Jedi Intervention in Dakota Access Pipeline

Silas Mercury wrote: It's f*cking disgusting. Things like this are happening and we are just sitting here talking. Get your ass up outta that couch, skim through 'Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee' and you'll know what do do. The Natives are having what little land they have left stolen from them. Let's organize a group of Jedi to go there, provide food and aid to the protesters, and that would get our names out there. Come on guys. This is the opportunity.

Will you cover the wadges of my husband while I was gone? He'd need to stay home and care for my daughter, or will you do that? Scratch that, you're leaving to go there anyways right? Can you swing by here and pick me up? Or pay for my round trip plane ticket and taxi rides there and back? My food? Will you pay for our cost of living until I can find a new job once I get back? Oh, and while we're at it, I'll need a few grand to move back home so I can job hunt there instead. (That is, after all, what the military would have done if I had gotten out on good terms)

I can't afford Christmas gifts for my family. Why do you think it'd be a good idea to spend hundreds of dollars I don't have, much less can't afford, lose my job, and lose where we live to go and do this protesting? I do need to keep a roof over their heads. I need to feed them. What's disgusting is your utter lack of compassion and understanding for the position that many of us are already in. Do I like what's going on? No. I have yet to see a productive way that other people in my position can be of service. Since I'm guessing you can't afford to sponsor me to go, you are in the same position.

A Jedi knows where her priorities lie and why. I have a two year old who's life depends on me. I'm facing enough time away from her in my service in the military. Finances aside, I will not give up the time I have with her and my husband. I've done and am doing my service.

Aah to be so young and so ignorantly free Silas. I hope you can find a productive use for your passion some day.

Silas Mercury wrote: It's not a case of will not, it's one of can not.

Oh? They don't make airplanes that can travel across the ocean?

BBTim wrote: As much as I admire your passion, labeling people cowards for not agreeing with you might be a bit aggressive. I offer this to further educate you and anyone interested in learning some facts before charging in to what might be an unlawful demonstration:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-standing-rock-sioux-other-side-110916-20161109-story.html

I got a 404 error with that link Tim

My apologies, Kit. I'm sorry to hear about your situation. Is the military pay really that low ?!

And that somehow gives you the right to tell others what you yourself "can not?" Stop assuming it's so easy, stop pointing fingers and stop with the judgments. Your apologies don't hold weight here anymore Silas...

Spoiler for OT

Is the military pay really that low ?!

Military Pay is as low as the given country can get away with.

the USA and UK both offer "acceptable" packages that cover life costs and moderate luxuries to whatever standard of living is the "norm" in those countries.

No one joins the Military to "get rich".


Were you also not aware that the Military controls your haircuts, waistline, sock colour, piercings, and you get to go home on weekends "if" the Commander doesn't need you - it's not an industry right?

A lot of the discipline, servitude, and asceticism that inspired the Jedi ideals are carried out as Law in Military organisations.



I apologise for the derail, but whether or not you agree with any given Nation and their actions - Their soldiers rarely profit from any of it.



Semi-Back-On-Topic - I don't know what is happening in Dakota. I'm sure it's bad, however I am flat out protesting issues of concern in my own areas such as fracking, poorly considered development, and knee-jerk application of laws.

So I wish those in the USA and areas surrounding or affected by the Dakota pipelinee the best of luck with their efforts, and I recommend that everyone else find ways to improve the world in their own backyards and not carry on like galahs about issues they neither know anything about, or are in a position to affect.

Implying that others are of weak character, or cowards as you claim, is an age old tactic of manipulation. As the temple doctrine would remind, a Jedi does not deal in absolutes. Not all of us are capable of putting our lives on hold and traveling what can amount to hundreds or even thousands of miles (In my case, it is the latter) to join in a protest at our own expense.

There are far more effective ways to assist in the protest efforts, and a simple google search will yield multiple links through which you can make financial contributions to the organized efforts of the DAPL protesters. If you take the cost of one plane ticket, or just a few tank refills for your personal vehicle and donate that instead, I'm sure you would be assisting the protesters in purchasing much needed supplies and legal council.

I'd love to see some pictures of the protests once you get back from joining their efforts, as I'm sure with your convictions and claims of cowardice absent participation you will most certainly be going to join them.

