The mace didn't hit me full in the face, but it still sucked. I only got a glancing hit of the spray. After a little while I was able to see and breathe again. Pouring water directly in my eyes seemed to help.
Some 3,000 people got together yesterday afternoon here in Austin (see the Austin American Statesman article here). After 4 hours of peaceful protest, assembly and marching against a war we have no business fighting, I and a few hundred citizens were maced as we attempted to leave the bridge on which the march ended.
A wall of cops with batons pushed the crowd literally down the Congress Avenue bridge (the one with the bats under it), and when we did not apparently move fast enough, decided a little mace would move things along. Mace is now the chemical weapon I fear most.
We were complying with their (unwarranted, and illegal as far as I can determine) order to clear the SIDEWALKS, and they still decided to use mace. A minor stampede ensued. (I believe the guy on the far right of the photo is the one who sprayed me)
The cops arrested those who chose to remain in the street, illegally blocking the roadway in an act of civil disobedience. I had had enough fun for the evening and went for some dinner and a couple of much-needed beers with friends and fellow protestors.
Don't bother adding any pro-war crap dear readers. Because it is just that. Hussein is a jerk, but one of many throughout the world, including several we helped to install. A threat to the world? North Korea is far more a "clear and present danger" and Pakistan (a rogue nuclear power ruled by a military dictator, receiving $1B a year from the US, divided by a fractious religious battle with a neighboring nuclear power!) potentially so. Iraq is far less linked to Al-Quaeda terrorism than the country in which some of our troops sit waiting to attack.
Want to attack the source of some real thugs? Try Saudi Arabia, a brutally repressive regime which persecutes women, gays and religious minorities, the country that produced fifteen of the nineteen September 11 terrorists and the source of Arab indignation over American "infidel" presence in the first place. But they are our allies, nice folks who allowed 14 schoolgirls to die in a fire because they were not wearing veils. Bastards.
In case you're wondering,this is what democracy looks like.
While blithering, time-wasting idiots like Congressional Republican Bob Ney and Fuddruckers hamburger joint betray their sheep-like stupidity (scroll down to the asinine "Freedom Fries" item), other companies take more constructive aproaches to difficult times. (By the way, in case you care, I have eaten my last Fuddruckers burger.)
I like this letter from US Airways (except for the non-grammatical closing), received today:
Dear STEPHEN BASILE,
In light of recent developments concerning the international environment, US Airways has implemented the 90-day "Peace of Mind" flexible travel policy, effective immediately.
This policy allows you to make changes to itineraries for travel originating today through June 17, 2003, without incurring standard change fees. Travel within the U.S. and Canada may be rescheduled to originate on or before June 17, 2003. If you are scheduled to fly to or from Europe, the Caribbean (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands), and Mexico during the 90-day flexible travel period you may reschedule travel to originate on or before December 15, 2003. Among the allowed itinerary changes are:
- Full value of your unused ticket(s) can be applied to future travel
- Dates of travel can be changed
- Origination and/or destination cities can be changed
- En route changes can be made for those customers whose itineraries have not been completed
