Dear Otokonoko,

It is funny how our 'inner right winger' pops out ever once in a while. Mine certainly has on this occasion but perhaps it is of a different ilk to yours.

And yes I too have lived in brutal regimes, one where the local mayor personally shot three 'lawbreakers' and left their bodies in the town square for a few days as a warning, so I do know what brutal is and the police actions on the Friday qualify in my book.

When I see non-violent, passively resisting protesters having choke holds applied, being capsicum sprayed, being rammed into by police packs, being dragged by the heels over concrete edges, being punched in the face, being trod on by horses, and being threatened with attack dogs, all in the heart of my capital and all because a puffed up little man we called a mayor decides he personally had had enough of the “selfish” “duplicitous” “self-indulgent rabble”.

To have these people now contemplating relocating to the Treasury Gardens because they want to avoid a repeat of the police violence is damning. Why should peaceful protesters in my country be fearing police violence? Indeed why should anyone who is not being aggressive or threatening others?

Cont'

Cont'

In a world where the police had due regard for their image and the well being of the citizens they are sworn to protect we would have seen each protester held upright as they were being removed, if that were not possible then four officers, one on each limb, would have been appropriate. Decent training and direction should have negated the need for choke holds, head locks and the hair pulling. The change in the mood of the spectators was evident in the footage I saw. Cries of 'shame' and 'scum' were taken up by many onlookers and understandably so.

It is interesting to compare the media treatment of the Occupy Melbourne protests with those of the Convoy of No-Confidence which whose organisers had threatened to shut down Canberra and blockade Parliament House. Even more interesting were Bob Brown's comments,

"It hasn't blockaded anything," he said. "But it has got the moaners' brigade in town to moan about everything in general and nothing in particular.".

Seems to reflect the sentiments of many on this thread. Isn't this just being dismissive and disrespectful of other people's views when they are different or confusing to you?.

Dear Lexi,

Should protests be disruptive? I found this piece by Naomi Wolf instructive.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/naomi-wolf/occupy-wall-street-bloomberg-free-speech-right-to-disruption-_b_1026535.html

As usual the hoary old wives tales about demonstrations and there participants abound on the post, all perpetrated by people whom have never actually attended one themselves.Not even in their youth.

These armchair experts are always full of rhetoric but nothing they can say belies the fact the principals of democracy and freedom of speech are far more important to us all than the privileges that the detractors of free expression(the powerful)decry.

These would be the very same people if they were farmers for example ,would be currently telling their employee's that the carbon tax will mean the end of there jobs. This of course is absolute crap but lets not let reality or the truth get in they way of the powerful and their goal to retain power.Gas frakking and global warming are the biggest threat to farming jobs.

World banks and other major businesses have always got their hand out for taxpayers money and the moment some taxpayers decide they wish to express discontent, oh their hippies/professional protesters etc.

Out come the very small number of very loud redneck political mis-informants touting a form of discrimination not dis-similiar to racism as their case, and are even prepared to ignore police brutality and abuse of political power in order that their crap be heard.

I doubt whether any of these people have actually ever done anything involving public spirit and risk to themselves in their entire lives but are prepared to s##tcan anyone who does.

I think your gutless and faceless and happy to have baton wielding police do your talking for you if the truth be known . Stomach turning self interested people whom think their viewpoint more important than freedom itself. And it's a shame that my brave prolitarian father fought to protect your interests.

Dear Belly and csteele,

I don't think that anybody on this thread would
disagree with people's right to pretest peacefully.
However, with one's rights come responsibilities.
You don't get a blank cheque to do whatever you want.
Just like the "right" of freedom of speech. People
who enjoy these rights have a duty to respect other
people's rights. A person's right is therefore limited
by the rights of others. Most democratic countries have
certain restrictions. They do put various limitations on
what people may say and do.

In the case of the "Occupy Melbourne," protest - things
did get out of hand only after six days of peaceful
protest and this was done by a small minority. Admittedly
perhaps the police did over-react - this is now under
investigation. And as I stated in my previous posts -
hopefully with better training and foresight - the next
time the situation will be better handled by both the
police and the protestors.

Dear thinker 2,

I'm sure that you didn't mean your post to
come across as an insulting or mean message.
Perhaps it's only an absent-minded or poor
choice of phrasing and is not meant the way
that some people may perceive it. Anyway -
not all of us are just "arm-chair," analysists.
Many, I'm sure have taken part in protests over
the years in our salad days (when we were fresh
and green) and many will continue to do so -
depending on who wins the next election.
Lets try to respectfully disagree in order to
produce a more productive conversation.

we are all..neatly diveded into our set adgenda's
those to whom govt cant do wrong defending govt excess

and those who have felt the choke hold on their throat..and the writ lick of your righthand..welded to your left shoulder..[by tyhree armed thugs]..on the other

we hear the same old rants
those dirty people peeing on streets
daring to give out free food..[so where are the govt portaloo's..and a soup kitchen..or a place to wash yourself or your clothes..or store your stuff..now dumped at the local tip]

where indeed these TRAINED negotiaters
where the lawyers..putting their sinsere complaint into word

where is the love?
HOW IS WHAT OUR COPPERS DO..different
to what dicktraiers do..in their proffitable regeme

[ie anything]..to shut up discent..
anything to police the protester..
daring to voice the problem..{PEACEFULLY]..

and there are our [lol]..protecters
there to bailout their mates..

there to break up the peace
[peacefull discent]

there to keep the police
from watching their pals..there to shut you the heck up
lest others join in the peacefull gathering..of innocents
trying to ask whats going on..

why are things
not great for all of us
where is there them/verses/us
why do they get the bailout and we get the handcuffs

because too many dont dare think
guess we blame that..on the coolaid[spin/vieuws..in lue of news]....they..were forced to drink

please stop and think
they are stealing your wealth too...!

ever notice how us smokers got our tax in days
and the mining tax will never come

funny that
but you couldnt care less
so i wish..i could learn to be ignorant like you

im ok
stuff you

thats all we need do