Video: What a history lesson can do for an Occupier

posted at 9:21 am on May 9, 2012 by Ed Morrissey

The irony here, of course, is that the history lesson of democracy gets delivered by a former refugee from the former Soviet Union, but the history lesson doesn’t just end with the USA.  One young man tried to pass an “Occupy Wall Street Journal” to two men observing the protests, and ended up gaining an education in history, politics, economics, and statecraft.  Give the young Occupier credit, as Joe Schoffstall says — he was at least willing to listen.  I’m not sure he was actually convinced, but he at least knew better than to keep arguing:

You might be tempted to stop after a couple of minutes, but stick to it all the way through to the end.  It shows what one man can do when he’s armed with the facts, as well as a little moral authority from having lived through a socialist nightmare.  His companion tells him at the end, “I’m very proud of you,” and I’d bet more than a few people here would be as well.

And at least the young man still had the capacity to learn. Ringo and Zombie document some of the mental incapacity found at the Occupy LA rally last week, including these images:

I’m an old tech-pubs editor, and I don’t think I could diagram that sentence, even with my extensive experience.  Then there are those who just can’t deal with reality:


Here’s a better question: why should I have to pay for you?  Or, for that matter, this guy:

If you need to eat, then I suggest you find ways to feed yourself.  If your art isn’t doing it for you, it’s time to consider another career.  Understandably, someone this dense has limited prospects anyway, but obviously it’s time to give it a try.

That’s why engagement will probably only work with a select few, but it is important to keep trying.

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What is that thing on his head, for heavens sake?

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

If the teacher had handled the situation correctly there would have been no need to crininalize the 8th grader. Sane teachers don’t persecute students.

kemojr on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Beatle tribute.

Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 4:59 PM

Will the ACLU come to the student’s defense because his First Amendment rights were violated? Hmmm….

Philly on April 21, 2013 at 5:01 PM

He/she may not be old enough to vote.

slickwillie2001 on April 21, 2013 at 4:55 PM

Couldn’t find the voting booth.

VegasRick on April 21, 2013 at 5:01 PM

Beatle tribute.

Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 4:59 PM

I think it’s a shoutout to The Donald.

VegasRick on April 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM

What is that thing on his head, for heavens sake?

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

I think it’s the new look for guys that age after 3 years of the buzzcut.

Going through it with my Grandson.

Barred on April 21, 2013 at 5:13 PM

… and if schools aren’t going to foster an environment where students can learn about both sides of a constitutional question, what sort of education are they receiving?

Rhetorical question, right?

AZfederalist on April 21, 2013 at 5:20 PM

If you were a school administrator, what would you do?

rickyricardo on April 21, 2013 at 5:51 PM

If you were a school administrator, what would you do?

rickyricardo on April 21, 2013 at 5:51 PM

Ignore the shirt and get out scissors.

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 6:17 PM

Hope the family sues for mega-bucks and the teacher and administrators are fred.Enough is enough!

redware on April 21, 2013 at 6:45 PM

If you were a school administrator, what would you do?
 
rickyricardo on April 21, 2013 at 5:51 PM

 
English, math, and history. You?

rogerb on April 21, 2013 at 6:56 PM

VegasRick on April 21, 2013 at 5:02 PM

The Donald wishes.

Cindy Munford on April 21, 2013 at 7:11 PM

I think the school district has a big clusterfark on its hands. Let’s see if they double-down on stupid and dig in their heels, or if they backpedal.

Philly on April 21, 2013 at 7:37 PM

What is that thing on his head, for heavens sake?

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Hey, if you got it, flaunt it. God will give him haircut enough in thirty years or so.

PersonFromPorlock on April 21, 2013 at 7:40 PM

Nonpartisan getting shredded once again.

Slink away troll, slink away.

CW on April 21, 2013 at 10:04 AM

And yet SWalker is the one that gets banned. Why is nonpartisan still allowed in? It NEVER makes ANY meaningful contributions to the debate.

Nutstuyu on April 21, 2013 at 7:47 PM

itsnotaboutme on April 21, 2013 at 10:24 AM

Now you’ve done it. Insulting the bloggers is ban-worthy. Just ask SWalker.

Nutstuyu on April 21, 2013 at 7:54 PM

The individuals involved need to be taught a lesson in the Constitution and the law. West Virginian citizens should make a mockery of all involved in this injustice.

F_This on April 21, 2013 at 7:57 PM

“Something has gone pretty seriously off the beam here, and it looks like the problem is coming from their school district.”

I think I found the core of the problem here…

Seven Percent Solution on April 21, 2013 at 8:22 PM

And yet SWalker is the one that gets banned.

When did that happen and why? Just to be nosy.

JFKY on April 21, 2013 at 8:36 PM

I’m still trying to figure out what he was arrested for. Wearing a t-shirt? School policy now has the force of law?

Fenris on April 21, 2013 at 9:07 PM

I’m still trying to figure out what he was arrested for. Wearing a t-shirt? School policy now has the force of law?

Just skimming I’d say his argument with the teacher and the ensuing confrontation/”Hoopla” was what got him arrested.

