6 thoughts on “Today’s Events in the Capitol Rotunda:

  1. I’m grateful to see the union members joining the singers! Part of me says, what’s taken so long?, but I’m glad it’s happening. How can anyone support an administration that is blatantly taking peoples’ rights away, especially the 1st amendment! What I find to be the craziest is the “20 person rule” and how they swoop in to arrest whomever they want. It’s ridiculous! Either way, glad to see this happening and I hope it grows to be bigger than the 2011 protests!

  2. Ed,

    You’ve posted this video sans commentary of any kind. Given the recent flurry of discourse surrounding the legitimacy of the Solidarity Singers, I’d be interested in learning what you find significant or meaningful about this clip. Yours being an opinion I generally respect, your orbiter dictum or shall I say, your gloss, would be greatly appreciated.

  3. first, I didn’t think any commentary was necessary…the video and the interview with the Madison Fire Fighter spoke volumes…far better than I could. And I thought the video needed wider distribution so I posted it here on Blogging Blue.

    second, I have written three blogs about the Solidarity Sing Along. I have questioned one of the rationales for not applying for a permit, I have questioned the media focus on the reason for SSA since the recent start of mass arrests, and I questioned how the Capitol Police selected who gets arrested. Apparently that makes me a bad guy. I haven’t suggested that SSA get a permit or not. I haven’t suggested they find other avenues of protest or not. I have not attacked the actual legitimacy of the SSA. I have only questioned some of the rhetoric coming from some of those who feel they can speak in behalf of the group.

    lastly, I believe in our first amendment rights and am thankful that they allow me to post my thoughts here on BB. I believe our first amendment rights are being trampled on in the rotunda in Madison and will have some other things to say regarding that in the next week or so as time allows. And I will continue to write about issues that make me ask questions…if that perturbs fellow progressives…I can live with that.

    thanks for reaching out!

  4. You may be correct. No commentary may have been necessary. I asked for your opinion on this video because I respect your opinion. I never said you were a bad guy, and I’m not at all perturbed. I haven’t formed a solid opinion on this issue, and I’m attempting to reach a reasoned position on the Solidarity Singers. Hence, why I asked for your opinion. That’s probably half true, I’ve got some pretty strong opinions on it. At this point, I’m a bit perplexed by the negative reaction to the singers. I don’t refer to you specifically regarding negativity.

    You misunderstand my query. I’m not challenging you or questioning your judgement. I’m asking for an encapsulation. I’ve spent quite a bit of time sorting through the Public Platform Resistance/Gezi Park/Taksim Square protests in Istanbul recently. More time than I’ve spent keeping up with the Solidarity Singers. I’m playing catch-up here. So, my opinion on the latter is strongly tinged by the Turkish resistance that began with the democratizing emblem of “the public domain as a political forum,” but it quickly evolved into a severe indictment of conservative governance that marginalized women; a cognizance of the incompatibility between liberalized global economics and a democratic state; and a flashpoint for Turkey’s tug of war between authoritarian regression and progressive modernity. In short, a diverse agenda. And it was marked by a ubiquitous solidarity with workers, students, the LGBT community, urban, rural… point being, I’ve been watching that so it puts what has unfolded with the Solidarity Singers (and opposition to them) in a disturbing context. When Turkey can muster more solidarity and recognize with unmitigated clarity what threatens democracy and what does not, but Wisconsin can’t…. well, I guess I find it disheartening and kind of surreal.

    Anyway, that’s why I asked.

  5. PJ…I wasn’t thinking that you were questioning my judgement…but knowing that others would read our ‘conversation’ I broadened the context a bit

Comments are closed.