In today's social vocabulary the term radicalized is usually applied to an individual or group embracing Islamic terrorism.
But in a world increasingly out-of-balance, economically and politically, the instances of a person or group being wounded by the 'system,' whichever system it is, mount in number. A recent attempt to speak out in the form of Occupy was summarily dismissed by local authorities, sometimes by unnecessary measures.
Defining civil disobedience becomes a philosophical exercise. Quoting the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
The Civil Rights Movement and protests against the Vietnam War were acts of civil disobedience. The assassination of Martin Luther King and Kent State Shootings are examples of what can happen when wronged or dissident groups speak up in America. The article Domestic Terrorism in America During the 1960s and 1970s gives a succinct history dissent during that periond of history. Pop History Dig has a page devoted to the reaction to the Kent State Shootings.
One thing is clear: open protests simply cause a war-like reaction from those in power. Members of the 99% who recognize the threats inherent in the growing economic gap in so-called first world countries, realize that your strength is in numbers and the 1% cannot survive without your economic support.
-- Marge
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| upstateNYer, The Machine Stops, Wikipedia |
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But in a world increasingly out-of-balance, economically and politically, the instances of a person or group being wounded by the 'system,' whichever system it is, mount in number. A recent attempt to speak out in the form of Occupy was summarily dismissed by local authorities, sometimes by unnecessary measures.
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Defining civil disobedience becomes a philosophical exercise. Quoting the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy:
The term ‘civil disobedience’ was coined by Henry David Thoreau in his 1848 essay to describe his refusal to pay the state poll tax implemented by the American government to prosecute a war in Mexico and to enforce the Fugitive Slave Law. In his essay, Thoreau observes that only a very few people – heroes, martyrs, patriots, reformers in the best sense – serve their society with their consciences, and so necessarily resist society for the most part, and are commonly treated by it as enemies. Thoreau, for his part, spent time in jail for his protest. Many after him have proudly identified their protests as acts of civil disobedience and have been treated by their societies – sometimes temporarily, sometimes indefinitely – as its enemies.
The Civil Rights Movement and protests against the Vietnam War were acts of civil disobedience. The assassination of Martin Luther King and Kent State Shootings are examples of what can happen when wronged or dissident groups speak up in America. The article Domestic Terrorism in America During the 1960s and 1970s gives a succinct history dissent during that periond of history. Pop History Dig has a page devoted to the reaction to the Kent State Shootings.
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| John Paul Filo, Kent State massacre, ©Valley News-Dispatch |
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One thing is clear: open protests simply cause a war-like reaction from those in power. Members of the 99% who recognize the threats inherent in the growing economic gap in so-called first world countries, realize that your strength is in numbers and the 1% cannot survive without your economic support.
-- Marge
