our fight.

NO WAR OR NO PEACE ON THE STREETS

[quote]the path to truth follows the money trail. The money is deeper than oil. The villain is always changing. [/quote]

True, I agree with that... of course though, the REAL villians, the ones behind it all, have been in power long before we were born, even though they only have really taken a visible stranglehold in the past 25 years or so (IMHO). Corporate greed is what drives us to kill for oil, Corporate greed abuses the working class and members of other countries, and Corporate greed will one day be the undoing of us all... unless WE can be the undoing of IT.

That's all... I just wanted to take what was said earlier and run with it. It's definately something that we all need to think about, and pay more attention to. Now, I don't agree with those who think that we should make the working class suffer until they join us: that makes us just as bad as those in power right now, because that's exactly what they do. We need to win the people's hearts, and with it we will win their strength to help us all.

well, good for the gander comes from a pretty hashed and rehashed point but I'm afraid I won't take that person seriously while they assume things like

'you guys are such hypocrites'

i didn't see a man break that window or post a comment either... in fact I was given nothing to assume the gender of any people involved.

advocating violence against what destroys you is self defense.
hate the black panthers too?

I think to compare the struggles which led to the creation of the Black Panthers to the corporate squeeze and warmongering felt by the young people of today is at best naive, and more likely misguided. The Panters came from hundreds of years of oppression and repression. Their tactics were for a lack of alternatives and a lack of hope. It's really not the same pain as feeling victimized for being anti-capitalist, and anti-war. No, being born black is very different and it's a pain you get born into and at the time of the Panthers it was one of the worst crimes you could commit.

Don't hate me because I'm an ignoramus. My idea of protest is firing off critical emails to the Fox Fascist Channel.

Saying that only people who are the most opressed can use violence as a tactic is really fucked up. It is really racist to say that the black panthers' tactics are valid b/c they have been opressed for hundreds of years, but that white people shouldn't use violence. Only people of color should put their lives on the line? What the fuck?

I much agree with this point. I say if a person sees it tactful to strike out in a less than docile or "violent" manner then that is said person's prerogative. I think this statement is true no matter the age, gender, race, sexuality, religion, social status, experience, or any of the various other situations I may have not mentioned.I think to make the resistance to oppression work people ought to take a look at the people who may feel oppressed by their views or any statement thereof.remember oppression is contextual and relative, just becuase I see a person as oppressed does not mean they are or feel that they are and it seems rather arbitrary to run about screaming "oppression ! oppression" every time a person opens their mouth. my final suggestion is that everybody (myself included) perhaps shut their mouths and open their eyes and maybe do some reading or research concerning certain views before jumping on the whiny crybaby boat (no malice intended toward any whiny crybabies) and yes I am aware that in a grand sense I too have just jumped upon the same boat.

Unlike the situation with the Vietnam War in the 1960s, there isn't elite consensus behind this war and big business isn't united behind it either. Oh, sure, the press is pushing for it and Lockheed Martin must be psyched, but I don't think that most small capitalists or even big capitalists are for war in Iraq. Consumer franchises like McDonald's and Nike will face at least consumer boycotts and probably a whole lot of property destruction in Arab countries.

This is another reason why undirected property destruction may not be wise. Don't hit buildings they have no connection to the oil junta.

hey, how about some analysis here please? oil is not the only reason to go to war. and big business isnt jittery on WAR, they are jittery on the US losing their bid for increased hegemony. any gains of worldwide conquest by the US will ultimately benefit transnationals which are located here, and they know it.

so come on. the "oil war" analysis is good enough for the earth first magazine and whatever other liberal crap is out there, but its not good enough for here.

I'm aware of a larger analysis but I don't know how much even the managers of big multinationals want war on Iraq. In the short term, war is destabilizing and you can see the stock market doesn't like it. In the long term, this particular war might increase the risks of terrorist attacks against the US, again, the uncertainty is bad for business. It might even get a WWIII started, and much as Boeing might like that, I doubt McDonald's would.

The stock market is reacting to uncertainty -- it always does, no matter what the event is. Will France tromp Bush? If so, US business suffers. Will Bush tromp the world? If so, US business flourishes. man...

Yes, I know that uncertainty is the key formula to the stock market tumbles. Sorry I didn't line up all the dots for you.

