Dissent vs. destruction

An important point is getting lost in all this reporting on the protest march, and it’s bothering me.

It’s a law of journalismthat no one cares that the 300th plane landed safely. That’s what I tell people who complain towe journalists: "Why can’t you write moregood news?"

Because you wouldn’t be reading this blog if the headline were "300th plane lands atairportwithout incident."

Don’t get me wrong — we’ve got to report that283 people were arrested on charges related tohurling bricks and rocks at store and car windows, puncturing car tires andotherwise unlawful acts. (We don’t know detailsandwillleave that to authorities as well as lawyers; it’s important that the Minnesota chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union has been on hand to assist arrestees.)

If these folks did what police are saying, it’s wrong.Butas someone who watchedthe 10,000-plus protesterswalk peacefully through city streets formore thantwo hours, I’ve got toremind folks:Only .0283 percent of march participants were arrested.

That’sless than3 percent of the marchers who were caught up in anything but peaceful dissent.

You wouldn’t guess that from the photos and headlines.

Most held signs or chanted slogans aimed at getting out of Iraq and holding President Bush and his administration accountable; within thatcategory, there was every demographic from veterans for peace togardeners for peace.Otherswanted attention for different issues, many of which demonstrators tried to tie to the war — from vegetarianism to the Ethiopian occupation of Somalia to the mother of all foreign affairs issues, Israel and Palestine.

Protesters came on foot while others rode the bus, drove cars and vans from out of state, pedaled bikes and even roller-skated through the event. Signs ran the gamut, from those sloppily scratched onto a ripped cardboard placard to elaborately papier-mache masks thatwere likenesses of Vice President Dick Cheney andformer Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld.

The rhythmic drumbeat of one group that appeared toward the end of the march washard not tofeel, creating afun and festive atmosphere that pulled on some of us who carefully walked the sidelinesobserving the march. I distinctly recall thinking, "This feels fun, but I am reporting and I’m not a protester, so I shouldn’t enjoy the drumbeat too much."

Which is a little ridiculous until you think about how importantneutrality is in reporting –a point Tucker Carlson and others madeduring aMonday morning breakfast panel.

So while I wasn’t jumping in todancewith the pink flower-festooned Code Pink ladies — or helping a handful ofwar supporters and an anti-Obama protester wave their flags –I was observing, and, as a freedom-of-the-press-loving-journalist, appreciating, both groups’ability to dissent.I am surethat parade marcherswho have moved herefrom repressive countries — orjust places where the press is lessfree– enjoyedthe ability toexercise free speech and the freedom to assemble.

And that’s what just over 97 percent of protesters inSt. Paul were doing today — dissentingwithout incident.

Not a headline, but worth noting amid thenegativereports about anarchy.