Monday nite, Tuesday morning
Bumped into an old work colleague today on my way to work.
Seems I am being retrospectively plauded for my 'celebrity sacking' (my colleague's words not mine..). I told him that I unconsciously, and perhaps consciously, wanted everything to collapse and that everything had worked out for the better since.
He then said that quite a few of the hard-core from my previous place were desperate to leave too, and that regardless of how many conversations they would have about finding something else to do, they all just seemed destined to work there forever. Quite a grim predicament, really. I shudder to think that I would still be there, going through the same old motions in what is undeniably one of the shittest jobs on the planet; market research.
It was nice to be told that I still figure in their lives, albeit because I got the sack in such a classic manner. He encouraged me to go see them after work for drinks and what have you as soon as possible. Which I will.
Yesterday the more violently disposed of the G8 protesters in Scotland engaged in several physical confrontations and stand-offs in what is destined to be the first of many such events over the next few days. Watching the events unfold on the BBC, it became clear that trouble was up ahead. I recognise the scenes, of course, having been party to many of them in the past. There is a certain a mount of adrenaline released in the air, so all-pervading that even 'civilised', normal people find it difficult to not get caught up in the affray.
According to several BBC reporters on the scene, the police were unduly heavy-handed and possibly partially responsible for trouble flaring up. My guess is that they want to nip it in the bud, so to speak. By arresting as many violent protesters as possible this early on in the week, perhaps less trouble will flare on Saturday when allegedly huge masses of protester are to descend on the town. Whatever their motives, any neutral observers' immediate discomfort at seeing the police in riot gear press on groups of civil protesters, shoppers and tourists may have dispersed upon seeing scores of pseudo-fascists protesters all decked out in black (black hooded tops, black shades, black scarves around their head and black boots and trousers). My man on the scene informed me that most of the 'Black Bloc', as they are often collectively known, consisted mainly of Germans, Spaniards and Italians. He had attended several meetings early that day before things kicked off and a massive contingent of Blac Block members from all over Europe had presented themselves. My source was surprised at how young they all were, and in his words they 'had no clue'.
Separated from his group after a heavy row with a travel companion, he spent the day observing and successfully staying ahead of the trouble. At one stage he found himself trying to lose the police line, only to find himself right behind a solid group of Black Bloc'ers engaged in a stand-off in a narrow side street. Early that day the police had shut down one of the city's parks, again catching both violent, and non-violent protesters off guard. My source simply jumped the fence and that way managed to avoid being treated like unruly cattle. Whatever their reasoning, if the Black Bloc want urban warfare, which is directly and indirectly what they are promoting, they should perhaps consider using their energy in parts of the world where life is a daily struggle for survival. They seem to forget that without capitalism, they would be unable to cruise around Europe making demands here and there. If we lived in a communist / Marxist / anarchist society, who would pay them their social security? In communist Russia everybody worked, whether they wanted to or not, but they had no choice in what work they were told to do.
I don't want the world run by the Black Bloc, or any other pseudo-fascist, violently disposed cider drinking minority with better things to do. Do you?
And yes, before you attempt a reciprocal discourse, what we have now IS better than whatever loosely configured set of ill-judged ideals and completely draconian dictates on our existence that the Black Bloc and similar groups seem to propagate.
Get a job, join the Foreign Legion or free the people of Zimbabwe!
PS. It would be rather amusing to see a group of hundred or so middle-class European 'kids' all dressed in their black uniform try to topple Mugabe!
I would love to see that.
Then they would quickly find out that life in Europe IS utopia compared to the regimes of many a third world country. Rights to a lawyer? In Zimbabwe? As white, middle-class people unable to use their intellect in a productive manner? That is why we never see the Twat Bloc anywhere outside of Europe, because let's face it, in Europe we are protected by law and constitution.
A middle-aged Scot summed it up best, when interviewed after the bulk of the clashes had taken place she commented "wanting to help Africa is a noble and just cause. This doesn't help, does it?". It certainly doesn't.
PPS. Finally, I was amused by the fact that the majority of the scuffles taking place later in the evening simply involved buckfast-swilling Scottish breezers / louts / thugs, who 'wanted to have a go'.
United we stand, with mob rule we fall.
Seems I am being retrospectively plauded for my 'celebrity sacking' (my colleague's words not mine..). I told him that I unconsciously, and perhaps consciously, wanted everything to collapse and that everything had worked out for the better since.
He then said that quite a few of the hard-core from my previous place were desperate to leave too, and that regardless of how many conversations they would have about finding something else to do, they all just seemed destined to work there forever. Quite a grim predicament, really. I shudder to think that I would still be there, going through the same old motions in what is undeniably one of the shittest jobs on the planet; market research.
It was nice to be told that I still figure in their lives, albeit because I got the sack in such a classic manner. He encouraged me to go see them after work for drinks and what have you as soon as possible. Which I will.
Yesterday the more violently disposed of the G8 protesters in Scotland engaged in several physical confrontations and stand-offs in what is destined to be the first of many such events over the next few days. Watching the events unfold on the BBC, it became clear that trouble was up ahead. I recognise the scenes, of course, having been party to many of them in the past. There is a certain a mount of adrenaline released in the air, so all-pervading that even 'civilised', normal people find it difficult to not get caught up in the affray.
