Battle in Seattle

Michael Flynn | August 26, 2008

While the traditional media focuses on the night-time speeches from "the elected," the real action for me in Denver are the countless forums/lunches/symposia on specific policy issues sponsored by various interest groups.

Go here for the best list of these side-shows. Today, for example, you can hear how the government should further bail out the housing industry, issue for new regulations to restrict credit for low-income families, and advance government's encroachment into health care. Oh, and you can brush up on your batting swing at Coors Field.

But for me, the Willy Wonka Golden Ticket has got to be the screening of the monumental, and no doubt nuanced, film, "Battle in Seattle," which chronicles the WTO riots back in the last century.

No doubt the world is pinning for the gripping tale of how hippies, anarchists and the generally unwashed came together in support of the world's oligarchs and "spoke truth to power" against trade liberalization.

Bonus points: the event features the awesome Charlize Theron, the renowned economist/statesman and occasional actress, offering her unique perspective on keeping the world's masses mired in poverty.

Good times, no doubt.  

UPDATE: First link was busted. (I blame the altitude.) Should be fixed now.

Comments

Paul|8.26.08 @ 12:26PM|#

But for me, the "Willy-Wonka-Golden-Ticket", has got to be the screening of the monumental, and no doubt nuanced, film, "Battle in Seattle," which chronicles the WTO riots back in the last century.

As someone who was there, it was pretty amazing how much rioting, police action and general chaos there could be, and almost no one even got hurt. I believe a questionable report of someone having their arm broken bubbled to the surface about two years after the event.

If I recall, the biggest outrage-- and I mean outrage-- were that detained protesters who were vegetarians were offered ham sandwiches while they were in the pokey.

|8.26.08 @ 12:35PM|#

the gripping tale of how hippies, anarchists and the generally unwashed

Please, please do not use "anarchist" to refer to neo-Marxist property-destroying fucknuckles. It sort of pollutes the term for us anarcho-libertarians.

|8.26.08 @ 12:37PM|#

Bonus points: the event features the awesome Charlize Theron, the renowned economist/statesman and occasional actress, offering her unique perspective on keeping the world's masses mired in poverty.

Back during the Roman Empire, Acting was a low-status profession for Freemen and Plebs with little influence. Smart people, Romans.

|8.26.08 @ 12:39PM|#

Epi,
In that case you might want to self identify with a different term. The neo-Marxist property-destroying fucknuckles have pretty much owned 'anarchist' at least since Sid Vicious.

BDB|8.26.08 @ 12:41PM|#

Has ANSWER and Westboro Baptist Church (Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps) showed up yet?

They're my two favorite professional protest groups for comedic reasons.

I kind of wish they would fight to the death.

DADIODADDY|8.26.08 @ 12:51PM|#

BDB
Can you imagine the claymation Death Match?
LMAO

|8.26.08 @ 12:53PM|#

I kind of wish they would fight to the death.

One can dream.

|8.26.08 @ 12:55PM|#

I alway love that the leftists protesters declare that the are the wretched of the Earth, the poor, the oppresed, the squaters, the landless farmers, etc. OK, so where do they come up with the money to go all over the world protesting against the rich folks?

Paul|8.26.08 @ 1:00PM|#

I alway love that the leftists protesters declare that the are the wretched of the Earth, the poor, the oppresed, the squaters

It was interesting because there was a brief, and I mean brief, union between the traditional "free Mumia" turtle costume-wearing protesters and blue-collar, pickup truck with a 8mpg HEMI-driving, boat owning, suburn dwelling union folk. The union folks in their gathering areas seemed bemused by what was going on around them.

Paul|8.26.08 @ 1:01PM|#

suburn dwelling union folk

suburb-dwelling union folk. Sheesh.

BDB|8.26.08 @ 1:18PM|#

Too bad Celebrity Deathmatch isn't on anymore, DADIODADDY.

Rhywun|8.26.08 @ 1:45PM|#

Isn't it "fuckknuckle"?

|8.26.08 @ 1:55PM|#

My spelling is always right, Rhywun.

Rhywun|8.26.08 @ 2:33PM|#

Fuckk you.

|8.26.08 @ 6:31PM|#

I like the term 'fucknuckle' and intend to work into my sophisticated conversations at the earliest opportunity.

DADIODADDY|8.27.08 @ 2:16PM|#

BDB
it's always on in the reruns in my mind