You’re right that voting is not the only democratic mechanic. Without mass, its not a quickly-satisfying one either for any disgruntled citizen. That was a bit of a cop-out on my part for the sake of the rule of threes. I know you know that the Stonewall riots are not what gave you the rights you enjoy, so I’m going to let that slide because I get what you’re trying to say. I think the way you’re speaking about public safety and the men and women who ensure them, in general terms, is horrific and sparks an emotional response that I’m embarrassed to stoop to your level to engage in, but here we are. That said, I understand that the reason you’re writing this way is because you’re outraged, but I expect that you understand that words matter regardless of how much steam is blowing out of your ears; your inability to speak responsibly doesnt forfeit your right to “complain on the internet” but it certainly forfeits the expectation of respect, and reduces it to pity. I promise you we’re on the same side. But this is no way to go about solving a problem. I hope you don’t delete your comments and can reckon with yourself in some time from now, when you’re emotionally deescalated and maybe even in need of help from public service, in whatever capacity or similarity to the status quo it shapes itself to be after all this.
The riots did not give us protection under law, or constitution. They gave America an un-ignorable reminder that the LGBT community has been oppressed (including legally) and abused (including legally) in NYC and across the country. It’s not an accident that the protests today accomplish the same regarding the oppression of people of color. Rioting is an expensive but effective tool for awareness. But I’m not so sure it helps cops beat civilians less, or defend gay nightclubs from predatory mob bosses and denial of healthcare. My point is that action within the municipal and higher govt systems, and the force of unified constituents, pushed the system into a safer place despite itself after the fact, and there is no guarantee that rioting is causal to change, or beneficial in any way. If a group of people feel entitled to catharsis, so be it, but they ought to be accountable and admit their intention outright. I haven’t fleshed this reasoning out yet to be frank, but I hope you see my point. Regardless this is really beside the point here and I don’t want to fight you on semantics either because I prefer not enter “youre not wrong, youre just an asshole” territory. For the record, I’m not in the military because I believe “violence solves problems.” Violence causes pain, and death, as intended. Nothing more. To attribute progress to violence is to forfeit any semblance of reason to coexist as humans in any meaningful way; there’s a reason governments depend on a monopoly of violence to legitimize their sovereignty. Not that it matters, but I joined because I’d rather be the one accountable and held responsible for the management of violence than anyone else. This is my way of bearing the full burden of our social contract in a manner that leaves no room for false justification or pageantry. My oath includes the responsibility to disobey an order that is unlawful, unethical, or otherwise patently ill intended.