The things which I have seen coming from North Dakota sicken me to the bone, but I have to be realistic about the fact that I can barely leave the house due to my illness; I would be more of a liability than an asset. To cast aspersions on your fellow Jedi because they have different life conditions that make such a action (however noble) infeasible goes against so much of the Jedi Doctrine and the Oaths we take. A Jedi is aware of their place in the Force; while yours may allow you go trekking across the country to risk life and limb for a righteous cause, everyone has their own place, and their own responsibilities.

1. I have two daughters. I REFUSE, to put them through that madness. I REFUSE, to put them through the potential loss, harm, abuse, trauma, or otherwise from the consequences of stupidly charging into a Cause because some of you self righteous idiots think your being "Big Brave Jedi" and I somehow am not because I am a mother and you are not.

2. I do not agree with the Protesters. Heck...The Original Protesters that started this dosnt agree with the protesters of today.

3. Get your facts before you judge others. That river has Many Pipelines already installed and in use. That pipeline only crosses a small measure of Native american land. That pipeline has gone through all legal procedures to get the ok. Throwing rocks, bottles, trash and vandalizing property to "Protest" Is illegal and not "Peaceful" I've even heard that some of the protesters have been caught raping women of the camp. I WILL NOT SUBJECT MY CHILDREN TO THIS.

4. And Silas. Unless you are willing to get on that Airplane and put your ass where your mouth is. You will abstain from such insults in the future.

Trisskar wrote:
I do not agree with the Protesters. Heck...The Original Protesters that started this dosnt agree with the protesters of today.

Same, I've only seen and heard one side of the story. And that side is more interested in screaming their own story then in hearing anybody else.

While the Mainstream media may not be discussing it (which is one issue), how am I to take the word of 1000 people that are actively taking part and using social media specifically to voice their own position.

Nobody has to physically travel to ND to get involved. Like I said, this isn't a call to march around and hold signs. I don't even think that works. What does work is:
1. Holding people accountable for their crimes
2. Being a witness
3. Bitching at congressmen, police chiefs, mayors, etc.
4. Breaking the media silence
5. Informing people of what's going on and what they can do.

Standing on the sidelines and doing nothing and saying nothing is actually helpful to the pipeline company and police. Once they set a precedent of using excessive force without any consequences, it becomes normalized. There will be tanks and grenades at every protest from now on. Hundreds of arrests, hundreds of injuries, etc.

Whyte Horse wrote: Nobody has to physically travel to ND to get involved. Like I said, this isn't a call to march around and hold signs. I don't even think that works. What does work is:
1. Holding people accountable for their crimes
2. Being a witness
3. Bitching at congressmen, police chiefs, mayors, etc.
4. Breaking the media silence
5. Informing people of what's going on and what they can do.

Standing on the sidelines and doing nothing and saying nothing is actually helpful to the pipeline company and police. Once they set a precedent of using excessive force without any consequences, it becomes normalized. There will be tanks and grenades at every protest from now on. Hundreds of arrests, hundreds of injuries, etc.

1. Holding people accountable for their crimes

Hold who accountable?, for what crimes?, in what fashion? Nobody in my local township has any direct involvement within the DAPL conflict, nor do they have any measurable degree of influence in it's eventual outcome.

2. Being a witness

Once again, in what fashion? How am I expected to serve as a witness unless I am directly involved in these events.

3. Bitching at congressmen, police chiefs, mayors, etc.

Of the Dakota state government, or my local government? Considering I am not represented under the Dakota state political or legal system, my voice and political stance carries no weight as I am not one of their constituents, nor am I a contributing resident. Within my own state government, I find no reason worth merit as to why I should antagonize my political representatives, police chiefs, or other local elected officials to direct their attention to the political affairs of an external state government. My area has recently been subject to a number of devastating fires at industrial plants and centers, which have created a wide spread toxic fallout which has us operating in a state of emergency. Their efforts and attentions are far more appropriately directed to those immediate pressing issues.

4. Breaking the media silence

I'd be happy to sign a petition to encourage the media to direct their attention towards better covering the DAPL conflict, however outside of that it is not my place to demand that a privately held media corporation operate in one particular fashion or another. The news outlets are not an on demand service which tailor reports to the tastes of individual subscribers - they report based on events which are found to have the greatest effect and influence upon their collective viewer base.

Informing people of what's going on and what they can do.

