Out Of The Frying Pan ...

I originally posted this on my tumblr blog last week:

  If the rest of the world has been paying attention, they know that the past year has raised some serious questions about the Seattle[WA] Police Department. There have been numerous incidents between the police and the so-called "undesirable elements" of society at large. People[civilians] have been punched in the face[Let me go on record as saying that the 'girl' in the face punching incident was actually a rather large individual approaching six feet tall and threw the first punch, however the officer over reacted.], kicked, shot and killed, one man had his face stepped on while being called a "Fucking Mexican" and another recently had his face skidded across the sidewalk. Most all of these incidents seemed to involve people of color.
  At the same time. there have been numerous attacks aimed[by civilians of all ethnic backgrounds] at members of the Seattle Police and indeed police officers throughout the State of Washington that have resulted in many serious injuries and several untimely deaths. This place is becoming quite the War Zone.
February 17, 2011, a Seattle Police officer, who was involved in the fatal shooting of a Native American woodcarver, tendered his resignation in the wake the aftershock of the 'Not Guilty of Any Wrongdoing' verdict handed down in the trial following the incident. There was also a great public demonstration in response to this news. February 18, 2011, on the way home to my downtown apartment, I encountered another public demonstration in the streets of Downtown Seattle. And things were starting to get unpleasant. If, on February 19, 2011 there is another loud, volatile public outcry, this will not be good.
  The thing that bothers me is the potential for abuse of this situation by isolated groups of people in both camps. Add to this the very real spectre of anarchy. We have seen this before. When the WTO talks came to Seattle the peaceful protesters and the vocal protesters were joined by masked individuals whose only interest in the situation was to Ignite Chaos. Similar groups[dressed the same with their faces covered] appeared in other cities as well. Some years earlier, during the Rodney King Circus, the presence of individuals whose only interest was mayhem was clearly apparent to this observer.
  No mistake should be made; The killing of an individual whose only real crime was to adhere to an Ancient Way Of Life and in so doing put himself at odds with the homogenized norm is not something to be regarded lightly. Citizens Have The Right To Peaceful Public Assembly And Dissent. Upsetting the Status Quo is not in and of itself Inherently Evil. Inciting Chaos, Mayhem And Violence For The Sake Of Chaos, Mayhem And Violence Will In No Way Move Us As A Whole Toward Any Sort Of Enlightenment.