Daily Kos

Easy Civil Disobedience -- Make Your Kids Do It

by ragnark

Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:43:21 PM PDT


Gabriel Keys (foreground) is arrested by police officers for trespassing in Pinellas Park, Florida, March 23, 2005. The young protester attempted to take a glass of water into the Woodside Hospice for the brain-damaged Terri Schiavo. A federal judge rejected a request from the parents of Schiavo to order her feeding tube reinserted, dealing a blow to attempts by the U.S. Congress and the White House to prolong her life. REUTERS/Carlos Barria

I saw this picture on Yahoo.  The word disgusted doesn't quite do justice to how I feel about this.  Many of us have been involved in some sort of civil disobedience at some point in our lives, myself included.  I have never seen, at any protest, a parent put their child forward to be arrested.  There is no excuse for this.  I'm assuming there was some point trying to be made here, but excuse me if I missed it.  Sorry, but allowing your child to get arrested to prove your own political points is kinda shitty.  
Perhaps the Florida Dept. of Children and Families could look into this kid's parents once they're done harrassing Mr. Schiavo?

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  •  Agreed! (none / 0)

    History will not forgive us if we do not try and convict the neocoms for their crimes, every last one of them...

    by Jesterfox on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:43:18 PM PDT

  •  In particular.... (4.00 / 3)

    ... haul the parents up on child abuse/neglect/contributing to the deliquency of a minor charges...

    I'm having a grand ol timing watching the (alleged) grown-ups make asses of themselves with this, but it's going too far to make the kids participate in this idiocy...

    by sherifffruitfly on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:45:35 PM PDT

    •  Kid looks well fed and clothed (none / 0)

      So I wouldn't want to pursue a neglect/abuse line.  Plus, whatever you can say about the morality they are teaching him, at least it is an ethos.
      Now as far as contributing to the delinquency of a minor- nail them to the wall.  Part of civil disobedience is willingly taking responsibility for the penalties attendant with the action- do these parents really want to teach their kid to cheat?
      BTW, I've seen plenty of kids at left demonstrations and participating in sit ins.  I disapprove just as vigorously of those tactics.  However, the child as moral leader does have some tradition behind it-  Joan of Arc for example, or kiddie preachers, or those lovely children who went to take back the holy land back when.

      Might and Right are always fighting In our youth it seems exciting. Right is always nearly winning. Might can hardly keep from grinning. -Clarence D

      by Myrkury on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:24:43 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  He's now in the system (none / 1)

      In the struggle to find the silver lining:

      At least they have his prints on file to make it easier to catch him once he grows up and starts bombing abortion clinics.

      The plural of anecdote is not data.

      by bobinson on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:26:58 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Lest anyone ever forget what ReDubs will do (none / 0)

      Remember Phil Parlock

      Dudehisattva...

      "Generosity, Ethics, Patience, Effort, Concentration, and Wisdom"

      by Dood Abides on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:45:57 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  It doesn't speak well of Florida law, either--- (none / 1)

    a kid that age, doing something like that, why not just find a responsible adult (or at least someone in the family who resembles a less-wingnut, more responsible adult)and have them escorted home from the scene (at least don't use handcuffs, how ridiculous).  And then arrest the adults for child endangerment.

    ...the White House will be adorned by a downright moron...H.L. Mencken

    by bibble on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:46:46 PM PDT

    •  definitely (none / 0)

      yea, I think the cops were trying to show a little too much muscle here too, although they were just doing their jobs whereas the parents are sitting there letting it happen, probably fawning over how brave little Gabriel is. It's gross

      Internet != Truck

      by ragnark on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:55:27 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  This is theatre. (none / 0)

      The cops don't want judicial oversight either.

      Let's make rope.

      by AnonymousArmy on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:16:43 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Cuffing kids (none / 0)

      I'm against it, but the Philly Cops have been claiming (as a result of a couple well publicized "zero tolerance" arrests of elementary school kids for posessing sharp pencils (oops, nail clippers) that kids are cuffed for liability reasons.  Someone in some underwriting department somewhere has decided that a cuffed passenger in a police car is less likely to be awarded damages than a non-cuffed passenger.
      OTOH, I think that is complete BS- the trend toward heavy handed arrest of children is part of a deliberate campaign to enhance the fearfulness and servillity of the population.

