Jesus Christ. After they protest at the marathon I think they should protest at Starbucks, whole foods, target, and a yoga convention for good measure and consider their target audience covered.
Well, if I'm reading it correctly they're going to be at the finish line blocking people from crossing it- not at like, mile 20 or something. So you ARE running the full marathon, you're just not able to cross over that line. People are pissed about that? About 26.1 instead of 26.2? Come on.
Hell jog around in a circle for fucking .1 and then join the protest.
I haven't read past the first page, but I can already feel my blood starting to boil with some of these responses.
You'd be pissed because you can't finish a race?
You know why I'm pissed? Because people that look like me and my family members keep getting harassed and killed by the damn cops, people who are hired to protect and serve. That's why I'm pissed.
And I'm a runner (I've done 2 marathons), so it's not like I don't know what training and traveling for a race entails. I'd happily join a protest during a race in order to get a message larger than me across. Sure it might make some people angry, but I'm glad the movement is still going and continues to bring awareness to the injustices.
It's sad that people don't get it.
This isn't going to help your blood pressure, but, when I've posted on FB about Black Lives Matter (with what little perspective I have), I have white cop wives telling me that cop lives matter, and the videos are blown out of proportion, etc. It's a mess in white social circles with the crazy cop wives. It becomes about the cops, again. It is mind-numbing. And, in this response, I get it more. Why this is necessary, this movement, but, I can't wait for the backlash, the cop lives matter backlash. And, I can't help but wonder how much of that is just used to cover racism. God, I hope I don't get flamed for that. I'm tired.
this is honestly one of the most frustrating parts of being married to a cop - cop wives. they can be so overzealous and closed off to any differing opinions/thoughts. i hope this can make some progress - not being able to finish a marathon, hello first world problem.
Post by shostakovich on Sept 29, 2015 23:21:12 GMT -5
I've run marathons. My family runs marathons, and several family members haven't been able to finish for various reasons. But, you know, they went on with their lives because it's ONE FUCKING DAY of your life. You finish (or don't) and move on.
It's like a wedding day, and some people in this thread are the of the "this is MY DAY and OMG if anything goes wrong the world will collapse in on itself and we'll all be consumed by red-hot magma!!!11" variety.
It's one day. And it's a morning of running, vs. a life lost. Come on.
So, reading this thread was yet again educational for me about the depths of my own privilege.
It makes me have lots of feelings. This thread and the Bernie Sanders thread educated me, which is good and all - but also makes me want to weep at the gigantic uphill mountain that BLM faces if I need a thread like this and I'm someone who gets it. 05's point should have been an automatic 'duh' point in my head and it wasn't.
Post by creamsiclechica on Sept 30, 2015 4:13:41 GMT -5
The responses that suggest a protest off to the side are also a metaphor for how the general social consensus is to sideline the concerns of persecuted and oppressed members so that people who's "struggles" are trivial in comparison can take center stage. It's often a diversion to continue to keep those groups oppressed by claiming it's not politically relevant to address it. A marathon is hard. An entire existence in that kind of stress isn't even comparable.
I think I'd run all 26.1 just to join in at 26.2 for something much more meaningful. Fuck the free protein bar and coupon for 25% shoes, for fuck's sake.
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
So, basically what you are saying that they should know their place and stay in it.
I think interrupting the race will bring the most attention and press to the cause, but not the attention they want. Tensions have been running quite high here since BLM announced the protest and, from what I've seen, there is a lot of anger.
A protest alongside the race (without interrupting it) would still bring media attention but hopefully not the animosity.
Man, people here have been fucking mad about BLM regardless. When they did regular protests people were bitching about them tying up traffic and making them late and "get a job!"
So right now, I am very "fuck Minnesotans" about this because even those who claim they understand the point of a protest is to disrupt things and suppor them, what they really mean is "I'm good with them disrupting things that don't matter much to me personally...but if they do I'mma be mad."
Go on with that fucking noice.
I sort of want to marry you and 05heel today. Decisions, decisions. 05heel, thank you for your metaphor comment. Perfect.
Post by Alwaysabridesmaidf on Sept 30, 2015 7:06:05 GMT -5
Hold up. They are protesting at the finish line, yes? So the runners get there and there is a protest and they can't physically cross the line but made it all the way there? But because they can't cross the line so they are pissed? How about be pissed about the senseless acts of violence and MURDERS that have occurred. Fuck that! Any human that gets to that line and doesn't immediately join in with the protest should be publicly shamed. Wouldn't it be powerful if all of those racers cared so much about an important cause that instead of running the marathon they paid and trained for, they skipped the race all together and stood at the finish line with BLM. That's the world I want to live in. It's sad it's so far away.
