on november 30, 1999, the world trade organization ministerial conference took place in seattle, washington. that day, the city's police officers clashed with thousands upon thousands of protesters who took over the streets, shouting anti-globalization slogans. ultimately, what was supposed to be a peaceful, but forceful demonstration, became violent, starting with the destruction of property by certain groups of protesters, and ending with the police using tear gas, pepper spray, and physical force. over 600 protesters were arrested as a result.
i was a third year political science student at the time. this was two years after the a.p.e.c. summit that took place on my campus at the university of british columbia, which had also degraded into clashes with the police, albeit on a smaller scale. i recall watching the images play out on the television set, thinking that the more things change, the more they stay the same. my opinion now, as it was back then, hasn't changed much beyond the knowledge that business men will continue to make money, regardless, and that progress will, 9 times out of 10, be driven by this insatiable desire to make money. the following january, in my first class of the semester, my prof had a map out and was discussing something completely off topic. his hand came across seattle and he joked, "... and here's the smoldering black dot that is seattle..." which got a chuckle from the class. and we moved on.
so what does all this mean? is it all futile? maybe. is there an alternative? of course, but the alternative is far worse.
and of course, this all gets the hollywood treatment...
(source)
i was a third year political science student at the time. this was two years after the a.p.e.c. summit that took place on my campus at the university of british columbia, which had also degraded into clashes with the police, albeit on a smaller scale. i recall watching the images play out on the television set, thinking that the more things change, the more they stay the same. my opinion now, as it was back then, hasn't changed much beyond the knowledge that business men will continue to make money, regardless, and that progress will, 9 times out of 10, be driven by this insatiable desire to make money. the following january, in my first class of the semester, my prof had a map out and was discussing something completely off topic. his hand came across seattle and he joked, "... and here's the smoldering black dot that is seattle..." which got a chuckle from the class. and we moved on.
so what does all this mean? is it all futile? maybe. is there an alternative? of course, but the alternative is far worse.
and of course, this all gets the hollywood treatment...
(source)
|