POSSIBLE CRIMINALS - I MEAN, LOOK AT THOSE GRIM, MUSTACHIOED, HATEFUL FACES!!
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POSSIBLE CRIMINALS - I MEAN, LOOK AT THOSE GRIM, MUSTACHIOED, HATEFUL FACES!!
There's been a lot of talk lately about getting those depressing squeegee kids off the street. Seems nice folk driving along don't like it when such individuals get in the way of their cars (judging from the number of times I've nearly been hit while legitimately crossing at a crosswalk, they don't like ANYONE in front of their cars, but let's focus...), and want the likes of the cops and the government to intervene and make sure the world is safe for their smug, evil selves.
Of course, I remember in 1995 when Ontario's Premier, Mike Harris, was elected, and some friends of mine tried to stop a cop from shoving a homeless man around in Ottawa. They were summarily told they were living in Mike Harris' Ontario now (where, evidently, brutality is OK if you're a cop - not that it ever wasn't, but at least they used to be SNEAKY about it in front of 'respectable' witnesses...). I don't recall handing over the keys to that fucker, truth be told, and, while I may live IN it (if I concede that point), I certainly don't live OF it.
Fact is, this whole respectability thing is reaching ridiculous proportions in these neo-conservative climes. When Conrad Black (for Americans, imagine a Rupert Murdoch with a Donald Trump personality and maturity level) can sue the Prime Minister because poor Connie didn't get a title (I mean, my God, he's got to be one of the richest men in Canada - how much more ARROGANT and ANALLY REDOLENT does he WANT to be?) - at least now, however, we know that Mr. Black's reputation is worth $25 000 only (allowing for the inflation of his ego).
There was never a time that the idea that wearing a suit and tie (or the appropriate temporal equivalent) was better than being poor, and somehow a sign of success and maturity, did not prevail. However, at least in my lifetime, there was a time that it could be acknowledged that the young had a right to be individuals, and that even some adults might not conform without being enemies of the State (at least as far as IT knew). That seems to be being eroded.
Bankers can evidently gather in gangs (and, judging from recent mergers, do). However, let kids do so, especially skateboarders or squeegees, and they are clearly planning to overthrow society (I wish - sadly, they're usually too poor or hungry or demoralized to be quite that organized).
One hears all these calls for uniforms in schools and the like, and how they would reduce violence. Need I point to the history of British schools, with their nasty hierarchies and sexual assault disguised as the class system (not that the class system ISN'T an extended gang-bang...)?
Here in my town, rather than provide beds for the homeless, money has been earmarked for voice-mail and e-mail for them (in fact, an ambitious shelter program has been hobbled by a lack of funding, interfering neighbours and general apathy from all levels of government...). How a person who has no bed or food is going to get it together for an interview, not to mention the systematic erosion of education and training that would further reduce their chances of being hired, is beyond me. Oh, silly me - they CAN'T - that will just drive them to workfare, so that Mr. Harris has someone to shovel his snow and shit for him.
And the cops circle downtown, looking for anyone daring to ride a bicycle, skateboard, roller blades, etc. The streets aren't safe, due to potholes and drivers of cars who ignore lights, so a kid might walk his bicycle on the sidewalk until he reaches safer side roads - except you can't do THAT either - that is illegal too!
Some silly fags I know (a term I am increasingly thinking is redundant - THIS is my community!?) go on about how at least these cops are younger and cuter doing these things. Yep - Hitler youth - what a turn-on! Besides, my fantasies about cops run towards snuff, not fucking them (and certainly not being fucked by them - again, redundancy rules...).
I wish I knew a coherent solution. I suppose you could ask a cop every time he hassles a street kid/skateboarder whether he might, perhaps, pursue a real criminal like a banker or a wife batterer - but that might result in YOU being arrested. Given the increasing presence of signs in my town's central core about how you cannot loiter, skateboard or block doorways (now, excuse me, but the sidewalk in front of a business is OURS, is it not? If I want to stand in front of your business, then leave me the fuck alone...), I would suggest, particularly if you look 'respectable', violating those laws, and making them impossible to enforce.
Given that at least one of my local MPPs (who, at least, did not get re-elected) said that he didn't consider it part of his job to listen to his constituents (not that I think they DO - but, I mean, a little reassuring fiction, sir, please!), I'm not sure that lobbying them would be of any use.
Remember - the cops are not your friends - the government are not your friends. The lowest grungy punk or out-there whore is much more respectable than Conrad Black or the police - because at least they're still alive and probably more concerned with their fellow human beings - and God knows they wouldn't run you down in their nasty little cars while complaining that you take up space that YOU OWN AS MUCH AS THEY DO (in theory - practice is different - but there are certain delusions the system wants to maintain, and I don't think that they would openly admit that the banks own everything, along with the State, and that your corpse is just another piece of property they can commit indignities to).
In short, disobey in every way you can - and ride your skateboard on the lawn, to paraphrase Camper Van Beethoven - and, in the words of Billy Bragg, 'Help save the youth of America' (and Canada, and Brazil, and everywhere - the world is one nation to me, and we had best reclaim it before it's gone).
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