JFKY on April 21, 2013 at 9:16 PM

And yet SWalker is the one that gets banned.

When did that happen and why? Just to be nosy.

JFKY on April 21, 2013 at 8:36 PM

Probably got banned for telling the truth and calling Ed a lib or something like that.

air_up_there on April 21, 2013 at 10:37 PM

also, the kid was most likely trying to be provocative with this little stunt.

nonpartisan on April 21, 2013 at 9:42 AM

I see. Provocative speech is not good speech.

So why are you commenting here?

unclesmrgol on April 22, 2013 at 12:55 AM

And yet SWalker is the one that gets banned. Why is nonpartisan still allowed in? It NEVER makes ANY meaningful contributions to the debate.

Nutstuyu on April 21, 2013 at 7:47 PM

If nonpartisan did not exist, someone would have to invent him.

unclesmrgol on April 22, 2013 at 1:01 AM

And yet SWalker is the one that gets banned. Why is nonpartisan still allowed in? It NEVER makes ANY meaningful contributions to the debate.
Nutstuyu on April 21, 2013 at 7:47 PM

Nonpartisan is simply posting opinions that differ from yours. It is embarrassing to see people here call for other commenters to be banned over differences of opinion.

As for SWalker, it is my understanding that he alluded to/approvingly suggested that violence come to public officials. I don’t know the details, though. Anyway, sounds like the ban call in his case was an easy one, so let’s not make commenters who leave violent comments into martyrs. Ed and the other bloggers here do a wonderful job of allowing a wide range of discussion, and they know where to draw the line.

Calls for violence against public officials have no place on this site.

bluegill on April 22, 2013 at 3:47 AM

What is that thing on his head, for heavens sake?

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

Probably a growth from your a$$. Good lord you’re a silly arsed twit.

DevilsPrinciple on April 22, 2013 at 6:57 AM

As for SWalker, it is my understanding that he alluded to/approvingly suggested that violence come to public officials. I don’t know the details, though. Anyway, sounds like the ban call in his case was an easy one, so let’s not make commenters who leave violent comments into martyrs. Ed and the other bloggers here do a wonderful job of allowing a wide range of discussion, and they know where to draw the line.

Calls for violence against public officials have no place on this site.

bluegill on April 22, 2013 at 3:47 AM

And nonpartisan recommended pulling Tsarnaev’s nails off to torture information out of him and then summarily executing him with a bullet in the head.

Your point?

hawkdriver on April 22, 2013 at 9:12 AM

bluegill=sesquipedalian=nonpartisan=crr6 etc etc etc

don’t listen to the fish.

alwaysfiredup on April 22, 2013 at 9:16 AM

also, the kid was most likely trying to be provocative with this little stunt.

nonpartisan on April 21, 2013 at 9:42 AM

Coming from you, that requires a spit-take and a laugh.

*spit-take*

*HARHARHAR*

itsspideyman on April 22, 2013 at 9:41 AM

What is that thing on his head, for heavens sake?

Valkyriepundit on April 21, 2013 at 4:56 PM

I just looked at my HS graduation photo and then in the mirror, sigh. Never mind youth, hair is wasted on the young!!!

God has a vicious sense of humor sometimes.

Enjoy it while ya got it kid!!!

E9RET on April 22, 2013 at 9:45 AM

picture of a gun promotes violence

nonpartisan on April 21, 2013 at 9:46 AM

Went off your meds again, didn’t you?

dominigan on April 22, 2013 at 10:19 AM

It’s bad enough to get suspended for that, but arrested???

Hey Mr. & Mrs. Marcum, http://www.lc.org
They are used to dealing with stupid school systems like these.

Sterling Holobyte on April 22, 2013 at 10:43 AM

picture of a gun promotes violence

nonpartisan on April 21, 2013 at 9:46 AM

Oh no! Quick edit the history books…oh wait…

Pattosensei on April 22, 2013 at 11:13 AM

Re-phrasing the whole story:

“Middle school suspends, arrests 8th grader for using his First Amendment rights to celebrate his 2nd Amendment rights; school system invokes 5th Amendment rights when story goes national”

BobMbx on April 22, 2013 at 11:37 AM

Time to get monetary damages and principals and superintendents fired with their licenses pulled.

Enough.

Zomcon JEM on April 22, 2013 at 11:59 AM

How come this guy can say f*ck and this guy can’t?

johnnyU on April 22, 2013 at 12:43 PM

Most schools I know say ‘no controversial apparel’. Having him arrested, well thats another story.

johnnyU on April 22, 2013 at 1:16 PM

My heartiest congratulations to bluegill for posting on topic instead of… well, you know.

As for verbaluce,…

word

S. D. on April 22, 2013 at 11:15 PM

I live in the Houston area. No doubt, SJL is pound for pound the dumbest politician sent to DC. And that’s a lot of pounds. Soooo much stupid.

Sugar Land on May 7, 2013 at 4:36 PM

She is a moron.

However, this einstein gives here a run for the money.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bs23CjIWMgA&feature=player_embedded

acyl72 on May 9, 2013 at 11:22 AM

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