Remind 'Em (The Few...The Proud)

Sgt. Shamar Thomas has been in the spotlight of Occupy Wall Street long enough to make Americans really think about protest security. Drawing the line quickly between *riot* and *event.* And I commend him for his ability to do so, considering the circumstances.

I have seen security at a riot and know for a fact that it quickly becomes an eye for an eye situation if the crowd is violent first. And that, however the outcome turns out, is at least understandable. One may observe and come to a reasonable conclusion that the police reacted violently to violence. Which is part of their job detail, I remind myself. They are people doing security at a riot. I have done college/bar security. And anyone will appreciate the police the more and more you do bar security. Believe me. Drunk people can be assholes!

But...

If I am at a concert and all the ticket holders are watching a fight, the security does not beat their way through the crowd to get to the action. Because it's an event. And the concert promoter does not want ANYONE beating on their clientele for ANY reason. And it makes no sense to use unnecessary violence to keep people in line. Especially if they are just observing.

So...during OWS, I think the security failed to recognize the difference between riot and event, and Sgt. Thomas had to remind them. Because the police had simply gone too far?

While you think about that, lets take a look at another OWS situation with U.S. Military involved.

Scott Olsen is another War veteran in the OWS spotlight. An actual casualty of a protest misplayed as a riot. Although there is footage from Occupy Oakland that the police were being hit by paint balls before hand, I do not find it reason enough to launch projectiles at unarmed civilians. Maybe if they were up against a hockey team, but they were not. Olsen has sustained injuries that have affected his speech. He is unable to speak. I'm sure the officer who was pelted with paint is still talking. Though he hasn't said much yet.

All is fair in love and war, we know...but let me remind you again...this was a protest/event.

So here is a tune dedicated to those 2 military servicemen and all who serve this country. What we can do is remind them why they serve. Give them (and yourself) a reason why they put their lives on the line. Establish something of a standard to recognize as home. Something that contrasts war.

Something good.

This is an everyday event kind people...

Remind 'Em by mooselethridge

You gotta hold it down, the reason that we're living for
Gotta make it real and count another day
Try to keep it in your mind and never let it go
They've been fighting now so long
You gotta let 'em know what life is worth each day

You gotta hold 'em to those reasons they've been killing for
Gotta make it known and never change your way
Try to keep it in your heart and never let it go
They've been fighting now so long
You gotta let 'em know what life is worth each day

So remind 'em what it is when you find it
Remind them if you think they've lost their way
Remind them what it is when you find 'em
They've been fighting now so long
You gotta let 'em know what life is worth each day

You gotta show them all that love that you've been living for
Gotta let it shine and lead you on some way
It's a feeling in your soul that you have always known
That you've been fighting now so long
Gotta let 'em know what life is worth each day

So remind 'em what it is when you find it
Remind them if you think they've lost their way
Remind 'em what it is when you find it
They've been fighting now so long
You gotta let 'em know what life is worth each day