Another day ... another demonstration. What is happening to our country?

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 02 May 2015 01:52:57 -0400

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/may-day-march-in-seattle-turns-violent-three-police-hurt/ar-BBj3k6J

May Day march in Seattle turns violent, three police hurt

An anti-capitalist May Day march in Seattle turned violent on Friday when demonstrators threw rocks and wrenches at police, who responded by lobbing "flashbangs" and shooting pepper balls, according to police and media reports.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 2 at 2015 1:57 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Sat, 02 May 2015 01:57:42 -0400

**** RELATED STORY ABOUT 5/1/2015 DEMONSTRATIONS IN OTHER CITIES ****

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/may-day-rallies-broaden-to-address-police-brutality-race/2015/05/01/185b42be-f05f-11e4-8050-839e9234b303_story.html

Response by MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca made May 2 at 2015 7:00 AM

MAJ Robert (Bob) Petrarca — Sat, 02 May 2015 07:00:04 -0400

IMHO, we as a country have too many freedoms for our own good. We're reaching the tipping point where the "entitled" and "extremists" are pushing the envelope on every possible issue so that containment is becoming almost impossible. The police that maintain the peace are being scrutinized to the point that they may not be able to do their jobs effectively out of fear of legal reprisal.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2015 7:12 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 May 2015 07:12:28 -0400

I know it sounds simple. But, I believe what is happening to our country,or has happened, is that we have abandoned truth.

It has become the norm to sensationalize one's own viewpoint and totally demonize the opposing view.

Seldom is one view 100% correct and the other 100% wrong.

Response by PO3 Jonathan Cooper made May 2 at 2015 8:37 AM

PO3 Jonathan Cooper — Sat, 02 May 2015 08:37:49 -0400

As a Seattle native who lived there for the first 25 years of my life, I'm not surprised. With every march that the majority of people out there want to be peaceful, there's always the very small minority of anarchists who go out there starting shit. I mean it's never going to be as bad as it was for the WTO in December 1999 ( I was a bystander during my senior year lunch break for the first day), but that was also severly piss poor planning on the city's part with every local law enforcement agency out there.
Seattle normally prides itself on keeing these things as peaceful and with minimal destruction, but it seems especially the last two May Day rallies/marches have turned violent. Some of it is people just getting fed up on what's going on at the national level. Some of it is just people trying to march for worker's rights. And then there's the asshole anarchist who just want to smash things.

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made May 2 at 2015 11:00 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Sat, 02 May 2015 11:00:00 -0400

Honestly, and sadly, I think that this May day in Seattle was more peaceful than the last several, at least to judge by media accounts.

Which may partially explain why I know fewer and fewer people who go into Seattle willingly...

Response by CSM Michael J. Uhlig made May 2 at 2015 4:23 PM

CSM Michael J. Uhlig — Sat, 02 May 2015 16:23:04 -0400

Burning question, how do working people have time to continue demonstrating?

Response by SPC Charles Brown made May 2 at 2015 4:50 PM

SPC Charles Brown — Sat, 02 May 2015 16:50:48 -0400

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad, to quote an old song, "everything old is new again." Protests have been popular for many decades, everyone nowadays has a cause. My personal cause is civilian ignorance, complaints about the military, government and ethical treatment of this or that have become the norm. The only things missing from these protests as compared to when I was younger are the drug culture, misconceptions, and hippies.

I hope that someday someone will stand up and say ENOUGH! I want to be in with that group and if I get enough support I may be willing to be among the first organizers of such a movement.

Until that day these things I will defend:
My God
My Country
My Family/Friends both military and civilian
My Property
and the right of others to be wrong/stupid.

I still have a belief in the oath I took to support and defend the Constitution of the United States!

Response by LTJG Private RallyPoint Member made May 2 at 2015 6:02 PM

LTJG Private RallyPoint Member — Sat, 02 May 2015 18:02:19 -0400

I don't think anything is wrong with our country. The ability to protest, demonstrate, say and do things that you or I disagree with is the foundation of our nation. What is the point of having these freedoms if be neglect to use them? As far as I am concerned protesting is a patriotic act. Let that differentiate from my view on looting, those two are not the same things, though the history of country is rooted in that as well... Just look at the Boston Tea Party.