The truth is that many conservatives are against this war. Check out Sonora, CA protest and Antiwar.com.

The most important thing is to stop this fucking war before it starts. Play smart. You could alienate a lot of people by random property destruction, but if you focus on clearing culpable targets (The Carlyle Group, for example), you may get a lot of sympathy from surprising quarters.

Even better, take a clue from the Irish. A sustained, more traditionally nonviolent campaign targeted Shannon Airport, getting front-page coverage of the fact that the US military was using a civilian airport, and of the fact that this was a violation of Irish law and the Geneva Convention, and a violation of Ireland's putative neutrality.

After this was firmly established in the public's mind, several Catholic Workers (a group many anarchists should learn more about) went in and smashed up some of the US planes, causing serious damage ($500,000 or more), once again getting front-page coverage, and getting sympathy for quite a radical action. Had they first hit the planes, public reaction might have been quite different.

It started twelve years ago.

Ummm..."Guys: slang terminology to indicate a group of people, regardless of gender."

wiseup riseup = Politically Correct nut case.

uhm. . . first of all, spray paint is made of petroleum byproducts. purchasing spraypaint suports terrorism. second of all, windows nowdays also are made of petrol byproducts due to the anti-shatter stuff. third of all, every penny the cops spend repainting their car and smashing windows is a penny that goes away from solving rapes, so this act was also sexist. i think that someone needs to start protesting against the black bloc.

We have every right to compare our struggle to those of the Black Panthers, see they were fighting due to a lack of alternatives and hope,and the severity of the issue at hand, which was directly inflicted apon them by a nation who's views still haven't changed. At least they were fighting agianst the very thing that is keeping them repressed, which is the real issue when dealing with the fucked up views of a nation we don't agree with. Having the knowledge of free will and excercising it are two very different things, and as long as our free will disagrees with the actions our nation wants to take, we should excercise our right to be pissed off and fight against the system that is continually repressing us.

bLCK bLOCK IS NOT PEACEFULL. vIOLENCE BEGETS VIOLENCE. pEACE MAKES PEACE.lOVING KINDNESS IS BETTER THAN SMASHING WINDOWS AND IRRITATING OTHERS.

Tell it to the Jews who survived the Holocaust by killing their guards and burning Treblinka to the ground.

History Buff get your head out of your ass. Your last post confirms your inability to make logical connections between past historical events and the present. It also shows you to be shallow and heartless.

It's a blanket statement. It applies to all violence. Violence does not "beget violence." Au contrair, it is often the sole and only way yo make violence stop. The choice to use violence or not should be made solely on the basis of whether it is an effective tactic for the situation at hand. It is *not* a moral issue. Violence is morally neutral. The muggers sap on his victim's head is violence, but so is a knee to the crotch of a man attempting rape.

Burning Treblinka to the ground was an effective way to prevent the deaths of its inmates. Whether or not smashing windows is an effective way to prevent the coming slaughter in Iraq, remains to be seen. Personally, I have my doubts it will suffice.

What will it take? That remains to be seen.

I'll tell ya how to prevent a conflict in Iraq. Tell Saddam to completely disarm, pack his bags, and go. Whether or not he'll do that is the $64,000 question. Personally, I have my doubts it will suffice.

What will it take? That remains to be seen.

thanks for the resistance in the USA

they dont listen to our speeches
only our actions

Violence does not "beget violence." Au contrair, it is often the sole and only way yo make violence stop.
Exactly. Violence and war are awful, horrible things. But at the same time they are sometimes necessary to protect that which is more important. When someone does not pay attention to "non-violent" means, or when "non-violent" means have become predictable and ineffective, more active means must be used to bring changes about. This is exactly why it is important to show Iraq, a country that has spent 12 years ignoring international law, despite the use of the strongest non-violent negotiations, that the US (and the world) mean business. Saddam Hussein pays no attention to verbal threats, pleas, or bargains, because he feels that he can continue to act however he wants, create any new nuclear, biological, or chemical weapons that he wants, and give them (or have them "disappear") to whoever he wants, without the threat of any physical force.

Peaceful demonstrations can be powerful, but they have a shelf life. At some point, the lack of any real strength behind the conviction becomes painfully clear, and the target realizes that you have no leverage. Once that happens, then they also realize that they can ignore you without peril. This is an important lesson for everyone, from demonstrators to world politics.