"My country broke my heart"

My country broke my heart"
Jeffrey J wrote:

Quote:

"THIS is how a police state looks like, folks. And like all police states, they run on escalating trajectories. The early use of force in Germany and Italy was much, much less than the later use of force. Such is the history of concentration of power. There is no evidence Canada will be any different."

And if you think that is an exaggeration....and if you only have time to read one thing today....read this first-hand account that "emk" provided on another thread...and remember that these are early days...and that as Ed Deak often reminds us - things can swiftly change overnight:

http://www.facebook.com/note.php?note_id=397205503638&id=511491565&ref=mf

The thing is, the values of a global market culture are constantly reinforced through repetitive advertising, where like trained seals its bewitched audience is taught to constantly value the insignificant and the artificial... over the significant and the real.

Our human concerns are thus made insignificant - they are intentionally down-played, trivialized and smeared into insignificance.

Their corporate ones are thus made highly significant....and to be urgently addressed.

Inversely,

Their corporate crimes become paltry stuff, immaterial, irrelevant, inconsequential....insignificant. The mere selling of rivers, the mere decimation of human rights, the mere killing of the Gulf of Mexico.

The mere poisoning of the very things needed for survival on this planet.

But standing up in protest and outrage against the above?

That crime is apparently both significant...and unforgivable.

Within a police state.

Mr. Harper is so proud of saving mothers and their newborns.....

...but what about the followup?
http://www.starvedforattention.org/

Within A Police State...

Outstanding, above me here, Lynn. I read it three times.

When you nail it woman, you nail it!

Love ya.

Coyote

thanks, Coyote.....

You wrote:

"This should be viewed as a learning experience by the anti-capitalist and social revolutionary left. It was the most realistic demonstration to date, in this country, of raw ruling class State power. Though, kid yourselves not, they have even scarier arrows in their quiver, and such even more capacity for brutality as we have not yet seen."

Yes, a watershed moment, I think, with more and more Canadians feeling like outsiders who no longer hold a stake in their own country. Certainly that young fellow on Facebook, and no doubt many more like him, have come to that disturbing realization.

When I was his age, Canada was all things bright and beautiful...this is a different room now with a far different and darker view to inherit......

But perhaps, as you've often expressed on these pages, these corporate thugs and their mercenary security forces are doing us a favour, defining the parameters of this struggle ever more clearly... and in your words - "awakening the working masses of this country again, and as will bring them in due course to challenge the assumed rights, legalities and privileges of Capital."

lynn

As I read more of our past, I wonder if it really was "bright and beautiful":
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Walter+Rudnicki+1925+2010/2682874/story.html
Gordon Pinsent spoke eloquently of Walter Rudnicki on his CBC program "The Late Show" and in doing so revealed some sinister goings on in government that we were seldom privy to.

Perhaps, what with a sense of general disillusionment that underlies our current society, we've come to expect our governments to be underhanded and secretive, instead of being surprised and disappointed that they would do these things.

Rick W

"As I read more of our past, I wonder if it really was "bright and beautiful"

You are, of course, absolutely right, Rick.....probably it is only the surface of things that gleams "bright and beautiful" ....a more tarnished story usually unfolds when we dig more deeply.

I guess we colour the past with our memories and emotions as time moves on...and I remember Canada (ahhh....sweet and flawed memory) as a much more hopeful place then, where at least a Polish immigrant could arrive at the Vancouver Airport without leaving it in a body bag.

An extremely interesting article you linked, too...I wasn't aware of so much of that background information.

Not many that compare with Walter Rudnicki - what a rare and wonderful man!

My husband comes from Scottish-Metis roots and really enjoyed reading the article as well.

Thanks.

the problem with the facebook link...

...is that it IS a facebook link.

Why don't you cut and paste, or perhaps "printwhatyoulike" and .pdf, the essay and see if you can't pass it along.

I am sure you can appreciate that there is a whole world of people who have no interest in joining such sites. Thanks.

samuidave

I will post a series of excerpts....it is a very long piece on Facebook.....so some context may be missing but it is still very revealing in itself...and for the journey that this highly disturbing experience took the young writer of this piece on. As he said at the end it has changed him forever:

"We got to Bay and College when around 20 mini-vans full of riot cops honked their horns and went flying through the intersection - I had
never seen anything like it, it was crazy. We arrived at University Ave to find it completely blocked off by riot cops in full gear. The
"Free Speech Zone" was completely blocked in. The cops wouldn't answer any questions, wouldn't move, wouldn't look at you. Nothing. Then rows of riot police form on College behind us, start banging their shields and march in, followed by a rows of mounted horse units. Then out of nowhere two young guys are pepper sprayed nearby, everyone runs,
nothing is said by police, no announcements. People help the guys and pick them up, they don't know what happened or why.....

