Comments on: Kiss the Officer in Question

By: Harry

Harry — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 05:27:23 +0000

Geez, my opinion of you has been changed after reading this piece of writing. I express that within the context of most of your other contributions here. Seems to me that politics is your strong suit, just the opposite of Rick Moody, whose music writing here at Rumpus is fine stuff, but today at the Guardian website made a fool of himself with a political rant. So it seems that my usual expectations for both of you guys were confounded today. Keep up the good work Steve, and thanks Rumpus for not taking on Rick’s Rant.

By: Tim N

Tim N — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 19:15:21 +0000

Steve – for a guy often oversimplified as a “comedy writer,” you get at some real truth, as always. Thanks for speaking out, caring, and wanting to defend our individual freedoms, civil liberties, while we still have them. Yes, I, too, salute the women and men who fought, sacrificed for us, so Steve and others (more coming forward hourly) have a platform to keep the government (our govt.) in check, working for us. Some like to easily label the protesters as anti-American, anarchists, or some other negative stereotype, but this reveals their narrow-thinking, fear, and ignorance. Thinking beyond ourselves, our own pockets (corporate or otherwise) takes great faith and effort. Some folks don’t want to make time for any of that. That could be our downfall, but the movement gives us hope. Thankfully folks speaking out for civil rights, women’s rights, and other causes, did so. We need to keep the energy positive, peaceful, and not let the truth-twisting spinners distract.

By: Chuck Leddy

Chuck Leddy — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 02:58:59 +0000

What this essay does so brilliantly and importantly is tell the truth. The response to OWS is consistent with a narrative of global repression and rule-breaking (“taking the gloves off,” as the GOP likes to say) since 9/11. The Repressive overreaction and violence against OWS demonstrators is (1) completely consistent with the burgeoning national security state and (2) simply immoral and in violation of our laws/principles, etc. I must thank Steve Almond for his moral clarity here!

By: Jessica

Jessica — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:54:12 +0000

Apparently, there’s also an email circulating, among people who still circulate emails, with a photograph of an “Occupy Wall Street protestor” defecating on an American flag. I read the image is actually from a 2008 Iraq War protest.

By: Cyndi Cady

Cyndi Cady — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 21:10:20 +0000

I applaud the calm and determination of the protesters. I have to wonder, though, if they are not chanting the wrong message to the police. Should’t we be asking them “How are YOU going to put your kids through school if tuition keeps going up?” “Doesn’t it make YOU angry that the 1% controls your money?” “Why don’t you put down that gun and baton and step over to THIS side of the line?”

I know a lot of cops; good people, most of them. And in the same financial boat as the rest of us. They are the 99%, and it will be interesting to see what happens when they realize that.

By: Sitara

Sitara — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:38:41 +0000

For the most part, I like this article with the exception of this:

“Police officers are taking matters into their own hands, deciding to harm unarmed citizens, often unnecessarily.”

You can’t sit in critique of a top down society and then blame the individuals as a few bad apples for the crimes of the hierarchy. It was not a few cops deciding to take matters into their own hands that called in police forces from surrounding cities in Oakland, CA. That was a decision of the leadership. It is not a few bad apples that are organizing conference calls with Police Leadership in 40 cities and Mayors.

Other than the statement in quotes above, the article is okay.

By: Darlin' Neal

Darlin' Neal — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:30:10 +0000

I was wondering the same thing about the anti-Semitic comments.

By: Gina S

Gina S — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 19:29:51 +0000

Anti-Semetic remarks originating from the OWS camp? You must mean planted in the OWS camp. In New York, the original one, many of the OWS are Jewish. People against OWS are trying to deflect their message with false ones like anti-semitic messages. A few crazies do not taint the message. Intelligent people get it. The ones that don’t yell “Get a job!” when that is exactly what these people are trying to do.

By: Kevin Canty

Kevin Canty — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 17:29:23 +0000

For what it’s worth, I’ve seen a couple of really vile anti-Semitic comments pop up on Facebook lately, allegedly originating with the OWS camp. Wouldn’t surprise me if “negative narratives” are edging over into disinformation / dirty tricks tactics.

By: Serah Carter

Serah Carter — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 16:26:41 +0000

there are few things that make me prouder than the fact that the OWS protestors have not reacted with violence. I’m not a pacifist. Sometimes I get angry that they haven’t fought back. In the end, however, I believe that peaceable actions and a united front will persevere in the conflict between the haves and the have nots. I admit willingly that I take pleasure in the fact that the corporations are running scared. They should be.

Regan wasn’t a monster. He wasn’t my favorite president, but he did what he felt he had to. Maybe that’s what the police are doing. I’m inclined to believe that they’re enjoying this more than they should. There’s nothing I can do to change that, their enjoyment.

It’s sad. All of it, really. Years ago a man stood up and said ‘tear down this wall’ and it was torn down. So our wall is invisible. It’s a glass wall of power and privilege and hand me down nobility. It is a wall just the same. For the love of god, tear down the wall, before it’s too damn late.