How the Wounding of a Vet Who Dared to Dissent Has Stirred More Dissent

[xchrom]

http://www.thenation.com/blog/164245/how-wounding-vet-who-dared-dissent-has-stirred-more-dissent

“We Are All Scott Olsen!” was the message of vigils held across the United States Thursday night, held in answer to a call from Iraq Veterans Against the War and Occupy Oakland for “occupations across America and around the world to hold solidarity vigils” recognizing Olsen, the former Marine and Iraq War veteran who activists say “sustained a skull fracture after being shot in the head on October 25 with a police projectile while peacefully participating in an Occupy Oakland protest.

In cities across the United States and around the world, "We Are Scott Olsen" vigils, rallies and marches were held. Thousands attended a candlelight vigil in Oakland. In Las Vegas, an image of Olsen was projected at the site of the Occupy encampment. In New York, Occupy Wall Street activist took to the streets chanting "New York is Oakland, Oakland is New York." As far away as London, images of Olsen were displayed at gatherings. The buzz about the wounding of the 24-year-old veteran seemed to be everywhere, and was perhaps best summed up by a message from an activist who had protested at Wisconsin's state Capitol with Olsen in February. It read: "He could be any one of us."

The Washington-insider website Politico speculated about whether the wounding of Olsen would be the Occupy movement's "Kent State moment," a reference to the 1970 killing of four students at an anti-war demonstration in Ohio. No one was killed in Oakland, and Olsen is now expected to recover, although he remains hospilized and is unable to speak. But the images of the young former Marine, standing peacefully in the frontlines of the protest in Oakland -- next to a Navy vet holding a "Veterans for Peace" flag -- and the images from just moments later of Olsen lying on the ground wounded as medics rush to his aid have both shocked and energized activists, in much the same way that violent responses to civil rights and anti-war demonstrations in the 1960s did -- and in much the way that official violence against anti-WTO activists in Seattle in 1999 shifted sentiment in favor of the protests.

[SammyWinstonJack]

1. K&R

[quinnox]

2. Yup, you don't fuck with a marine and get away with it

They are traditionally the front line in wars, and this was not a good incident for the powers that be, it will only spur more protest and give the movement more impetus.

[H2O Man]

3. Recommended.

Thanks.

[Tatiana]

4. In their desire to crush the Occupy Oakland movement, they've only made the national cause stronger.

Dare I say, worldwide, everyone is sending well wishes towards Mr. Olsen and the resolve of the protesters has only been strengthened.

[AsahinaKimi]

5. Lets hope this brings out

A ton of vets; Marines, Air Force, Navy Seals, Coast Guard, Army Rangers, Soldiers, Submariners, Sailors, and fighter pilots, all.

[Tsiyu]

6. I've seen at least three threads

complaining about Olsen getting attention "merely because he's a Marine."

Is he more important than anyone else who got hurt?

Hell no. Anyone else who was wounded as badly would have been the focus of our rage against abusive, violent thug cops.

But Olsen's wounding serves to underscore this important point, apparently lost on some DUers:

Fox News, Limbaugh, Beck and others have called the protesters all sorts of nasty names, characterizing OWS as a group of lazy, dirty opportunists.

When the Oakland cops shot Olsen in the face - THEY chose a victim who is everything the 1% says OWS protesters are NOT. He had a good job, he served his country and even HIS free speech is not guaranteed - in fact, he was injured for exercising his right to free speech.

When the media denigrates OWS and calls them all "unfocused hippies", they look mighty dumb when it turns out OWS is composed of all sorts of people from all walks of life.

THAT's why his story is compelling. The right's claim to "Support the troops" is a hollow sentiment and Olsen's injuries prove it.

[Fumesucker]

7. Exactly right.. n/t

[hifiguy]

8. +1

The troops are only sacred to the reichwingers when they are advancing the interests of the 1% and/or killing brown people sitting on top of "our" oil. They are in all other cases disposable cannon-fodder.

[justiceischeap]

9. One important point you left out of your very eloquent reply

He served his country to bring DEMOCRACY to another nation... something we seem to be lacking here in the US... the right to participate in our own democracy.

[Historic NY]

11. +1

[SammyWinstonJack]

10. Exactly!

:thumbsup: