Thursday, October 20, 2011

Dear America: meet United States Marine Corps. Sgt. Shamar Thomas



Additional coverage
from ABC News.

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41 comments:

VideoDude said...

HOORAAH!!!!

Judy said...

I realize what he's trying to do, but he needs to chill a bit...

twinkly sparkles said...

I think the only thing the OSW movement lacks is the powerful unifying force of singing. If we can plug in some unifying songs, we can conquer. We have everything else we need. I know it sounds pat, but there is perhaps one of the greatest powers we collectively share in protest songs (if you believe in peaceful protest, that is). I think some of the young people who are organizing and leading are not used to singing. Singing as a united whole. So when I asked myself what I can do and I realized that I have to teach the folks at Occupy Amherst to sing a few songs. Getting riled up people. Where I put my money and how I raise my voice.

We will not bow down. I shall not be moved. I'm gon' tell God how you treated me. This land is my land. Keep on marchin'.

The sad thing about the video is that the cops should be on the same side as the protesters, as they were in Wisconsin. Not that they don't have a job to do and not that they may not be angry. It'll happen. Who's funding whom? That's the question.

VideoDude said...

He needs to chill a bit? When NYC cops are pepper spraying and punching innocent people in the face?

Bill said...

VD, I didn't see the pepper spray and punching. The cops were calm and just standing around. There was no violence or yelling. The Marine was calling attention to himself intentionally. Where's the story here?

VideoDude said...

There are non so blind...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=SZPcJ2G-mSc

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cLE6xeUiaOc

This is just two examples. Have you seen the video of the women getting maced for no reason?

Erin O'Brien said...

Bill, you need to read the ABC News link.

The thing about Thomas is his authenticity. That and the way he is completely unafraid to say who he is.

You go on and bellyache about OWS, Bill, but they aren't telling people to bring guns to their rally.

Erin O'Brien said...

I mean COME ON the righties would flip their lids if OWS protesters showed up like this!

Bill said...

Erin: If OWS showed up like that? Not happening. Molotov coctails and burning cars is more their style. Oh yeah, and peaceful stuff too.

Erin O'Brien said...

Bill, you're embarrassing yourself.

Judy said...

It's too bad that the police are being pitted against the demonstrators...they should be part of it...hope it can stay "peaceful"...What comes to mind is the French Revolution...

VideoDude said...

Well, once again we see that if a Teapublican says it or believes it, it must be true! Facts be damned!

How about some video of those molotov cocktails and burning cars, Bill?

All I have seen is protestors walking, chanting and singing.

Anonymous said...

A picture...

In re: "Chill."
While it is important we maintain our dignity in human interaction for it's own sake as well as so we not lose credibility we must also remain authentic.

RJ

Bill said...

Erin, Really? I am? I'm not feeling it. What's the embarrasing part that I missed? I don't recall any rape charges being filed at a Tea Party rally. I don't recall any photos of a guy crapping on a cop car at a Tea Party rally. I don't recall the Tea Party blocking anything or taking over any public property. I do recall a Tea Party participantant getting the shit beaten out of him by some union thugs. Embarrassing? You can try to make it black and white, good vs evil if you want but the fact is that the Tea party got results from their focused approach. You can't say that, yet, about the OWS.

Erin O'Brien said...

Like Videodude said:

How about some video of those molotov cocktails and burning cars, Bill?

Yep.

Bill said...

a little violence from ows supporters

Anonymous said...

Contemplative Message:

I would think shitting on a cop car was protected speech. Is OWS required to abandon the Bill of Rights?

via RJ

VideoDude said...

Come on, Bill. Occupy Rome, really! I thought we were discussing OWS NYC. Below is a story I found about the Teapublican Party I posted it on the Occupy Cleveland thread, it seemed appropriate here, too.

Here is a true story about the Teapublican party:

One bright day in the middle of the night,
Two dead buys got up to fight.
Back to back, the faced each other,
Drew their swords and shot each other.
A deaf policeman heard the noise,
Drew his gun and shot the boys.
If you don't believe this lie is true,
ask the blind man or Teapublicans, they saw it, too.

Anonymous said...

Reflective Contemplative Message:

Was the "Shot Heard Round The World" (See: Lexington/Concord) a poor choice of messaging vis a vis The Tea Party?

Vis RJ

Bill said...

VD, Pls see Erin's comment on embarrassment.

VideoDude said...

If you are asking my opinion? Yes, you are embarrassing yourself, Bill.

Mrs. C said...

Sgt. Shamar Thomas should chill? The Old Fart should chill?

Wow.

We are off-put, embarassed, made uncomfortable by passion? We are frightened by passion?

Democracy is loud.
Democracy is messy.
Democracy is crude and sometimes rude.
And democracy is passionate.

"America, where are you now?
Don't you care about
Your sons and daughters?
Don't you know;
We need you now--
We can't stand alone against the monster..." (Steppenwolf)

(Yeah, this movement needs a song or six.)

WV: "entstadi"--we need to be as resolute as an Ent.

twinkly sparkles said...

Don't get distracted, people. Hope O'Brien doesn't mind my hijacking.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_tcZAqQUAg&feature=related]

Anonymous said...

While you're at You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8SoVfTVLrk

RJ

PS- One of these days I'll graduate remedial internet and learn to hot link.

