Violence is violence - Egypt/Chicago

I am not sure what your point is here, Danneskjold, but I'll keep the conversation going:

1. Yes, Chicago is a violent place. High population density, high unemployment, breakdowns in traditional family structures, the rise of gang cultures, high dropout rates, and ineffective policing all contribute to some of the highest violent crime rates in the coutry.
2. Egypt's violence is driven by political forces, though poverty and hunger appear to be deeper causative factors (high unemployment and high food prices are making people much more willing to confront what they preceive to be a brutal regime). Chicago's decline, however, is not being manifested in political change, and the violence is directed at individual citizens instead of political opposition (unless you consider Carol Moseley Braun's "you were on crack for 20 years" to be a form of violent protest).
3. Tea Partiers and "angst in our media"? When you have TP folks calling for revolution (and in some cases, armed revolution) of course there is going to be attention paid to them, and not all of the attention is going to be positive. Many people will tolerate a great deal of bad governance if they think at least that there is stability. If the Tea Partiers do not like scrutiny, they can always go home and watch syndicated television reruns. However, making a bold presence in the political arena will merit plenty of media coverage.

One thing that has come to mind lately is that we are truly blessed to live in a country where we can protest in the streets whenever we want to, over big issues or small. I'm not up on my world history like mike, but I can tell that having throngs of people in the streets is a sign of big trouble and instability in plenty of other nations. Here, it could just be a feel-good rally ... because somebody feels like it.

I find it odd that the mainstream media focuses so much on the Tea Party but little or no mention was made of the recent rally held by the Common Cause group in California. There are YouTube videos circulating of members of the rally saying that Clarence Thomas should be "sent back to the fields," and should have his toes cut off and fed to him. They also are documented saying that Glenn Beck should be gunned down. Code Pink's ties to Hamas are starting to come out. Where is the media's focus on all of this?

There is no such thing as "freedom to assemble peacefully" when you need a permit from city hall. No such thing as "free speech" if you have a fairness doctorine in place. We are a lot closer to tyranny than most think. We wrap ourselves in the flag and point fingers at the evils of the rest of the world when we do the same.

Do you not believe that cops/feds would not lay the smack down on americans who marched on Washington and demanded real change? Obama can call these Egyptians "freedom fighters" but let it happen here and they would be evil rebels who must be dealt with.

please post those youtubes links - otherwise it's just hearsay.

the sheer quantity of hate speak is much higher from ultra-conservatives rather than ultra-liberals. little of it has been from TP members but because the TP has been in the news so much they have probably been unfairly washed with it.

http://www.redstate.com/moe_lane/2011/02/03/the-lefts-common-cause-lynch-clarence-thomas/ - our friends at common cause can get a lynching and murder in all at one rally.

Left groups get media protection, all those scenes of union shops setting up on people's yards, destroying their family's privacy, and making death threats to the business owner. You clapped and giggled at the Bush shoe thrower (no calls for civility then), and several of the more left posters on this site would hit Glenn Beck with your car if you could.

Those of you who think the extreme left is any less dangerous should ask an AZ congress woman.

The evil of man knows no party.

DBW,

Can you try to make a point without doing so in a biased manner?

Permits for protesting are issued by LOCAL governments. Therefore, by definition, permits are not "tyrannical" per se because they are issued at the level of government the people have the most say in. The Supreme Court has upheld them as incidental restrictions on speech, and you do get to appeal your denial. Just because you have to do some paperwork does not mean the government is tyrannical.

The Fairness Doctrine has been dead since 1987. Please update your fear mongering propaganda to the Broadcast Decency Enforcement Act of 2005. It's a little more relevant, since it's actually still in effect.

Cops and Feds are going to "lay the smack down" on domestic protestors? Get real. Part of the largest protest in human history was held in our country just 8 years ago, largely without incident.

BSwell - Umm last time I checked everyone who posts in this board is "biased" by our own opinion. What you really saying is don't be bluntly factual about something you believe in. I never find you offering words to moderation to the more liberal posters on here? Why is that? The things that are said about Fox News personalties here is just the tip of the iceberg, but it's ok for them to say such things cause they are the "bad people" right?

sandwich makes a complete generalization with "the sheer quantity of hate speak is much higher from ultra-conservatives rather than ultra-liberals" with no factual support, why are you not slapping his hand with a ruler?

When the local govt. has the power to say yes you can assemble or no you can't, there is no free assembly. Unfortunately it's more than paper work, you have to apply for a usage permit to use streets you pay for. If you have to apply that means you have to be approved, words have meaning. http://www.wtae.com/r/20454020/detail.html

I was using the fairness doctrine as example as people are clamoring for it to protect their ears from all the hate speech bandied about today.

Guess Kent State never happened in your world? I guess we never rounded up Japanese Americans during WW2? We have enough of our own mistakes in civil and human rights abuses to claim we are the Land of the Free. We should keep our mouthes shut about how other countries treat people who wish for freedom.

Failed bomb at Time Square by Muslim, big news.

Failed bomb at MLK walk, not news.

Failed bomb by Tea Bagger at Dearborn Mosque, not news.

SensorG. By Tea Bagger I assume you're referring to Tea Party member. I looked up news on the Dearborn Mosque failed bombing and I did not see any connection to the Tea Party. It does sound like the person has serious mental issues though.

Roger Stockham - (among a few other items)
In 2002 he pled not guilty by reason of insanity to threatening to blow up a Veterans Administration center in Vermont and making threats against President George W. Bush.

I haven't had a chance to comment on the other items on the post but plan on doing so later this weekend. The initial post really wasn't intended for too much discussion it was really just an odd feeling I had seeing the two news snippets around the same time.