You do know people of other ethnicities often run races, right?
Ffs in response to getting the attention of privelaged smug white people because they pay to run marathons.
I support this. I don't support how its proposed to be done. I'd be concerned with people getting to the end and potentially getting hurt because 11k people in a tight area--people have been trampled for DVD players. I think it would be great if they set up stations and signs along the way with messages for the runners about BLM. Inform people about the protest, and hold it beyond the finish line. It would be more powerful for people to choose to be a part of it than to be part of it by default.
I didn't know about it until I saw this thread. I'd like to go support the protest this weekend. If anyone here is going and would be willing to meet up, that'd be great.
Ffs in response to getting the attention of privelaged smug white people because they pay to run marathons.
I thought Miso's comment about smug white people and marathons was TIC. I never would have thought someone would have taken it seriously. Hence my funny side eye.
Ffs in response to getting the attention of privelaged smug white people because they pay to run marathons.
I support this. I don't support how its proposed to be done. I'd be concerned with people getting to the end and potentially getting hurt because 11k people in a tight area--people have been trampled for DVD players. I think it would be great if they set up stations and signs along the way with messages for the runners about BLM. Inform people about the protest, and hold it beyond the finish line. It would be more powerful for people to choose to be a part of it than to be part of it by default.
I didn't know about it until I saw this thread. I'd like to go support the protest this weekend. If anyone here is going and would be willing to meet up, that'd be great.
So you are equating a BLM protest to people being trampled for DVD players. Okay.
I have refrained from commenting up until now, as any dissent is too quickly turned back as being racist or unsympathetic to your cause.
While that could not be further from the truth, the reality is that your choice to disrupt the marathon directly contradicts the very things you say you seek. I understand you are planning to block our finish line next weekend. In fact, your leadership has said "They are putting a marathon over the importance of someone losing their lives."On Sunday, people are going to see runners chasing dreams, doing what seems impossible, running for charities, running FOR LIFE. It is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication, oftenin the memory of those who are fighting for their lives or who have lost their lives. Runners are an incredibly diverse community of everyday folks who do extraordinary things; witness a marathon finish line and you will witness the human spirit in it's most amazing form.
If you succeed in blocking our finish line, you are doing more than stopping human beings from crossing a rubber timing mat. You are telling me that you do not value good citizens setting positive examples of perseverance and triumph. Running has saved lives in so many ways and has brought people and communities together by their shared passion for what it gives back - to them AND to others.
Instead, why don't you show up and support us, get to know us, and let us get to know you? We can bond over chocolate milk and bananas at the finish line. You'll discover that we probably have more in common than you may think.
Ffs in response to getting the attention of privelaged smug white people because they pay to run marathons.
I support this. I don't support how its proposed to be done. I'd be concerned with people getting to the end and potentially getting hurt because 11k people in a tight area--people have been trampled for DVD players. I think it would be great if they set up stations and signs along the way with messages for the runners about BLM. Inform people about the protest, and hold it beyond the finish line. It would be more powerful for people to choose to be a part of it than to be part of it by default.
I didn't know about it until I saw this thread. I'd like to go support the protest this weekend. If anyone here is going and would be willing to meet up, that'd be great.
So you are equating a BLM protest to people being trampled for DVD players. Okay.
no. I saying when you have a lot of people in a tight area there are accidents. Thus trampling.
I have refrained from commenting up until now, as any dissent is too quickly turned back as being racist or unsympathetic to your cause.
While that could not be further from the truth, the reality is that your choice to disrupt the marathon directly contradicts the very things you say you seek. I understand you are planning to block our finish line next weekend. In fact, your leadership has said "They are putting a marathon over the importance of someone losing their lives."On Sunday, people are going to see runners chasing dreams, doing what seems impossible, running for charities, running FOR LIFE. It is the culmination of months of hard work and dedication, oftenin the memory of those who are fighting for their lives or who have lost their lives. Runners are an incredibly diverse community of everyday folks who do extraordinary things; witness a marathon finish line and you will witness the human spirit in it's most amazing form.
If you succeed in blocking our finish line, you are doing more than stopping human beings from crossing a rubber timing mat. You are telling me that you do not value good citizens setting positive examples of perseverance and triumph. Running has saved lives in so many ways and has brought people and communities together by their shared passion for what it gives back - to them AND to others.