According to several BBC reporters on the scene, the police were unduly heavy-handed and possibly partially responsible for trouble flaring up. My guess is that they want to nip it in the bud, so to speak. By arresting as many violent protesters as possible this early on in the week, perhaps less trouble will flare on Saturday when allegedly huge masses of protester are to descend on the town. Whatever their motives, any neutral observers' immediate discomfort at seeing the police in riot gear press on groups of civil protesters, shoppers and tourists may have dispersed upon seeing scores of pseudo-fascists protesters all decked out in black (black hooded tops, black shades, black scarves around their head and black boots and trousers). My man on the scene informed me that most of the 'Black Bloc', as they are often collectively known, consisted mainly of Germans, Spaniards and Italians. He had attended several meetings early that day before things kicked off and a massive contingent of Blac Block members from all over Europe had presented themselves. My source was surprised at how young they all were, and in his words they 'had no clue'.
Separated from his group after a heavy row with a travel companion, he spent the day observing and successfully staying ahead of the trouble. At one stage he found himself trying to lose the police line, only to find himself right behind a solid group of Black Bloc'ers engaged in a stand-off in a narrow side street. Early that day the police had shut down one of the city's parks, again catching both violent, and non-violent protesters off guard. My source simply jumped the fence and that way managed to avoid being treated like unruly cattle. Whatever their reasoning, if the Black Bloc want urban warfare, which is directly and indirectly what they are promoting, they should perhaps consider using their energy in parts of the world where life is a daily struggle for survival. They seem to forget that without capitalism, they would be unable to cruise around Europe making demands here and there. If we lived in a communist / Marxist / anarchist society, who would pay them their social security? In communist Russia everybody worked, whether they wanted to or not, but they had no choice in what work they were told to do.
I don't want the world run by the Black Bloc, or any other pseudo-fascist, violently disposed cider drinking minority with better things to do. Do you?
And yes, before you attempt a reciprocal discourse, what we have now IS better than whatever loosely configured set of ill-judged ideals and completely draconian dictates on our existence that the Black Bloc and similar groups seem to propagate.
Get a job, join the Foreign Legion or free the people of Zimbabwe!
PS. It would be rather amusing to see a group of hundred or so middle-class European 'kids' all dressed in their black uniform try to topple Mugabe!
I would love to see that.
Then they would quickly find out that life in Europe IS utopia compared to the regimes of many a third world country. Rights to a lawyer? In Zimbabwe? As white, middle-class people unable to use their intellect in a productive manner? That is why we never see the Twat Bloc anywhere outside of Europe, because let's face it, in Europe we are protected by law and constitution.
A middle-aged Scot summed it up best, when interviewed after the bulk of the clashes had taken place she commented "wanting to help Africa is a noble and just cause. This doesn't help, does it?". It certainly doesn't.
PPS. Finally, I was amused by the fact that the majority of the scuffles taking place later in the evening simply involved buckfast-swilling Scottish breezers / louts / thugs, who 'wanted to have a go'.
United we stand, with mob rule we fall.
posted by tseuq at 7/05/2005 10:09:00 am
5 Comments:
Amen Carlsson,
Those black bloc people you are talking about really piss me off. This is a group of people who are incapable of making a mark or being outstanding in any other way besides joining a group like this. It is much harder to make your own niche in life than adopting a ready-made identity. Funny that a group that talks so much about individuality and non-conformity all wear the same clothes. It makes me wan't to be a cop, I like that uniform better. (Joep)
I think we have to celebrate these people as a benificent example of the scope of freedoms we are permitted in Europe. I.E. that even in a comparatively utopian society utterly uneducated, misguided and naive individuals can spend their easily earned resources on effectively communicating with each other, paying the fares and organizing to meet in any given city in the world so they can vent their hormonal anger at a faceless nemesis rather than their parents (to whom they can't really complain because their middleclass upbringing has been rather fortunate). This level of tolerance in western nations is highly commendable in a world where most people are gunned down or run down by tanks for demonstrating against such things as the murder of their families. I salute the Black Bloc if only for being the foolish example of why most people prefer democracy. PETKA
Hear Hear!
The world needs the Black Bloc (for the reasons Petka so skillfully have outlined), we just don't need to take them seriously.
I doubt many people do anyway.
I agree with the Zimbabwe option. My mother-in-law is from Rhodesia (back in the day) and lost her parents' 3000 acre tobacco farm to Mr. Mugabe. It now sits there unproductive, wih a burnt-out farmhouse.
We saw Mugabe in a shopping centre in Edinburgh once. I had to physically hold back my husband from attacking him, and I wouldn't have bothered if there hadn't been so many security guards around RM. The situation in Zim is disgraceful. We just don't focus on it beacause it is so under-reported in our media (due to Britain's guilt, perhaps?).
It's a shame your husband didn't get to RM. In retrospect your husband would probably have had to go to jail so you did right in restraining him. I just wish some of our elected leaders would show the same passion and lock that crazy dictator up for good.
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