You might be amused by this letter to the editor in the Kansas City Star. Martin Dressman, retired social worker, is very upset. He’s horrified that ICE is killing people, but something else has made him so mad that he had to express his opinion at length.
I attended a protest at Mill Creek Park on the Country Club Plaza on Jan. 10. It was organized by a coalition of groups as a part of a nationwide day of action in response to the shooting death of Renee Good in an altercation with an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent in Minneapolis the previous week.
I wanted to be supportive. I do not like what I am observing and hearing in the United States right now. I’ve done my study of history. I know what I’m seeing. It’s vile. It’s dehumanizing.
As I approached the gathering, one of the first signs that was readable to me from a distance declared, “F*** ICE.” As I began to mingle into what was observed to be a growing crowd of participants, I viewed a couple of other signs with the same message. That said, much of the signage that I encountered struck me as reasonable, meaningful, focused.
I approached one of the people with a “F*** ICE” sign, And I shared my sense that their presence at the rally was what was most helpful, but the sign was not. I was not well received.
Shortly thereafter, I heard an announcement of the official start of the rally. A speaker introduced themselves and informed the crowd that there were representatives at tables set up around the park that would be available to field questions and concerns, and to provide information. The speaker then introduced the person they said would be responsible for safe execution of the rally, stating that they wanted this to be a nonviolent gathering. The first words out of that person’s mouth, through a bullhorn, were “F*** ICE!” The crowd responded loudly, “F*** ICE!“ This exchange was repeated three or four times with increasing fervor.
I proceeded to one of the tables the rally leader had mentioned, and I expressed that I thought our physical presence was the clearest message. I was supportive of the event and its focus, but I did not believe that the profane “F**** ICE” messaging was favorable to our efforts. The person leaned forward to me over the table and yelled, “She was shot in the face three times!” I responded that I was aware of that. The person that I engaged, and another at the table, waved me off stating that they were wanting to listen to the speaker.
At that point, I departed the rally. I would not support such messaging.
You will not be surprised to learn that he ends his complaint with a Bible quote.
Pay attention, Mr Tone Policeman.
As a kid I did my damnest not to say swear words. Then I realized the pointlessness of it all. Curse words don’t hurt anyone.
Meanwhile, ICE kills people and more.
I completely agree that ICE has amply earned all the profanity and contempt that is being directed at them.
But (as I posted on a different blog), one possible tactic is to have a large group of people: standing still, silent, and just STARING at the ICE-holes.
It can be unnerving. And should be.
Fuck you motherfucker this is language one employs if one’s a little bit cross and motherfucking Gestapo shooting women in the face.
With apologies to Tim Minchin.
Snarki: Or “a large group of masked people: standing still, silent, and just STARING”
Bless my stars and clutch my pearls, a cussword?! That is truly the most horrific response to what is happening. (Never mind the vile language the president uses on the daily. Never mind that he’s now taken to flipping MEN off, which is a whole other level than insulting women. Never mind that he literally threatened to do murder and said no one would care -and none of his cretins do………)
In the last year, 32 people have died in ICE custody.
There is very little accounting of how they died.
One recent one is being classified by the medical examiner in Texas as a homicide.
They likely used an illegal choke hold on him and he died from lack of oxygen.
There is no followup of all those migrants we dumped overseas in obscure places like Eswatini and El Salvador. It is likely some of those have also died.
Mr. Dressman, with all due respect: Fuck your feelings.