William S. Burroughs vs. George Edgerly Harris III on how to handle the police

By Jack Brummet, Protest and Civil Disobedience Ed.

Point

Photographing an anti-war protest on October 21, 1967, Bernie Boston captured this famous image. As the National Guard closed in on a group of protesters, George Edgerly Harris III (later known as gay activist and theater leader Hibiscus) walked up and and started placing carnations in their gun barrels. 

Counterpoint

William Burroughs, on seeing the photograph above, said "The people in power will not disappear voluntarily, giving flowers to the cops just isn't going to work. This thinking is fostered by the establishment; they like nothing better than love and nonviolence. The only way I like to see cops given flowers is in a flower pot from a high window."

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Police roadblocks in Colombia

By Jack Brummet, South American Travel Ed.

On our seven hour journey from Palomino to Cartagena, we were stopped in numerous policia roadblocks/inspections--both local and federale.  

On our way there, we saw none.  I don't know if it's random or there was some triggering event.  This area is very close to Venezuela and we have heard there are problems with smuggling from there.  

Maybe I've seen too many movies, but you sort of half expect something to go wrong and for the shooting to begin.  And you therefore sit very still, obedient, with as pleasant a mug as you can muster.  And it's all fine in the end.  

I know we probably wouldn't be able to visit this great place without the strides they have made wiping out the warlords and narco-cartels.