One newsman covering this event, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell, is utterly, pointedly awake. And as O’Donnell says, police brutality is nothing new. What’s new is constant videotaping by those they are sworn to serve and protect. But, O’Donnell challenges, will anything come of such clear evidence of brutality? No. There are sadistic police all across America, every day getting away with exactly what their departments will tolerate. Might this be why one hundred police reportedly refused to to go work against the protestors yesterday?
Further, how many of our sadistic American police previously served in the military, doing the same thing to Iraqi and/or Afghani civilians? How many wake up with repeating nightmares now? How many beat their wives, their children, their dogs? How many played violent video games as children? How many still do?
Ours is a culture of violence. These occupywallstreet children are, with great courage, day after day, night after night, in the street and on the ground, pointing us in the blessed direction of non-violence. Let us learn from them.
