“A lot of the critiques of the rioting in London is really…disturbing. And all of it is really making me wonder, Could a lower class uprising ever catch on?
Its come to my attention that the biggest obstacle to an uprising isnt the police or the state. Its the middle class. These are the people poo-pooing the rioters and shaking their fingers in condemnation and saying “What is the world coming to?! Look at the chaos and anarchy and they are destroying their own communities!” They are always the first to make comparisons to animals and go on rants about “well its their fault they were in that situation to begin with! If they would just WORK like the rest of us they wouldnt have anything to riot over!” or boohooing about the “looting”.
The police may shoot at rioters, but we’ve seen in Greece and Syria and Egypt and Tunisia that police and soldiers can only do so much to stop a protest. But when the rest of society comes together and wags their fingers at you and calls you animals and uses their media to shut you up and misrepresent you, it must be really really hard to keep up the momentum. I dont know. This is all speculation. Ive never been a part of a riot like this. And I am not in a situation where I can say I fully understand the emotions of the rioters. Yeah, I have to save up to get myself nice things. But I have money for food and Marcus takes care of the heat and lights. I dont understand, but I cant condemn either.
I just…I really dont understand why we all were lobbying for changes to tumblr’s background color in support of the protests in the Middle East and some of the same people are talking shit about the rioters in London. Is it classism? Is it the idea that ONLY nonviolent protest is the “right way”? Is it a matter of people thinking”oh it’s okay for people to protest like this over there but we just dont do that here.”? Just gonna keep an eye on the news….”
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Its come to my attention that the biggest obstacle to an uprising isnt the police or the state. Its the middle class. These are the people poo-pooing the rioters and shaking their fingers in condemnation and saying “What is the world coming to?! Look at the chaos and anarchy and they are destroying their own communities!” They are always the first to make comparisons to animals and go on rants about “well its their fault they were in that situation to begin with! If they would just WORK like the rest of us they wouldnt have anything to riot over!” or boohooing about the “looting”.
The police may shoot at rioters, but we’ve seen in Greece and Syria and Egypt and Tunisia that police and soldiers can only do so much to stop a protest. But when the rest of society comes together and wags their fingers at you and calls you animals and uses their media to shut you up and misrepresent you, it must be really really hard to keep up the momentum. I dont know. This is all speculation. Ive never been a part of a riot like this. And I am not in a situation where I can say I fully understand the emotions of the rioters. Yeah, I have to save up to get myself nice things. But I have money for food and Marcus takes care of the heat and lights. I dont understand, but I cant condemn either.
I just…I really dont understand why we all were lobbying for changes to tumblr’s background color in support of the protests in the Middle East and some of the same people are talking shit about the rioters in London. Is it classism? Is it the idea that ONLY nonviolent protest is the “right way”? Is it a matter of people thinking”oh it’s okay for people to protest like this over there but we just dont do that here.”? Just gonna keep an eye on the news….”
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“Its come to my attention that the biggest obstacle to an uprising isnt the police or the state. Its the middle class.”
Foucault and ‘nem called this horizontal discipline. Meaning people keeping your in check isn’t necessarily the police. But the neighbor next door, your cousin, dude @ the bodega. #insidious and #efficient.
(via penichimp)