G20 in Toronto

democracy |diˈmäkrəsē|
noun ( pl. -cies)
a system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.
• a state governed in such a way : a multiparty democracy.
• the practice or principles of social equality : demands for greater democracy.

fascism |ˈfa sh ˌizəm| (also Fascism)
noun
an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.
• (in general use) extreme right-wing, authoritarian, or intolerant views or practice.

As it was pointed out the news, “they [violent protesters] weren’t protesters they were vandals. Dr. King’s people protested, Gandhi’s people protested.” Without protests injustices grow as more and more freedoms are taken away. Rights have never been given. I understand the frustration and fear but remember what Benjamin Franklin said, “People willing to trade their freedom for temporary security deserve neither and will lose both.”

I don’t know what frightened me more, seeing Toronto turned into a police state, or seeing how many people welcomed it. Democracy, social equality, humanity, it would seem, has been traded for the sake of economy; as people were pulled of the streets and put in cages (including members of the press). It's not the first time in history that this has happen. Neither is it the first time people welcomed it.

It's not about siding with the protesters, or the police, it's about human rights. Anyone, one either side, that violated them needs to be held accountable. In a democracy we all need to use our individual voices to speak out against those violations.