PAX Centurion - January / February 2015

www.bppa.org PAX CENTURION • January/February 2015 • Page 13 Editorial Opinion: “Peaceful Protesters?” Appeasement, accommodation doesn’t work… By James W. Carnell, Pax Editor N ONE OF USWANT TO SEE SCENES OFVIOLENCE, like those that occurred many years ago during the 60’s and 70’s, between police and protesters. People DO have the right to peaceably assemble for the redress of grievances. And police DO have the responsibility to ensure that the rights of ALL people, including the motoring public, are protected. But what has gone on lately on the streets and highways of Boston, is beyond the pale. It must be said that none of these alleged protesters or their organizers have even bothered to obtain a permit, like all other groups are required to obtain be- fore marching or occupying pub- lic streets. They simply believe they have the right to block traffic and interfere with everybody else’s rights to work or proceed home in a reasonable manner. It has been a matter of much con- sternation amongst the rank and file officers who are forced to deal with these protesters to see that our political administration appeases and accommodates them, allowing them to march down crowded streets, against oncoming traffic, during rush hours, causing maxi- mum inconvenience for those who are just trying to get home. Put simply, the protesters don’t care. Never mind their stated goals; the fact is that these remnants of “OccupyWall Street/Occupy Boston,” anarchists, and assorted social misfits have no respect for laws, rules, ordinances or civil, courteous behavior. Their goal is not to “protest”. It is to cause disruption and chaos. They invent a cause, hijack a movement, and hide underneath the cover of whatever they say they’re protesting about. Then, they go home toArling- ton, Brookline, Jamaica Plain, Byfield, and a whole host of other rich, privileged com- munities where they reside in their parent’s basements with their fake dreadlocks and post their internet laments about being friends of the oppressed and downtrodden. Yeah, right… Students of history will remember the name of Neville Chamberlain, the British Prime Minister in 1938 before the start of WorldWar 2. Chamber- lain went to an infamous meeting with Adolf Hitler in Germany, where he effectively threw Czechoslavakia under the bus and gave Germany control of that country under the guise of “we now have peace in our time.” He flew back to London, waved a piece of paper signed by Hitler saying that it had no more demands, and made that famous declaration: “peace in our time.”A year later, Hitler invaded Poland, and millions would die inWWII. The point is this: appeasement and accommodation of tyrants and lawbreakers, whether at the international level or on our own streets, does not work. My sainted Irish mother used to say, “give them an inch, they’ll take a mile.” She obviously knew more than Neville Chamberlain, or those who are allowing these alleged protesters to lead us around by the nose. Photos courtesy of the Boston Globe.