Protesters force NASM to close early

[Steve Nelson]

You have GOT to be kidding me. Don't these people have anything better to do?

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/09/us-usa-smithsonian-protests-idUSTRE79800C20111009

I don't have a problem with people peacefully demonstrating for a cause they feel passionate about, but when you start trying to force your way into a building with the intent of causing chaos and probably damage, it crosses the line. As usual, the bunch at the NASM claim they were "peaceful," and didn't deserve to get pepper-sprayed, but it sounds like they deliberately forced a confrontation with the guards in order to get some publicity. All the guards saw as an angry mob trying to force its way in, and they did the right thing.

SN

[BHawthorne]

Ok, that's sufficiently confusing. It makes no sense to protest NASM. They only document and house history, they don't make military policy. What, they don't want NASM to document the past? Sort of dumb in my book. What kind of hippy logic allows for one to protest and deny the past instead of learn from it and move on?

[Lynn Allen]

Wow, must be nice to have the time off and money to go do something stupid....

[JDK]

Wow, must be nice to have the time off and money to go do something stupid....

That's quite enough about some WIX posts.

[Super18]

Or...





Jeff

[AHancock51]

Yeah, god willing they go INSIDE the NASM and actually learn a thing or two...

[The Inspector]

STEP CAREFULLY!! responses to this post could lapse over into a political back and forth, and could go ugly quickly, there are plenty of other places on the intertubes to unclip your overpressure valve and vent-lets let this one lie and die quickly please.
Don't wear your snowshoes in a mine field

[AHancock51]

STEP CAREFULLY!! responses to this post could lapse over into a political back and forth, and could go ugly quickly, there are plenty of other places on the intertubes to unclip your overpressure valve and vent-lets let this one lie and die quickly please.
Don't wear your snowshoes in a mine field

Here here!!

[RandolphB]

Reminds me of a line from the movie "The Rutles"...where one of the band declared, "I'm starting a War for Peace!"

[Steve Nelson]

I had to read through the article to figure out why they targeted the NASM. Apparently they were protesing the war in Afghanistan, and the NASM has an exhibiit about the military's use of UAVs in combat..making the museum a convenient "target of opportunity." I wasn't attempting to start a discussion about the legitemacy of the demonstrators' cause (or lack thereof,) just their method: the tried-and-true "goad the authorities into taking action against you, then claim to be the victim." It just makes them look like loonies, and does nothing to gain support for their cause. As I said above, if they want to protest, that's perfectly fine. The freedom to assemble and demonstrate without fear of reprisal is one of the cornerstones of our Republic, provided it's done lawfully, and doesn't endanger people or property.


SN

[JohnB]

Ok, that's sufficiently confusing. It makes no sense to protest NASM. They only document and house history, they don't make military policy. What, they don't want NASM to document the past?

Quite.
Rather similar to a protestor's damage to the Enola Gay awhile back.
Is damaging a historic artifact going to change the past? I don't think so. More cheap theatrics.

You'd think a group that wants the public to think they're educated and reasonably reasonable would know that.
Back in the 80s a local Catholic peace group used to protest outside the local SAC base.
Why not the Fereral Office building where the Senators have their offices? Not as dramatic on TV.*
Again, they seemed too stupid to realize the military doesn't make the rules, the Congress does.

Oh well.

*True story, I was there, this is not some stupid internet story...but at this protest someone brought along their kids as props. One wandered too close to the adjecent highway, luckily a Secuity Force member noticed and grabbed the child. Its parents were too busy mugging for a TV camera. Really.

[SaxMan]

For the record, the protesters were from a group calling themselves "October 2011" and not the actual "Occupy (your city here)" group.

I was working in D.C. at the Willard Hotel at 14th and Pennsylvania (two blocks from the White House) last night for a wedding. The bride was a former Army helicopter pilot, and the groom and a large portion of the guests were active duty military in their full dress uniforms.

I ended up having to park our van quite a few blocks away at 9th and New York. Walking back to the Willard, there was definitely a very interesting crowd milling about, as you had the "Occupy" protesters, the splinter groups that "tagged on", a bunch of people coming in for "A Taste of D.C.." festival that was going on, hockey fans for the Capitals home opener, and then the usual mix of D.C. dwellers from streetwalkers to diplomats.

[Super18]

Ok, that's sufficiently confusing. It makes no sense to protest NASM. They only document and house history, they don't make military policy. What, they don't want NASM to document the past?

Quite.
Rather similar to a protestor's damage to the Enola Gay awhile back.
Is damaging a historic artifact going to change the past? I don't think so. More cheap theatrics.

You'd think a group that wants the public to think they're educated and reasonably reasonable would know that.
Back in the 80s a local Catholic peace group used to protest outside the local SAC base.
Why not the Fereral Office building where the Senators have their offices? Not as dramatic on TV.*
Again, they seemed too stupid to realize the military doesn't make the rules, the Congress does.

Oh well.

*True story, I was there, this is not some stupid internet story...but at this protest someone brought along their kids as props. One wandered too close to the adjecent highway, luckily a Secuity Force member noticed and grabbed the child. Its parents were too busy mugging for a TV camera. Really.

Wow...
http://october2011.org/livewelcome

Read from the site...
"We will plan and engage in creative acts of civil resistance and demand that our inherent rights and freedoms be protected, and that our children have a chance to live in peace,to breathe clean air, and to grow edible natural food."

Or get run over by a truck?

What a mess!

Jeff

[APG85]

These protesters closed a national museum on a Saturday. Clear these people out. They have no right to interfere with other citizens’ desire to go to a national museum on a Saturday afternoon. Their protest is dictatorial and unlawful. They are "trained" to "over-react to things like pepper-spray (laying on the ground like they've been shot) and being touched by a security guard ("I'm being assaulted"). They contribute nothing and many of them are being paid to protest. Disgusting...

[DoraNineFan]

This is not a political opinion, but a statement of the events and important for the events at the NASM. It's revealed that a conservative-leaning magazine editor is bragging about being the only person who forced himself inside the NASM and leading to the closing. This was an intentional act from an anti-protester with the intent to discredit the protesters outside. He's been identified in photos.

Patrick Howley-Assistant Editor of American Spectator brags below:

Under a cloud of pepper spray I forced myself into the doors and sprinted blindly across the floor of the Air and Space Museum, drawing the attention of hundreds of stunned khaki-clad tourists (some of whom began snapping off disposable-camera portraits of me). I strained to glance behind me at the dozens of protesters I was sure were backing me up, and then I got hit again, this time with a cold realization: I was the only one who had made it through the doors. As two guards pointed at me and started running, I dodged a circle of gawking old housewives and bolted upstairs.

"The museum is now closed!" screamed one of the guards as alarms sounded. "Everyone make your way to the exits immediately!" Using my jacket to cover my face -- which I could feel swelling to Elephant Man proportions -- I ducked through the confused tourists and raced out the exit. "Hey, you!" shouted a female guard reaching for my arm. "Get back here!" But I was already down the steps and out of sight.

Last edited by DoraNineFan on Sun Oct 09, 2011 10:21 am, edited 5 times in total.