See something say something
Posted on August 14th, 2014 –
The corpse of my last post hadn’t even begun to cool when this morning I heard the TTC telling me over the PA that if I “see something” I should “say something”.
In case you don’t recognize this phrase, it’s a verbatim import of the US’ Department of Homeland Security “Turn Everyone Into Snitches” program.
Yup, that is the official video. It may seem a bit ludicrous, but this morning’s commute message was along these lines. If I see any suspicious packages, I should run to the nearest authority type and shit myself.
It’s so widespread that it’s even being introduced to gentle Vancouverites.
That one almost makes you feel good about saying it, doesn’t it?
Except that it has thus far preceded the type of government paranoia that’s playing out in Ferguson, Missouri right now.
I recall getting a face-full of something similar not too long ago:
Oh I know I was pretty critical of the G20 protesters back then, and I still am.
Walking around with signs and screaming at cops / passers-by does nothing. Breaking stuff even less so. Ooh, you broke a window! Take that, corporations!
As I recall, I’d already had some run-ins with G20 cops (and government) about which I wasn’t altogether happy, so I wasn’t exactly rooting for them. But just as much as I’m not a fan of state violence, I’m also not a fan of non-consensual people violence (if people agree to beat each other up, fine by me).
The problem, as I see it, is the forced, one-sided renunciation of violence while guess who gets the monopoly rights…
Besides, I don’t appreciate that sort of jittery message with my morning coffee.
... with pictures
... with sounds
... with videos
... with opinions
... that's shorter
... that's longer
What's on your mind?