No Minority, No Majority. There Shall Just Be People.

Biko!

You are not forgotten.

Struggle. Resist. Live and Work for Justice.

Olympia Safe and Beautiful, Step 2

So, there is lots of discussion about how scary it is downtown. It’s not just dirty, with houseless people urinating on the sidewalks, it’s just downright scary!!

It has been pretty clear for generations (and especially in the past decade) that the First Amendment right to assemble and petition for redress of grievance and to exercise free speech is just too inconvenient to remain on the books. Just look at the pedestrian interference ordinance. If the right to assemble for any reason interferes with the ability of a suburban shopper to come downtown and empty their wallet at a place like the Alpine Experience (just an example) instead of enjoying the homogenous shopping experience at Cabela’s or Walmart, then the first amendment is dispensable.

The first amendment is archaic. The updated, if unofficial primary civil right appears to be the absolute right to shop in a safe and sterile environment. So, Amendment One – get out of the way.

So, aside from the fear that accrues from running into a strange looking person downtown, why don’t we make the downtown really safe by scuttling Amendment Two as well?

Wouldn’t we all feel safer if we knew when we head out to go shopping downtown that we are not going to be sharing the sidewalk with folks packing heat? Why is the Olympia City Council so timid. Dump the second amendment and let’s get the fourth out of the way as well.

Come on, let’s make the downtown really safe. Let’s outlaw any firearms in the downtown core and give the police blanket authority to conduct patdowns for weapons.

I want pants on dogs that are over twenty pounds as well. Some of these animals are just indecent. What’s up with that?

These guys also should not be allowed downtown unless they promise to turn the volume down and act in a civilized manner.

Labor Day 2011! Mercy, Mercy, Mercy

Thanks for the tunes and the soul, Joe Zawinul!

I know there have been a lot of covers of this tune, but I like the Cannonball Adderly version with Joe at the keyboard.

Knocks me off my feet.

Hey Gil, you will be missed, brother

Gil Scott Herron died a few days ago. If you are not familiar with his work, he is the grandfather, the god father of rap, hiphop, spoken word.

Here is a video of Gil talking about his work.

Gill is best known for the revolution will not be televised piece.