      Might and Right are always fighting In our youth it seems exciting. Right is always nearly winning. Might can hardly keep from grinning. -Clarence D

      by Myrkury on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:44:16 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Florida - where they stun-gun kids (none / 0)

      Just two weeks after Tasering a six-year-old, Miami police have stun gunned a 12-year-old for looking drunk and skipping school. From the (registration-restricted) Miami Herald[:]

      A Miami-Dade police officer used a Taser to stop an unarmed, 12-year-old girl who was running away from him after she was caught skipping school, police acknowledged Friday night.

      The incident happened Nov. 5, just over two weeks after other Miami-Dade officers used a stun gun to restrain a first-grader. In that case, police said the 6-year-old boy was holding a shard of glass and threatening to cut himself. Police Director Bobby Parker defended the decision to shock the boy because he could have seriously hurt himself.

      But Parker said Friday that he could not defend the decision to shock the fleeing 12-year-old, who was apparently drunk.

      Source:  The Blue Lemur

      "The key to security is public information." -- Margaret Chase Smith

      by Drawn4Quarters on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:50:06 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I'm all for taking your kids to protests (4.00 / 4)

    for the same reason I'm all for taking your kids into the voting booth with you. Civil disobedience on the other hand, is a different story.  You want them to understand that sometimes you have to break the law to do what's right? Fine - show them by getting arrested yourself. Grow a f*cking spine, people. Disgusting.

    And now for something completely different

    by mschloss1979 on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:49:51 PM PDT

  •  Question (4.00 / 3)

    What would the kid have done if he actually got through the police cordon?  Would he have tried to pour the glass of water down her throat? Wouldn't that possibly kill her?  

    Ever get the feeling you've been cheated?

    by johnny rotten on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 03:59:16 PM PDT

    •  heh (4.00 / 2)

      I've been thinking about that with all these protesters.  I was watching the news this afternoon just thinking "Wow, wouldn't it be ironic if one of them got through and choked her to death with their magic healing-water?"

      Internet != Truck

      by ragnark on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:01:28 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Yes (4.00 / 2)

      I've seen people get kids to run drugs, but I've never seen protesters send their minor children in to be arrested. Unbelievable.

      What a bunch of yellow bellied cowards these people are.

      Tarheel born, tarheel bred! And when I die, I'll be tarheel dead.

      by NCYellowDog on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:03:53 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  Dare I be so bold as to suggest... (none / 0)

    ...that the kid decided to do this?  Its hard to tell from the photo, but I'd say he could be 10 to 11, old enough to make such a decision.

    by PoliticalWebSolutions on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:02:33 PM PDT

    •  Maybe, but I doubt it. (none / 0)

      Most likely they were prompted.

      Incidentally, has anyone heard Howard Dean weigh in on this?

      Tarheel born, tarheel bred! And when I die, I'll be tarheel dead.

      by NCYellowDog on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:05:07 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Even if he decided on his own, (4.00 / 3)

      His parents should have said, "Hell no."

      The road to hell is paved with Good Intentions.

      by JenAtlanta on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:09:19 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  I don't think so. (none / 0)

        He's making a statement for something he believes in.  I say good for him.  As a teenager, I wish more of my friends cared this much about something other than American Idol.

        by PoliticalWebSolutions on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:12:49 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  Exactly (4.00 / 2)

        A 10 or 11-year-old may be old enough to say "I don't care if I go to jail," but any parent/guardian in their right mind is going to say "no way you're going to jail!"  My hypothetical future-child could be old enough to decide any number of things that'll land him/her in juvee.. and I wouldn't let him/her do any of them!

        Internet != Truck

        by ragnark on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:16:13 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

      •  This is such a clear expression of dysfunctional (none / 1)

        (and 99.9% likely addictive, even if "born again") family dynamics--no boundaries, no protecting of their kids, and role fusion/confusion between parent/child.  Ah, Family Values!