OK, so most of us are already aware of the Dakota pipeline conflict. I have seen a couple posts by you now calling for us to spring to action, but failing to outline a suggested set of actions.

What exactly is it you suggest the TOTJO community do?

Outside of the things most people are already doing (Raising awareness, sending donations, encouraging individuals to do some of their own fact checking), I'm at a loss of what additional action you believe we should be taking.

If you're not in the US, you can send a scathing letter to your local ambassador
https://uk.usembassy.gov/visas/visa-information-services/contact-us-immigrant-visas/u-s-embassy-london-visa-unit-contact-form/

Well Kohadre, the first thing one could do is go and watch the videos, see the photos, read the posts of what's going on. There are live streams as well which is a convenient way to be a witness. After you see the evidence, you will know which crimes have been committed. One could then take action based on that knowledge. Such actions could include calling for a federal investigation or explaining to people that what they saw on fox news was the exact opposite of what happened. Things like that.

Oh yes. What a great idea. Lets send letters (Among the many thousands being sent from all over the world) to the powers involved stating firmly in words how very very upset we are........ Just to have it ignored along with the other thousands of letters.

Seriously.

You want to be involved? Go out there and help. But don't judge others who dont.

Trisskar wrote: Oh yes. What a great idea. Lets send letters (Among the many thousands being sent from all over the world) to the powers involved stating firmly in words how very very upset we are........ Just to have it ignored along with the other thousands of letters.

Seriously.

You want to be involved? Go out there and help. But don't judge others who dont.

I'm already involved. I was offering ways for people to get involved without making a major sacrifice. Look, the problem is not boots on the ground. They have 15,000 people currently. The problem is not money. It's not the majority of things we think. It's the military. The national guard. The US Army. Our army.

And you're right. An angry letter to some political sockpuppet won't change one damn thing. These are side-shows for the people who want to dip their toes in the water to see if it's hot. It's just an exercise. And once they see that this system is so corrupt that it could be called an oligarchy by the world's most prominent university, then they will take it to the next level.

The next level is <censored by US law regarding religion, nonprofits, and foundations>

Silas Mercury wrote: Let's organize a group of Jedi to go there, provide food and aid to the protesters, and that would get our names out there. Come on guys. This is the opportunity.

Ehhh... while I like the idea of food and aid (not that I can afford to do any of it and I don't know who among us can), and I do like the idea of a Jedi presence among the protesters (because really, shouldn't a Jedi be willing to defend the oppressed?)... I don't know if I'm comfortable with drawing attention to us, per se.

Mostly because it's not really about us. It's about them.

CryojenX wrote: The things which I have seen coming from North Dakota sicken me to the bone, but I have to be realistic about the fact that I can barely leave the house due to my illness; I would be more of a liability than an asset. To cast aspersions on your fellow Jedi because they have different life conditions that make such a action (however noble) infeasible goes against so much of the Jedi Doctrine and the Oaths we take. A Jedi is aware of their place in the Force; while yours may allow you go trekking across the country to risk life and limb for a righteous cause, everyone has their own place, and their own responsibilities.

Agreed. Honestly, they probably have too many people to organize and take care of as it is. Me going out there with all of my nonsense wouldn't do them any good.

By all means, if anyone can go, and would be useful there, I'm all for it. But I think there other ways we can help... I think there was a way you could donate to the tribe to assist them, or something?

Whyte Horse wrote: 1. Holding people accountable for their crimes
2. Being a witness
3. Bitching at congressmen, police chiefs, mayors, etc.
4. Breaking the media silence
5. Informing people of what's going on and what they can do.

I'm with you on 3 and 5, but the rest seem kind of... uh... out-of-reach or odd for the average viewer. "Being a witness"? In what sense? Just following the news?

But 3 and 5 I can absolutely agree with. Let your representatives know, let your friends know, don't let this news be obscure, and make sure they know exactly why there's a protest about it.

https://thefreethoughtproject.com/10-protest-dakota-access-pipeline/
(For this link to work you may need to remove the s after http...)

https://heavy.com/news/2016/11/standing-rock-veterans-donations-fundraiser-go-fund-me-dapl-dakota-access-pipeline-arm-blown-off-video-photos-amazon-list-facebook/

https://standingrock.org/

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/opinion/os-ed-standing-rock-sioux-other-side-110916-20161109-story.html