Categories: uncategorized
Date: 29 July 2005 08:57:22
Somebody referred to the anarchists as numpties - it's a good Scottish word (I believe), sometimes used in a quite friendly way. I think that I read somewhere in the media that somebody (vagueness rules!) was keen to distinguish between 'good' protesters - the 225000 who marched to Make (Poverty) History - and the 'bad' protesters - the few who went on the rampage in Edinburgh, or tried to, but were prevented by the police. And I suppose that my upbringing and background does make me want to work within the law, and automatically to condemn those who choose not to. Of course, the danger then is that one isn't really protesting. If the government of the day are saying 'well done, we agree with you', then why did we have to march? Can't the government do what it believes to be right without people taking to the streets (in an organised, well-behaved fashion, of course).
So, while as an Edinburgh resident (almost), I am uncomfortable that some people, apparently, saw the G8 as an excuse to do some damage, I recognise, at the same time, that if one is going to change things, then it is possible that one will make oneself unpopular with the powers that be. Not an easy call.