*sigh*...why can't North Americans hold a riot like this one?

[Adi Shankara]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihe2Y-9e970&feature=player_embedded#!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kMi7Jkay0fY&feature=related

[¿Que?]

You're like two months late for that one :lol:
EDIT: This is in reference to the first video. I didn't see the second one...

But to answer your question. The American political psyche vacillates between total apathy and absolute cynicism for all kinds of resistance. There is a left minority (a vanguard if you will) which does take to the streets from time to time, but most people will just ask "what will that accomplish?" when any particular tactic is proposed.

It is my theory that behind the apathy and cynicism lies an extreme and paralyzing fear. It is the knowledge that with total commitment there exists the possibility of self sacrifice, something few Americans are willing to contemplate, let alone confront.

Americans currently don't have it so good. I mean regular Americans, the working class. What they fear most is things getting worse. And I think they see direct action in the form of mass protests and riots as contributing to that.

Anyway, that's my lame theory.

[Subcomandante Marcos.]

In america, any violence not sanctioned by the Government is deemed criminal or insane.

when its the left we are deemed "Criminally Insane"

this stigma given to us by uncle sam, works in turning workers against us.

[The Red Next Door]

Americans don't like violence.

[Subcomandante Marcos.]

unless it is against blck people, jews, Romani's or latinos.

Or any foreign population.

Or if it's someone against the system.

Or a trans person.

or a gay or bi person.

[Uppercut]

Americans don't like violence.

At least not when it's induced on American soil.

[counterblast]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sSYi9OmfK9Y


???

Admittedly, its not quite on the level of attacking a cop with a flamethrower, but its not like the US is totally inactive...

[Wolf Larson]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JXPIBsxdk0&feature=related

[Wolf Larson]

Also because this happens:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-OmZvyNrzAs

[Hiratsuka]

Sweet! Violence! Because this forum doesn't have enough machismo.

[t.shonku]

American left doesn't have what it takes.............:laugh:

[Lenina Rosenweg]

Last year I mentioned to a friend of mine how the US working class seems so passive compared to that of Europe. Fightbacks in Greece, bossnappiung in France, general strikes in Greece, Spain, France, Germany, other places.My friend said this "is an eloquent testimony to the role of the Democratic Party". The traditional role of the DP (including unions, NGOs, and non-profits, basically adjuncts of the DP) is to coopt and neutralize any dissent or unrest.

A lot of people are deeply alienated from the system. People realize how bad things are and that they are bound to get worse. People are socialized to be demoralized and apolitical."The Democrats repressent the common people, and if they can't win, then there's no hope".

I would disagree that Americans don't like violence. The US is a very violent society, only the violence is channeled into directions which won't harm the corporate masters.

[praxis1966]

I think that we need a cultural exchange of sorts. The people in the first OP video need to come to North America to teach us how to riot, and while they're here we can teach them how to throw a baseball so their rocks will go farther than 10 yards. There's a reason, after all, that the Americans on the Sea Shephard crew always wind up on stink bomb duty.

[F9]

Cause leftists are way outnumbered from the Police?
The really bad situation in greece forced this students in the streets(im talking about the video, lots got in the streets in greece, not just students), oppression, unemployment etc, the state get to a very shitty position, and ofcourse when this happens, the workers are the first to get screwed.While in the US the situation with workers its not great, from what i know, its not like greece.

For the second video, i was been told that the ones with the flameshit, were from the army, im not sure, but i remember something like that, so there is no comparison bettween the workers and peoples struggle with a fight between the army and the police..


Fuserg9:star:

[Os Cangaceiros]

Americans don't like violence.

Over 15,000 gang-related homicides in Los Angeles over the last two decades tells a different story.

[XxKrebsxX]

Last year I mentioned to a friend of mine how the US working class seems so passive compared to that of Europe. Fightbacks in Greece, bossnappiung in France, general strikes in Greece, Spain, France, Germany, other places.My friend said this "is an eloquent testimony to the role of the Democratic Party". The traditional role of the DP (including unions, NGOs, and non-profits, basically adjuncts of the DP) is to coopt and neutralize any dissent or unrest.

A lot of people are deeply alienated from the system. People realize how bad things are and that they are bound to get worse. People are socialized to be demoralized and apolitical."The Democrats repressent the common people, and if they can't win, then there's no hope".

I would disagree that Americans don't like violence. The US is a very violent society, only the violence is channeled into directions which won't harm the corporate masters.

This man could not have said it any better. Horribly sad and tragic. I've been lost all faith in my country.

[Adi Shankara]

For the second video, i was been told that the ones with the flameshit, were from the army, im not sure, but i remember something like that, so there is no comparison bettween the workers and peoples struggle with a fight between the army and the police..

I read the commentary on the video, and apparently, the riot started as a result of an already bubbling pot with the military bases in South Korea, and the established privileged afforded to military over native Koreans...but then two drunk soldiers hit a little Korean girl with their car, they tried them in an American military court and the two soldiers were found not guilty.

so basically, it seems like they were lashing out against imperialism, and the little girl because a cause celebre.

[praxis1966]

I read the commentary on the video, and apparently, the riot started as a result of an already bubbling pot with the military bases in South Korea, and the established privileged afforded to military over native Koreans...but then two drunk soldiers hit a little Korean girl with their car, they tried them in an American military court and the two soldiers were found not guilty.

so basically, it seems like they were lashing out against imperialism, and the little girl because a cause celebre.

A pretty bizzare occurance, though, don't you think? I can't think of any time in the "Western" world where the police and the military have gone at it like this. I actually think this is good news for the rest of us, that the military can be turned against the civil authorities given the right circumstances. Of course, some people on here would say that the military getting involved can only lead to fascist dictatorship but I'm not so sure.

Back in Florida there were two military bases within 20 minutes of my house. Being that I worked in a bar before I moved, I wound up talking to alot of airmen and sailors.:lol: The overwhelming majority of them, especially the ones who had served in Iraq, hated the way things were being done in Washington and especially hated what they had been sent to do (killing poor people for reasons that didn't seem to make sense, to qoute one member of Marine Force Recon). Most of them had said they were going to be voting Democrat instead of the usual vote Republican in the next elections. It's too bad that there weren't any leftist organizations in my community. It's one of my personal regrets that more of them couldn't be turned and funneled into radical politics because I think they were ripe for it.