        ...the White House will be adorned by a downright moron...H.L. Mencken

        by bibble on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:16:40 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

        •  And the parents WERE there. (none / 1)

          "10 Demonstrators Arrested Outside Schiavo's Hospice Trying To Bring Water

          POSTED: 12:19 pm EST March 23, 2005
          UPDATED: 12:41 pm EST March 23, 2005

          PINELLAS PARK, Fla. -- Ten demonstrators outside Terri Schiavo's hospice were arrested Wednesday trying to bring her water.

          Chris Keys of Burnet, Texas, held his 2-year-old daughter Farrah as he prepared to get arrested with three of his other children.

          The toddler was taken by her mother so police could handcuff the father and the other children.

          Their 14-year-old daughter Josie says she's nervous but thinks this is what God wants her to do.

          She and 12-year-old Cameron and 10-year-old Gabriel kneeled on the ground as police handcuffed them.

          Gov. Jeb Bush has renewed his call for the Legislature to step in and spare Terri's life.

          Terri Schiavo's parents and brother are vowing to take their fight to the U.S. Supreme Court and state Legislature."

          http://www.local6.com/news/4310936/detail.html

          However, bringing along the 2 year old was bad judgement.

          by PoliticalWebSolutions on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:19:04 PM PDT

          [ Parent ]

          •  AS a parent of a 10 year old (none / 1)

            This is revolting.  I have brought my kid to protest the war.  I let her make and carry her own sign.  However, I would not allow her to get arrested in an act of civil disobedience.  This is just crazy.  Jail is no place for a kid and it is child endangerment.

            Ugh.

            by Kamakhya on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:33:40 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Who was the guy who used to go to (none / 1)

            Democratic political rallies with his kids, and take Republican signs and dress the family in Repub T-shirts and then claim the family had been attacked by the mob of angry Dems? Always the same small blond haired child in the pixs. Is this the same guy, or another looney toon who's contributed sperm, but is certainly not behaving like a father?  

            What people do to their children, in the name of God, is truly frighting.  

            "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." Mort Sahl

            by maggiemae on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 05:19:06 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

          •  Don't worry about the two year old (none / 0)

            They have policies in place to deal with what to do with kids when they arrest the adults.  Mind you, it is usually a domestic or drug arrest which ends up the Child/Family services holding onto the kid.  

            But the parents are idjuts.  For Pete's sake folks, get a babysitter instead of traumatizing your children!

            Proud member of the Cult of Issues and Substance!

            by Fabian on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 05:49:36 PM PDT

            [ Parent ]

    •  As a parent I'm obligated to override (4.00 / 2)

      any youthful enthusiasm and fierce misdirected passion on the part of my child. It's my job to explain why we don't act on every idea and belief which pops into our head.

      Other wise you end up with a situation like our kossack Raybin found himself in today:

      I was a jerk

      It's my duty as a parent to keep my 10 year old out of situations where he's led off in handcuffs.

      Dumb A$$ parents!

      "Liberals feel unworthy of their possessions. Conservatives feel they deserve everything they've stolen." Mort Sahl

      by maggiemae on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 05:09:48 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  Children can't make those decisions wisely. (none / 0)

      Children often decide it's OK to do many things that adults know maight not be wise. The adults should have prevented this and protected him regardless of his age. He's still a minor, unwitting child

      by roosevelt on Thu Mar 24, 2005 at 11:30:18 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

  •  I Am Going To Keep Up With This Story (4.00 / 3)

    Since I live in FL, I think I need to follow up on this one.  Let you know what I find out.

    Stop rewarding bad behavior.

    by FLDemJax on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 04:10:54 PM PDT

  •  I hope some of those protesters (4.00 / 2)

    brung a spare tube to go with all that water.  The woman can't swallow.

    Don't protest, PUBLISH!

    by Yankee in exile on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 06:17:20 PM PDT

  •  That boy must be terrified. (none / 0)

    It's one thing for adults knowingly to choose a course of action, but to manipulate a child into that same action is beastly. The parents are guilty of child abuse.

    by roosevelt on Wed Mar 23, 2005 at 11:21:57 PM PDT

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