Death of a Democracy

I have watched several different videos taken of this event, and read dozens of comments about it. In every case, the controversy centers around whether or not the student should have been tasered. I think, though, the issue is not whether he should have been tasered when he resisted arrest, but whether he should have been pulled away from the microphone in the first place.

This video shows the best version of the student's actions, and the moment when campus security decides to step in. If you watch this, you will see that at no point did the student make any threats, or call for anyone else to join him in any sort of protest. When the first security guard approaches and speaks to him, the most he has done at that point is perhaps to be rude. What he says to the guard is, "I will ask my question."

That, in fact, is all he attempts to do. For that, he is very quickly silenced. First the mike is shut off. Then he is pulled away from the mike, and the guards attempt to physically escort him out of the auditorium. Before he can be shuffled out the back door, he jumps away from the guards, which is when they apparently decide to restrain and cuff him. It really just looks like the more physical they get, the more frightened he gets, and the more he struggles. It isn't completely clear when the taser is first shot at him, or by which guard. However, it does seem to be yet another overreaction on the part of the security personnel.

What is most disturbing about this whole incident is the reaction of other people. First, the audience actually applauds campus security for pulling the student away. Senator Kerry just goes on as though nothing is happening, which just may be a case of not being able to comprehend what was right in front of him. A lot of the comments I've seen and heard have been in support of the campus security.

I've got to get ready to go out to dinner for my birthday, so I'll have to finish this post when I get back.