"The most violent element in society is ignorance.” - Emma Goldman

If you accept the renowned anarchist's Ms. Goldman's assertion then Toronto during the G20 was a very ignorant place indeed. The Oxford dictionary defines anarchism as "belief in the abolition of all government and the organization of society on a cooperative basis." My view is that its a bunch of idiots who want to get away with socially dysfunctional behavior under the guise that they are actually representing a philosophy. In fact upon reflection that concept is most likely too advanced for these "Black Block" cretins - they just want a little of the old "ultra-violence:" - they are confrontation junkies without any actual point.

What to do? Perhaps a new concept in the "Survivor" franchise with the "Black Block" dropped onto some desert island with everyone getting the essentials (hatchet and waterproof matches). There they can prove the veracity of their "philosophy" by not depending on each other for anything (plus unlimited smashing opportunities). I would suggest that a monthly fly-over showing the growing pile of skulls would pretty much get the point across that there never was any point at all pretty well.

If that sounds a little harsh it is. Put it it this way - imagine that instead of changing into their "Black Block" clothes in the middle of otherwise peaceful protestors they changed into Nazi or KKK outfits. They would be summarily pounded into corn meal by those same "peaceful" protestors in the same time it took me to write this sentence. Read your history, the Nazis employed the same tactics when they were known as the "brown shirts". Society was repelled then and we are repelled now, after all - what is the difference? If the "Survivor" idea doesn't catch on lets make peace with the North Koreans and stage the next G20 there. I am sure that society would be wide open and welcoming to the "Black Block", or how about the Iranians, or the Chinese or.. well you get the picture.

This rant started with a quote about the relationship between ignorance and violence. This is not a debate about left vs right - ignorance is universal, violence is universal. What is required is the will to stand up to those who embrace ignorance and violence as ends to themselves. So next time your protesting something and somebody next to you decides to break a window or something please understand that if you do nothing you are complicit. If at that moment you take action, do something, anything to change the outcome then from my view you have established the legitimacy of your point of view. As citizens of a democracy this power resides in all of us and no amount of police or security will ever replace it.