Wk 3: Video Response- "UC Berkeley Budget Protest. The Wheeler Frontlines"

"But today, perhaps for the first time, we shall struggle to achieve a morality that is self-imposed and consented to by our own reasons, though even that will not guarantee our compliance." -R. Holloway, Godless Morality, Ethical Jazz.

It has always puzzled me why protests and strikes often lead to police brutality and how a non-violent voicing of opinions can end up with such horrid blood spills. Then after discussing more about this topic this year, I realized that protests are very intense situations filled with blood curdling emotions and explosive actions waiting on a brink for a catalyst. I think during those situations it is very difficult for both sides not to act out on their anger towards each other. The protesters are ready to take on anything in defense of their rights, and often egging on or taking out anger on the police. On the other hand, the police are trying their best to keep a large crowd under control from turning into a huge mob (while being finger pointed and swore at ..) Thus violence under these circumstances is easily evoked and is a much more complicated issue than just "the police beating up innocent protesters."

Hence in response to the quote/reading, I don't think the police have anything to do with having a self-imposed moral as opposed to following one from the state. In fact, the personal morals of the police have absolutely nothing to do with their job as keeping the crowds in control. They are two different distinct subjects. Certainly the act of violence towards the crowd should definitely be avoided, yet with no knowledge of "crowd-control", I cannot say for certain which is the best action to take. It is true that if the police has a moral of not using violence on students(in this case) then they should avoid it, however when taking up the responsibility of keeping under control necessary actions must be taken. There are definitely better ways than hitting the students, yet under that particular situation would it be better to use an alternative? Is there enough time? May be the police has done what he thought best, may be it could be much more violent. If I were the police, may be I could've done worse? As for following their morals, would it help keep the crowd under control? What if certain actions were not taken because of their personal morals, then the crowd easily turned into a mob

It definitely evoked a strong mixed emotions of anger and shock towards the police force when I first watched the video, yet I don't think I am in a place to pass the judgment of people should have or should not have follow their self-imposed morals. Believing in morals and following them are two different things, and can vary under certain circumstances.("..though even that will npot guarantee our compliance.") Just like how morals should be like ethical jazz in our lives compared to past generations, it should also be improvised at each given situation. I believe we cannot just blindly believe in a set of rules and ignore what the problem at hand. We set up morals, self-imposed or given, to protect what is important to us and others, hence they must be flexible in every way so they don't end up hurting what we are trying to protect. However, with all that's been said, I definitely think it is important to keep the emotions at a minimum at protests, (though extremely tough, and a little controversial) the purpose of strikes is to show that the majority number have a bigger power over the minority privileged.

Man that was a long post....thank you and a toast to whoever take on this challenge and read it! XD