A couple of corrections of perhaps incorrect perceptions from my last couple of posts....
1) When I said Oksana's book could show you how to be a better person....um, a bit of an overstatement. Those passages I quoted were beautiful and thoughtful, and she is too, but the book is a grab bag. It is mostly blah parts on the skating tour, and some of her peers of the last few years. So it has poignant bits, but is no Be Here Now or Siddhartha or anything.
2) I might've mislead smatt, or some of you. I don't regret going to the protest, I regret either not bringing someone else, or getting over my shyness and socialized, so I could've enjoyed myself and stayed longer. From what I saw on CSpan, the speakers were mediocre... but anyway, I wish I could've both stuck around longer, and enjoyed it rather than being bored; bored, not because political activism and awareness are boring (they sure aren't), but through my lack of planning or accompaniment with friends/ acquaintances. (Aside from shyness, I think I'm becoming increasingly afraid of people due to hostile people at work. Something for me to analyze...)
Well, weve established that Im not much of a demonstrator or activistbut if you want to hear about some who had slightly more visibility and determination (although I hesitate to say they had more fun, with the riot and arrest and lock-up time), I give you the Chicago 7, protesters at the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention. This is from a book by Michael Lief about closing arguments of court cases; here he sets up the case of the 7:
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Never one to shirk from confrontation, Mayor Daley gave his police shoot-to-kill orders to quell any rioting.
For the antiwar protesters, Chicago was D Day, their last chance to influence the process and demand a candidate who would end the war. Thousands descended upon Lincoln and Grant Parks, uncowed by the nightsticks and tear gas of the Chicago Police. The clash was violent and bloody. Delegates on the convention floor were sickened by the images being broadcast from right outside. The country watched as their sons and daughters received a Chicago-style greetinggas, clubs, and handcuffs.
Someone would have to pay for the violence, the disorder, and someone did.
In 1969, eight men were charged with conspiracy to cross state lines to incite riot. The defendants were a diverse group: Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, the leaders of the yippies [note Youth International Party]; Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers; and Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, and Lee Weiner of Students for a Democratic Society.
At the outset of the proceedings, Seale, the only black defendant, was loud and outspoken when his lawyer fell ill and could not represent him at trial. Rejecting the authority of the court, Seale was less than deferential, referring to the judge as a pig, racist, and fascist. Judge Julius Hoffman responded by ordering the bailiffs to gag and bind Seale to a metal folding chair in the courtroom, creating an unintentional counterpoint to the blindfolded figure of Justice herself presiding over the proceedings. At this point, William Kunstler, representing the other defendants, spoke out:
Kunstler Your Honor, are we going to stop this medieval torture that is going on in this courtroom? I think this is a disgrace.
Rubin This guy is putting his elbow in Bobbys mouth and it wasnt necessary at all.
Kunstler This is no longer a court of order, Your Honor; this is a medieval torture chamber. It is a disgrace. They are assaulting the other defendants also.
Rubin Dont hit me in the balls, motherfucker.
Seale This motherfucker is tight and it is stopping my blood.
Kunstler Your Honor, this is an unholy disgrace to the law that is going on in this courtroom and I as an American lawyer feel it is a disgrace.
[District Attorney] Foran - created by Mr. Kunstler
Kunstler Created by nothing other than what you have done to this man.
A. Hoffman You come down here and watch this, Judge.
Foran May the record show that the outbursts are the defendant Rubin.
Seale You fascist dogs, you rotten lowlife son of a bitch. Im glad that I said it about Washington used to have slaves, the first president
J. Hoffman Everything you say will be taken down.
Kunstler Your Honor, we would like the names of the marshals. We are going to ask for a judicial investigation of the entire condition and the entire treatment of Bobby Seale.
J. Hoffman Dont point at me, sir, in that manner.
Kunstler If were going to talk about words, Id like to exchange some.
J. Hoffman Dont point at me in that manner.
Kunstler I just feel utterly ashamed to be an American lawyer at this time.
J. Hoffman You should be ashamed of your conduct in this case, sir.
Kunstler What conduct, when a client is being treated in this manner?
J. Hoffman We will take a brief recess.
Kunstler Can we have somebody with Mr. Seale? We dont trust
At this point, Seales case was severed from that of the other defendants, and thus was born the trial of the Chicago Seven.
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I find this fascinating stuff. It runs the gamut drama, humor, violence, irony, formality, motherfucker being tossed around
Lief lists some other trial oddities on the next page. The defendants would call the Judge Mr. Magoo, old man, and Julie. Dellinger was physically removed from the court for yelling Bullshit! at the judge. Judy Collins tried to sing Where Have All the Flowers Gone? in the court and was hand-gagged by a bailiff. Allen Ginsberg led Buddhist Ommm chanting during one courtroom outburst. I need to find a transcript of this trial somewhere.
