My reprint of the scene doesn’t do justice to how funny it is to see Bernie Mac’s facial expression and body movement while he’s saying these things. So if you haven’t saw the movie before, at least watch it for Bernie Mac’s performance. That scene, like many other moments in the late great comedian’s career had humor and truth. The truth is most people don’t know what NATO stands for, or what they do and how their actions affect the rest of the world. Then you have people who may know what it means, but don’t care enough to go and protest and get arrested by the police.
Q & A
Why?
Why would you march in Chicago on a 90 degree day and hold signs that denounce the rich and powerful. I wanted to know why and I needed to know why?
I watched several media streams and saw pictures of protestors standing face to face against police officers dressed in riot gear. I was thinking I have to be there. If the revolution was taking place in my city, I would have to be a part of it; at the very least write about it.
The summit was a two day meeting of heads of different nations collectively known as the National Alliance Treaty Organization. Protestors were out to show their displeasure against NATO, from May 19th, when most of the delegates arrived, to May 21st; when most of them left. The first NATO meeting took place in Washington D.C in 1949; that same year the people of Iceland had a riot to protest its countries participation in the alliance. Subsequently there has been opposition against NATO every year since. So you can understand why Chicago officials were being extra cautious when it came down to security. Chicago is the only U.S city other than Washington D.C to host a NATO summit meeting. New Chicago Mayor Emanuel Rahm has also solicited National Football League Commissioner Roger Goddell to become the second cold weather city after New York City to host a Super Bowl. I think the new mayor has visions of a secure, super city where the police officers are patrolling downtown Chicago in riot gear all the time and riding on trains with machine guns out. Keep in mind this is already taking place in New York City.
The abundance of police and law enforcement officials on foot, horseback, cars, vans, trucks, and helicopters has a way of making you feel uneasy; especially if you are a black man. Maybe that’s why I didn’t see many Black people at the protest. I mean there were a few radical, globally conscious, suburban types present. Jesse Jackson was there to make his traditional camera appearance. My friend and his son were there; I guess you can also count the photographers and media personnel; but other than that, nothing.I did see this one brother sitting on the ground with a cigar in his hand. He didn’t give his age, but I’m guessing he was in his late thirties or early forties. He said his name was James from Chicago. And he looked like he was tired or high. He said he was there “to support the people.” He mentioned he came out for the first day, as well for the finale. I teased him about being the only black dude there and he smiled and reiterated that he was “just there to support”.