Digital Analogue

Mandatory reading

Long-time readers of my blog (both of them) know that from time to time, I run across something so important, or outrageous---often both---that I require all my readers to look at it. I don't do it very often, or I would just irritate people. But once again I have found something that I find it extremely important for everyone to read, and pass around, and show their friends. Thus, "mandatory reading".

Everyone knows that the Republican National Convention was in New York City a few weeks ago, and most know that there were protests. Peaceful protests. On the Sunday before the convention a half a million people participated in a violence-free march protesting the President and his policies. Smaller groups continued with gatherings and marches during the week.

Unfortunately, those people lost the benefit of numbers, and during the week the NYPD arrested hundreds and hundreds of people whose only crime was---gasp!---walking on the sidewalk. Or listening to someone on a soapbox. At last count over 1,800 people were arrested; many were held for more than 24 hours in horrible conditions.

But don't take my word for it. You need to read this account from someone who was there, including pictures and videos. I can't adequately stress how important it is to publicise accounts like this without sounding like a fringe crank, and that in itself may be indicative of how important I think it is.

There are other accounts, too. Look around. My friend Zach was there, too. Look around the various IndyMedia sites for more first-hand accounts. Don't let the mainstream media's total failure to cover this major event let you think that it never happened.

"They're called sweetbreads for the obvious reason that if you called them thymus glands or whatever you couldn't give the damn things away. The art of euphemism goes back a long way." --Cecil Adams