We New Yorkers Don't Like Being Bossed Around by Outsiders
This is a snippet from a debate I had with Someone-On-The-Internet (tm) regarding whether New York City should let people protest in Central Park.
SOTI wrote:
] Bloomberg usually sucks, but regarding the convention,
] he has acted with integrity. His primary duty is to take care
] of New Yorkers interests first (including protecting their
] beloved park from overburden), the welcome visitors second,
] and then the rights of a few terrorist sympathizers and
] democrats last. Sounds like a good mayor to me. Remember the
] concept of constituents? Those are the people to look out
] for.
And I responded:
Several of the responses claim this is a battle between the interests of New Yorkers and outsiders. Whatever good arguments can be made for preserving Central Park, "New Yorkers vs Terrorist Sympathizers" is bull.
I live in New York City. My mother grew up in New York City. My grandfather is 93, and has lived here his entire life. We all support the protest. As everyone knows, NYC is 80% Democratic and there are plenty of New Yorkers who are outraged at Bloomberg's decision on the park protests. Most people estimate that at least half the protestors will be residents of the city, so let's drop the whole "New Yorkers need to be protected from outsiders" line. Many of us don't want Bush in our city.
More specifically, I'm appalled that a protest smaller than the officially approved capacity is being denied. Apparently listening to music is a more important right than political free speech, Constitution be damned. That protest (the relatively small Arab-American Rights one) was not requested at the last minute, and the city government took its own sweet time in denying it.
To bring up the whole "Terrorist Sympathizers" issue gets to why so many of us New Yorkers are angry. While we live in the most vulnerable city in America, Bush has squandered our military and our resources on a war that's made us no safer, and has enraged the moderate Middle Eastern countries. Bush might as well have posed for an Al Qaeda recruitment poster. Bush acts like a Manchurian candidate, strengthening the forces of the terrorists while turning us against ourselves.
New York City lost 3000 people to the terrorists, so you might think people would pay attention to New Yorkers' feeling regarding how Bush is leading this war. Most New Yorkers want Bush out, more than in any other big city in America. The people who've most suffered the burden of the terrorists' attacks want Bush out of power, not able to further wound America.
What do you think, JoeUsers?