Shortly after some homeless people threw on arm bands and had extending night sticks and tackled people standing around and dragged
them behind the dense line of riot cops and dragged them away. Secret under-cover homeless police -

We head towards them to leave; they say 'Get Back', no problem. We turn to leave the other way, more riot cops "Get Back". Okay, We ask if we can please leave - no response. They haven't said anything.
There are journalists in here, a couple comes out of The Keg and tries to leave, they are told, "It's too late." Too late for what they ask, and are told nothing. ......

Then the riot squads form a half circle around us, shield to shield.

People angry, afraid. We were nowhere close to the fence; there was no violence - what was this? People singing a John Lennon song all arrested?" ......

contd.

"The unmoving riot officers had arm badges saying they were from Calgary. Then all at once, they took some pill and took a sip from the tubes attached to their riot gear. It became clear they were a little
confused, a supervisor was yelling at them they were in a wrong formation, some of them tripped over each other. I noticed the street was blocked off at both ends, no media anywhere at either end...denied access to see what was happening down here. Soon the street was full of buses and paddy wagons and riot cops outnumbered people 5 to 1.
Many of the cops behind the semi-circle took off gear and lay down, sweaty on the sidewalk, obviously overworked. One by one, officers
would come through the shrinking semi-circle line and take people roughly away. People would turn and offer their hands peacefully, waiting to go.

Next to us was a guy with a green mohawk, punky looking guy, two approaching arresting officers laughed and said "I want to get this
guy right here", they pushed through the other people, grabbed and spun him around and pushed him away roughly. He didn't say anything or
resist in anyway. Jesus. Another male officer says to the gay couple "I'll go find some lady officers to arrest you boys." His patch says Toronto. Really?.......

I turned and offered my hands, I was handcuffed and made to walk backwards across the street to officers in front of the Novotel. I'm
handed over, searched, asked my name - all very peaceful. My arresting officer asked me if I understood I was being arrested - I said I understood, but I didn't know why. He
paused. "You're being charged with - " He stops, talks with someone else, moves me, and says "Mischief......"

contd.

"The other guys tell me they never had their rights read either and were all told different reasons for the arrest "Disturbing the peace" "Obstructing Justice" and so on. No one clear reason we were all there. I can only make out their silhouettes when they lean forward, no lights. .....

We arrived outside of the wet and dark Toronto Film Studio, with its large gates and armored guards and dozens of police cars and fenced off areas. It was creepy. The buildings were huge and grey with red signs with white numbers on them. It was something from a George Orwell novel. Large spotlight pointing down from posts, in the rain.
Our bus was stopped in front of a large garage door to one of the hanger-sized buildings. The door rolls open a light pours out from it.

We drive inside.....

We all agreed that we were the hundreds of protesters left at the end of the day; long after the violence was done that afternoon. But hey,
how do you justify to the people of Canada that we spent 1.2 Billion dollars? You arrest all the protesters. We thought we might held for
24 hours so that the streets would be cleared from people demonstrating their right to free speech. I mean, they closed down the
"Free Speech Zone" in a public space, so... why were we there? Finally an officer comes on the bus and states “come forward and give your
number". So one by one we go. Outside we are handed off to a Court Service officer, all with "Special Constable" patches. Some have removed their nametags, others have them still on....."

contd.

"Hanging about down to about 15 ft off the ground are rows of intense florescent lights. Dozens of rows as far as I can see in either
direction. Over each cell is a small black pod container a camera. It appears to be a maze made of industrial shelving, construction office trailers, wooden decks and walkways and cages. The cages are roughly 12' by 20' and around 10' high. There is sheet metal on 3 sides; the front side has a sliding door section that locks. Inside each cage is a porto-potty with the door removed, no toilet paper. It reaches close to the ceiling is about 4'x4' around. Those potties -bright orange,
with an elaborate art deco style molding. A 1.2 billion dollar porto-potty to be sure. I pass rows of the cages with people bleeding,
crying slumped on the concrete floor. Huddled, asking to call family, asking for water, asking what the charge is, wanting to know their
rights. All the officers were All the officers were ignoring them and laughing at people. I have never seen anything like this.....

