tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post5946450674556643039..comments2023-10-30T02:03:56.081+13:00Comments on Capitalism Bad; Tree Pretty: Standing with terroristsMaiahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212711843307060731noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-82032966652265400332007-11-15T22:41:00.000+13:002007-11-15T22:41:00.000+13:00Would you stand by them if they killed someone?Would you stand by them if they killed someone?Kevinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08856512610923335167noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-78153508016339795542007-11-03T10:58:00.000+13:002007-11-03T10:58:00.000+13:00Maia, you have perfectly expressed my own literall...Maia, you have perfectly expressed my own literally frozen brain; I too, while offering unconditional support in our activities fundraising/demonstrating/meeting/discussing/creating consensus, have felt conflicted many times.<BR/><BR/>There is one person, not arrested, whose absence I feel very keenly at this moment, especially as I would like her advice about re-running an event we worked on together last year. While I celebrate those Bailings that have been acheived, I'm still upset that the (subliminal) rifts in our own community fabric are not mended, yet.<BR/><BR/>F*k, I'm sick of the crypto-linguistics we are all being forced into by this ridiculous example of over-use of state force!<BR/><BR/>xxx anarkaytieAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-91087722306615241032007-10-30T22:16:00.000+13:002007-10-30T22:16:00.000+13:00Maia,Earlier this year when people I know were arr...Maia,<BR/><BR/>Earlier this year when people I know were arrested by an anti-terror squad for charges related to the G20 protests in December last year (they've recently been cleared), I felt similarly. I wanted to talk about who they are as people and what they're like to organise with.<BR/><BR/>It's true, the Left is extremely divided and full of sectarian conflict. But that's not a weakness. I wouldn't want to be part of any movement that was "unified" -- "unity" generally means hierarchy. We hate that shit (mostly).<BR/><BR/>I think your ambivalence is exactly what we need. It signifies maturity and openness in a politics when you can be flexible about who your opponents are (and I don't mean in the "enemies of our enemies" way).Fire Flyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02097750417997954480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-25734568435469286552007-10-30T17:44:00.000+13:002007-10-30T17:44:00.000+13:00I completely agree that human rights are unconnect...I completely agree that human rights are unconnected with how "worthy" or "unworthy" a person may be. <BR/><BR/>I'm also really concerned with how we define "terrorism" as a society and how this whole situation is going to push people into distinct camps a la American rhetoric.Muerkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00983180202172098977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-89474974827090332742007-10-30T15:29:00.000+13:002007-10-30T15:29:00.000+13:00Me three. Maia, please keep talking, I'm in Oz and...Me three. Maia, please keep talking, I'm in Oz and it's a little tricky to keep up with things from here, your viewpoint is a great addition to indymedia and scoop.<BR/><BR/>Count me as wary to offer unconditional support just because I'm not there and I don't have direct contact with anyone involved. I'd rather be slightly cautious and wrong than unconditionally supportive and wrong, you know.Mozhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07450274402965786918noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-104007561912658402007-10-30T13:41:00.000+13:002007-10-30T13:41:00.000+13:00Please keep writing and updating as stuff occurs, ...Please keep writing and updating as stuff occurs, Maia - for those of us not in a main centre, blogs like yours and the alternative news sites are our eyes and ears.<BR/><BR/>I agree with you that human rights are human rights, regardless of how likable or otherwise the person involved, however I think things like the profiles on Scoop are currently acting as a sort of 'PR' campaign for the accused, to illustrate to wider NZ -who don't know them, and don't know much about activism- that these are people working for social justice, not terrorists - and therefore, the style/content has to be a bit fawning/worthy.<BR/><BR/>It lacks emotional punch to write "she has worked tirelessly for social justice but has a tendency to monomania and difficulty working with consensus" or whatever. (Excuse lame example.)<BR/><BR/>I've been saddened by how many people I've talked are wary of supporting those arrested outright, despite their concerns about the way the police conducted the raids, because "they might be a type of terrorist if they are willing to make napalm bombs". I've also heard (and dispelled) some hilarious rumours - like, there were molotov cocktails and semi-automatic weapons under the beds at 128.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, some sort of 'PR' campaign is necessary to clarify who the people are and dispel the rumours.<BR/><BR/>So long as we don't turn them into matyrs and start wearing images of their faces on t-shirts a la Che Guevera, where's the harm?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-17759756.post-28720927782805780722007-10-30T10:35:00.000+13:002007-10-30T10:35:00.000+13:00I think the point is that, from those of us that k...I think the point is that, from those of us that know these people personally, we can say with certainty, these people are not terrorists. What amazes me about those charged, is they are some of the sweetest, kindest people I know within activist circles.<BR/>They live from the heart and their work reflects a deep love for humanity and dedication to creating a world free from oppression.<BR/><BR/>I agree that worthiness of respect should not be up for discussion - human rights are human rights. The gubbermint is throwing all that out the window and welcoming the guantanamo style 'justice' of guilty before proven anything, and long term jail terms for people awaiting trial.<BR/><BR/>It is of interest to consider who the gubbermint has chosen to label terrorists. The message they are sending out is that standing up for Tino Rangatiratanga and Peace opens you to have your homes invaded with douchy or no warrants, guilt by association, that terrorising rural indigenous communities (Ruatoki or NT in Aus...) is A-OK in the national interest.<BR/><BR/>What are they preparing us for?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com