Instead, why don't you show up and support us, get to know us, and let us get to know you? We can bond over chocolate milk and bananas at the finish line. You'll discover that we probably have more in common than you may think.
Anyway, pointing out that tons of smug white people run marathons doesn't negate the fact that a few smug non-white people run them as well.
But for the most part (I guess besides maybe a few of the very top people) marathoners are a pretty privileged group. It's an expensive, time consuming hobby, not everyone has the resources for expensive, time consuming hobbies.
Ohhhhh, this makes so much more sense. Girl has a serious inability to see anything outside her own little world. She is EXACTLY the type of person who NEEDS her world disrupted.
My Dh has done the TC marathon, and we would be not be happy if he was not allowed to finish. We travelled, got a sitter for the kids, and he trained and trained. I believe that BLM. I believe in raising awareness, but I don't think that this is a forum that will come across as sympathetic to the cause. There was a group here (Atlanta) that wanted to disrupt an craft festival. It did not go over well. Protest are necessary in my opinion, but if you want to protest to be effective, pick a place where you will be heard, not criticized.
Where should protests occur in your opinion? Not craft fairs, not marathons. In other words, no where inconvenient for the people they are trying to reach? Does that even make sense? The whole point of a protest is to disrupt normal activity in order to *force* people to listen and pay attention. Seems like a craft fair would be a perfect place. You have a captive audience milling around.
So you are equating a BLM protest to people being trampled for DVD players. Okay.
no. I saying when you have a lot of people in a tight area there are accidents. Thus trampling.
Yet somehow the huge crowds of runners that gather at the start of the marathon manage to not trample each other and they are running...but I guess they know how to conduct themselves.
Post by PatBenatar on Sept 30, 2015 8:33:42 GMT -5
This thread has definitely been a privilege check for me. I'm running my first marathon that same day (but not the same one) and at the end of the day, it really doesn't matter if you can cross the line or not. You can always run another race, but you can't bring back someone that was senselessly killed.
I actually wish that was the marathon I was running so I could join in. I hope these runners feel the same.
no. I saying when you have a lot of people in a tight area there are accidents. Thus trampling.
Yet somehow the huge crowds of runners that gather at the start of the marathon manage to not trample each other and they are running...but I guess they know how to conduct themselves.
There other good stuff to focus in, but this particular concern is legitimate I think.
Yet somehow the huge crowds of runners that gather at the start of the marathon manage to not trample each other and they are running...but I guess they know how to conduct themselves.
I'm trying to think of how a race with timed waves of runners all running in the same direction could be different from runners running into a crowd of stationary people, possibly with others coming at them unexpectedly from the sidelines. Hmmmm.
I mean, c'mon. I don't agree with much of ohiowan's post, but to call out this is ridiculous, especially with your (now deleted) accusation of "BLM can't."
First of all I was at Starbucks and posted too soon while trying to get my coffee. When I went back to the thread see how far I got, rather than finish my thought I just deleted the start of my other thought. Not an accusation and I can't believe you are serious with that Toledo. And quite honestly the DVD reference rubs me the wrong way because minorities have historically been criticized in any efforts at protests. The coverage is generally imbalanced. People who do so peacefully are criticized. But there is also the element of those who take things far and riot and then that gets significant coverage and unfortunately that becomes the focus of how people view protests by minorities despite a long history of peaceful protests by minorities being carried out.
So yes I think her example was not great. She could have used anything else, the recent stampede in Mecca, or even using a popular concert as an example of people getting hurt in crowds, but no we are going to use people willing to trample for DVDs and think that is the right context for that kind of example?
Ffs in response to getting the attention of privelaged smug white people because they pay to run marathons.
I support this. I don't support how its proposed to be done. I'd be concerned with people getting to the end and potentially getting hurt because 11k people in a tight area--people have been trampled for DVD players. I think it would be great if they set up stations and signs along the way with messages for the runners about BLM. Inform people about the protest, and hold it beyond the finish line. It would be more powerful for people to choose to be a part of it than to be part of it by default.
I didn't know about it until I saw this thread. I'd like to go support the protest this weekend. If anyone here is going and would be willing to meet up, that'd be great.
More powerful to whom? And how? Who gets to control the narrative here? The people who are part of the BLM by default and not by choice, or those who have a vested interest in keeping the movement on the sidelines?