I was now around 2:00am. I've been held since 10:30pm, not read my rights, not explained anything, not yet charged, no phone call. And in
an overcrowded cell with no access to water. Every guy had to pee; there was a line around the inside of the cell to piss. Trying to pee
with your hand cuffed together was horrible...but we all managed...the outhouse was messy. No toilet paper. So, here we all were. Ages from
16-78. Three German men asked why the guard made a joke about Auschwitz. They were here from Germany, left a bar, got arrested. They said they had no idea Canada was like this; they said the world
thought we were free. The said "poor Canadians, this is shame". ....

Woah

Thanks for posting that Lynn. Mighty disturbing and sad to see what our once rather nice country (even if it is it is "only the surface of things that gleams 'bright and beautiful'") has become under the leadership of the corporate suite.

contd.

The stories from the men in the cell were all very similar. Some were protesters in the Novotel March, one man was having dinner at the Keg
with his girlfriend (who was also arrested), there were two journalists, a homeless old man with a big grey bird and long hair with scruffy clothes- he was almost in tears and confused, he said
they grabbed him walking on Carlton. He then asked us "What's a G20?"...

The 16 year old kid hasn't been able to call his parents and nowhe's locked up with 39 men. The cage houses all kinds. There's a young gay couple curled up together. Some men have no shoes, some no laces
and some still have both. Wet socks and feet and clothes in this freezing, unending hanger.....

I was feeling the crowded cell growing tense and angry. One black, shorter male Toronto Officer came over as we began pleading for an explanation, for water and for some of use to be moved into another
cell. He came over and said, "This is wrong. Guys, I'm sorry, this is fucked up. But there's nothing I can do. This place is just chaos. I'm
sorry." he leaves......

"Please, we need water. Please help us. Please help this 16-year-old kid. Please split us up, we can't even all sit in here". We look at
the camera and beg for help. We can hear people in the other cells yelling and begging for water. We hear a girl 'Please! I need my medication! HELP ME!". I yell "Help that girl, what the hell is going
on here!" Other cages begin to yell. I find out later this girl was in my girlfriends cell and was way passed her medication time. The male
officers were laughing in at her and tapping their keys along the bars leering at the girls in wet clothes. Finally two female officers took
the girl away. They also had a 17-year-old girl in her cage as well......."

Temporary cages

Pictures of those temporary cages remind of the illegal alien cages in Children of Men. They are a truly frightening reflection on the devastating and obscene moral corruption of our political and business so-called leaders.

contd.

"Then, down the hall across from my cell I saw this: the bald Barrie officer was dragging in a kid with mild cerebral palsy (I saw him with
a friend while they were arrest, he was so scared). He pushed and then they said something to him, his clothes were torn and his eyes read
from crying. I guess they wanted his shoes, because he struggled to lift his leg (his pants were falling down) when the officer slammed
his leg down 'Never mind. Stop being stupid" he laughed at the kid, as did the other officer. Away they went. Heard a door slam. ....

We were told many
times about being processed and we'd reach what they called "the Otherside". What was there? I don't know. They said that we'd have to
wait again there anyways. What was this Otherside? Someone suggested we'd be turned into cheese slices. I said I would make terrible
Soylent Green. A few guys laughed emptily.......

We tell her about the 16 year old, she writes down his information and says she'll do something about it. I see her several times in the
next few hours, ignoring us as we ask for an update. Poor kid. His
poor parents. We see officer White a few more times, he always apologizes. They say they are looking for people they suspect of
bigger crimes first - an officer comes by and yells "Islam! Is there an Islam in here?" Nope, no one by that name here......"

contd.

"And my heart simply broke. That's the only way I can describe it. My beloved country, my city. I looked down at my t-shirt - bright blue
with a big white maple leaf and in bold, caps letters below: FREEDOM. I kid you not. I was proud to wear that shirt earlier that day. Now it
stung. I was so helpless and empty. For those of you who may not think this sounds like much, or is justified, you weren't there. People from
all walks of life were breaking in that place, including police officers.....

I'm lead down to Cell Block OL 2. Across from us are large sections of industrial shelves and we can see into deck area where 4 trailers meet, they each have a door. The door I can see says "Booking Room 10" with a red light above it. Cops lean on the railing, laughing, and dancing when people chant slogans from their cells. They think it's
hilarious. Coming on 15 hours in custody. There are already around 15 men in this cell. They tell us some guys got removed a while ago.