Anonymous said...

@ Mrs C, I haven't heard 'America' by Steppenwolf for maybe 25 years, but I've been singing it to myself repeatedly for the last few weeks...after all these years i can't believe I still remember the lyrics: 'Once the religious/the hungry and weary/chasing a promise/of freedom and hope/came to this country/to build a new vision/far from the reaches of kingdom and pope'
Wow-I was the only kid in the 5th grade with that album. Who would've thought that Vietnam and the Civil Rights movement would seem in hindsight less intractable problems than the serial rape of the middle income people of this nation by the financier class...
MR
ps I'm stopping after work to pick up a copy of 'Monster'

Mrs. C said...

It's a brilliant song. And as appropriate today as it was then.

Jon Moore said...

Well by God, here we go.
The police who are GOVERNMENT employees who are acting at the behest of their superiors in the GOVERNMENT are being taken to task for doing what the GOVERNMENT does best, which is impose it's will upon whomever it sees fit (RIP Mo).
The rich irony is that the GOVERNMENT is getting right up there with the OWS'ers. Our president is giving them his full support while Joe Biden is bouncing around the country suggesting that rapes, murders and violent crimes will increase if the jobs bill isn't passed due to lack of public service employees (read police). Meanwhile, Harry Reid is admitting that the jobs bill is all about GOVRENMENT employees; the private sector is doing just fine.
So. Here we have a group of people, many of whom want the GOVERNMENT to assume more control of the financial situation, being abused or at least kept in line by the underlings of the very people that they are handing themselves over to; the GOVERNMENT. WTF?
Understand this. When you opt out of personal responsibility and ask the GOVERNMENT to assume control of your well being, don't come crying to me because the rules of the game are not adapted to every individual situation. You forfeited your individuality and independence when you became a ward of the state.
I happen to be in full agreement with Sgt. Thomas, but only insofar as it applies to the independent person and not the dependent people.

Anonymous said...

How does one inhabit a country without being somewhat subservient Alph? I don't think that independence/dependence deal is that black and white.(or cut and dried or whatever figure of speech suits)

RJ

Jon Moore said...

Subservient to who RJ? And by whose edict?
If by subservient you mean a duty to country, I agree. But I do not agree with forced compliance at the whim of some elected official or other government entity.
My point was, that once one asks for/accepts the charity of the government, they really can't expect to selectively choose that which they will or will not abide by.

Anonymous said...

@Alphadog-Harry Reid isn't revealing any deep dark Democrat secret in stating that THIS part of the jobs bill is about government employees. After the failure to get a cloture vote on the entire jobs bill in the Senate, it has been broken down into components, the better to demonstrate that the Republicans won't vote for ANY jobs bill, and especially if it means that the people they work for, ie the rich and the super-rich, have to pay another nickle in taxes.

This particular component focuses on teachers and safety workers, ie, government employees. I don't believe that Mr Reid said or meant to imply that the'private sector is doing just fine'.

BTW, I doubt if any readers here intended to come crying to you under any circumstances, but thanks for the warning. It's only fair of you, and I personally appreciate it.
MR
PS Sgt. Thomas was a guest tonight on Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell, if any of you missed and would like to catch it later.

Anonymous said...

@alph,

I wasn't really thinking duty. I was thinking just like ordinary stuff like driving the speed limit or something like that.

One can do ANYTHING as long as one is willing to accept the consequences. Don't bite the hand that feeds ya? Happens all the time. Some are better at gaming the system than others.

RJ

Jon Moore said...

Actually Mike, Senator Reid did say that the private sector was doing fine and adding jobs.
But anyway. Are you familiar with the disease known as cabbage fever? It's a situation where the stalk can't support the head.
I honestly don't know what the current ratio is between those supporting the government and those being supported by the government. What I do know is that when the latter outnumbers the former there's no longer any point in continuing the charade.

Also, you have no idea how grateful I am for you having taken heed of my warning. It just pisses me off to no end when someone sobs upon the shoulder of my cashmere jacket.

RJ,
Just saw your comment. May I respond in full tomorrow? I'm outta gas.
In the mean time let me give you this to ponder; what right does any man have to vote another man the power to exercise control over me? And believe me, that is reciprocal.

Erin O'Brien said...

It's a situation where the stalk can't support the head.

That is a perfect writing prompt.

Erin O'Brien said...

Thomas talks about being a marine and OWS in this interview.

Erin O'Brien said...

And some more discussion about Thomas on a military forum.

Bill said...

Sgt. Thomas was looking for a soap box and had his aunt follow him aroud with a camera. He found a bunch of cops standing around, no riot gear, not harrassing anyone, and started shouting at them with his memorized speech. He got a pretty good youtube video. It worked for him. I'm more impressed with his service in Fallujah. I honor that service.

Anonymous said...

Message:

Sgt. Shamar Thomas graduate of James O'Keefe School of Journalism.

Right Wing Rags will soon confirm NYPD are Illegal Kenyan Socialists.

via RJ News Corp where the medium is the message.

VideoDude said...

You honor his service while at the same time dismissing his right to freedom of speech!

Bill said...

VD, No way do I dismiss his right to freedom of speech. He has it. He uses it. He'll keep it.

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MR