1) When I said Oksana's book could show you how to be a better person....um, a bit of an overstatement. Those passages I quoted were beautiful and thoughtful, and she is too, but the book is a grab bag. It is mostly blah parts on the skating tour, and some of her peers of the last few years. So it has poignant bits, but is no Be Here Now or Siddhartha or anything.
2) I might've mislead smatt, or some of you. I don't regret going to the protest, I regret either not bringing someone else, or getting over my shyness and socialized, so I could've enjoyed myself and stayed longer. From what I saw on CSpan, the speakers were mediocre... but anyway, I wish I could've both stuck around longer, and enjoyed it rather than being bored; bored, not because political activism and awareness are boring (they sure aren't), but through my lack of planning or accompaniment with friends/ acquaintances. (Aside from shyness, I think I'm becoming increasingly afraid of people due to hostile people at work. Something for me to analyze...)
Well, weve established that Im not much of a demonstrator or activistbut if you want to hear about some who had slightly more visibility and determination (although I hesitate to say they had more fun, with the riot and arrest and lock-up time), I give you the Chicago 7, protesters at the 1968 Chicago Democratic convention. This is from a book by Michael Lief about closing arguments of court cases; here he sets up the case of the 7:
---------------------------------------------------
Never one to shirk from confrontation, Mayor Daley gave his police shoot-to-kill orders to quell any rioting.
For the antiwar protesters, Chicago was D Day, their last chance to influence the process and demand a candidate who would end the war. Thousands descended upon Lincoln and Grant Parks, uncowed by the nightsticks and tear gas of the Chicago Police. The clash was violent and bloody. Delegates on the convention floor were sickened by the images being broadcast from right outside. The country watched as their sons and daughters received a Chicago-style greetinggas, clubs, and handcuffs.
Someone would have to pay for the violence, the disorder, and someone did.
In 1969, eight men were charged with conspiracy to cross state lines to incite riot. The defendants were a diverse group: Abbie Hoffman and Jerry Rubin, the leaders of the yippies [note Youth International Party]; Bobby Seale of the Black Panthers; and Tom Hayden, Rennie Davis, David Dellinger, John Froines, and Lee Weiner of Students for a Democratic Society.
At the outset of the proceedings, Seale, the only black defendant, was loud and outspoken when his lawyer fell ill and could not represent him at trial. Rejecting the authority of the court, Seale was less than deferential, referring to the judge as a pig, racist, and fascist. Judge Julius Hoffman responded by ordering the bailiffs to gag and bind Seale to a metal folding chair in the courtroom, creating an unintentional counterpoint to the blindfolded figure of Justice herself presiding over the proceedings. At this point, William Kunstler, representing the other defendants, spoke out:
Kunstler Your Honor, are we going to stop this medieval torture that is going on in this courtroom? I think this is a disgrace.
Rubin This guy is putting his elbow in Bobbys mouth and it wasnt necessary at all.
Kunstler This is no longer a court of order, Your Honor; this is a medieval torture chamber. It is a disgrace. They are assaulting the other defendants also.
Rubin Dont hit me in the balls, motherfucker.
Seale This motherfucker is tight and it is stopping my blood.
Kunstler Your Honor, this is an unholy disgrace to the law that is going on in this courtroom and I as an American lawyer feel it is a disgrace.
[District Attorney] Foran - created by Mr. Kunstler
Kunstler Created by nothing other than what you have done to this man.
A. Hoffman You come down here and watch this, Judge.
Foran May the record show that the outbursts are the defendant Rubin.
Seale You fascist dogs, you rotten lowlife son of a bitch. Im glad that I said it about Washington used to have slaves, the first president
J. Hoffman Everything you say will be taken down.
Kunstler Your Honor, we would like the names of the marshals. We are going to ask for a judicial investigation of the entire condition and the entire treatment of Bobby Seale.
J. Hoffman Dont point at me, sir, in that manner.
Kunstler If were going to talk about words, Id like to exchange some.
J. Hoffman Dont point at me in that manner.
Kunstler I just feel utterly ashamed to be an American lawyer at this time.
J. Hoffman You should be ashamed of your conduct in this case, sir.
Kunstler What conduct, when a client is being treated in this manner?
J. Hoffman We will take a brief recess.
Kunstler Can we have somebody with Mr. Seale? We dont trust
At this point, Seales case was severed from that of the other defendants, and thus was born the trial of the Chicago Seven.
-------------------------------------------------------
I find this fascinating stuff. It runs the gamut drama, humor, violence, irony, formality, motherfucker being tossed around
Lief lists some other trial oddities on the next page. The defendants would call the Judge Mr. Magoo, old man, and Julie. Dellinger was physically removed from the court for yelling Bullshit! at the judge. Judy Collins tried to sing Where Have All the Flowers Gone? in the court and was hand-gagged by a bailiff. Allen Ginsberg led Buddhist Ommm chanting during one courtroom outburst. I need to find a transcript of this trial somewhere.
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ps smokingsuckssucks!