There are many similar stories in here and another journalist. There is one guy in an English soccer jersey that tells me he was at a bar,
stepped out for a smoke and was arrested. He was a huge soccer fan and was about to miss the big Germany/England match. The 16 year old was
now in this cell. Around 10am there was a shift change in officers and we began begging for water again, maybe these guards would help us. I
notice the evidence shelves under label OL 6, there are 5 bags - but there were 40 guys in that cell...where's all our stuff?....."

contd.

"I passed out. After begging for water. I passed out and fell over in jail. What was happening to me? No sleep, no water. They men went nuts
"Is this what it takes, a guy passing out! Christ!! What's wrong with you monsters!" My head kills, they ask for medical attention for me, I
second the motion and we're told "Not right now". Guys slump to the floor in defeat. The female officer who helped me aids in bringing
some watery orange Tang to all the cells. We line up, quietly and broken for our drink. I find out that this same female officer broke down and cried with the women at their cell. She was
sobbing and apologizing "This is wrong, you shouldn't be here. This is all so wrong". There own officers couldn't handle it, she was worn
down by the injustices she was being ordered to do. This happened in Toronto. ...

Across from our cell ..... We nicely talk with her
through the cage. "Please tell us how you can do this? We are begging for water in here. This guy is only 16 and this guy passed out. Your
co-workers laugh. They are joking to us about our rights and laughing at a disabled kid. You know this is wrong, what's happening" after too much of this, with tears in her eyes she breaks "I don't know
anything, no one here knows anything! I'm not even a cop.." she then leaves in a hurry. Madness....."

contd.

"The only evidence I can see that it's the day is a tiny hold 200 feet up with light on the outside. I wonder if anyone knows what happened down at the Novotel or what's happening in here? We've only seen officers - no lawyers, medics or media (other than the ones in cages). It's getting close to 24 hours in custody. I haven't slept in 40 hours
and new prisoners are being brought in......

... just after the G20 was officially over, just before the legal 24 hours they could hold me, I was being rushed out. Convenient. They found a way to keep 500 legal protesters from their Constitutional
rights. In this country. Canada. My shirt feels dirty. When I make it to the Otherside I see signs that let me know I was a Level 2 Detainee
and I was heading in Levels 3 & 4.

Inside this hanger, more cages and metal detectors. The L3 area housed
small groups of men and women, looking battered, some bleeding. They all made peace sign and told me to tell everyone about them. Down
another hall, rows of single person cells. These look like leaders, organizers, many bloody. I see the green mohawk guy. He says "Adios".
I'm then put into another cage with some former cellmates. They tell me now to worry; they are taking us out one by one from here.

Against the wall I'm told that was arrested for "breach of peace", I will not be charged, but if I am arrested for this or a similar crime
again, I will be charged and appear in court. Do not join any more protests and assemblies during the G20.

I have trouble speaking when she asks if
I'm okay. I can barely keep it together. I tell her I'm fine. I'm not.
She asks if they beat me - I don't know. I'm standing soaking wet in the rain on a collect call on a payphone with cars whizzing by. It
took everything not to fall to my knees......

I also notice how many people are raging about the protesters on facebook. Of course, the news is all about burning cop cars and broken windows. Things went exactly as I said when I saw those photos the
previous afternoon. Jesus, it worked. Everyone got spoon fed a justification for the 1.2 Billion spent.......

NOW:
That's all true. Think about it. Is this Canada? Do you think this is
right? You don't want to live in a country where this happens. It's changed my whole outlook and attitude on life. My responsibility to
every human being in this world. Plato said, "The Price of Apathy towards public affairs is to be Ruled by Evil Men....

The World needs you. Educate yourself.
Your comfort is shame; your looking away kills people.
You're not small. You're not helpless. You can do something.

You have a voice, don't let them silence you before you even try to speak "

Thanks Lynn

If we've come this far under Harper in such a short time where will we be in another 3 years?

There were a lot of young people celebrating Canada Day in my town...most of them were drunk.

Good to read you again, John Greg:

"Pictures of those temporary cages remind of the illegal alien cages in Children of Men. They are a truly frightening reflection on the devastating and obscene moral corruption of our political and business so-called leaders"

Yes, making us all illegal aliens in our own land.

G West wrote:

"If we've come this far under Harper in such a short time where will we be in another 3 years?"

On the dark side of the moon.

That could be understating it. ;-)

Lynn

Thanks.

Precisely. It's just so damn sad.

Thank you lynnn

This is what war looks like. And I'm not sure we're up for it.

Gawd, I wish we didn't have to fight it!