You would think this post is going to be about my awesome weekend at Beltane Brouhaha….but it’s not. Nope, I have to talk about that OTHER May Day.

While I was gone 11 people went on a vandalizing rampage in our downtown area that is home to small businesses. Call me bitter but I hate how May Day has now become this day of protest and destruction. In truth it’s not protesting that bothers me…it’s the destruction.

 May Day is a spring festival. For some of us it’s about the union of the god and goddess. A time to revel in your marriage or relationship and take time to create life, whether through sexual union or merely planting a garden. It is NOT about violence. So it pains me to hear people to refer to their day of destruction as May Day.

But I am bothered by much more than that. I am bothered by anyone who thinks it is ok to destroy someone else’s property or livelihood. I work with small businesses, these are people who are not privileged! They take good care of their employees and barely have enough to put food on their table and keep a roof over their head. They work every single day of their lives and love every minute of it (ok maybe not EVERY minute but most times they do). We here in Asheville take care of each other. It doesn’t matter what color we are, religious preferences, or sexual preference. We don’t always agree but when push comes to shove we help each other out. For that matter when some idiots ban together and destroy what we love so much about our city, we will step up and defend ourselves.

My real question is WHY not the Walmart? Hell WHY any violence at all? Do you really think anyone will take you seriously? I am all for free speech and freedom of expression but within reason. Had you protested by walking the streets with signs, no biggie. I personally respect anyone who makes their voices heard if they are doing it in a manner that doesn’t cause harm to another. But start using violence and you discredit yourself as being a serious individual.

Now a group wants to raise money for the 11 that have been arrested so they can post their bail. Am I the only person who sees the irony in this? If you are going to get arrested for your passion, then you should be equipped with the sense to stand by what you did and accept any consequences that may occur. Now looking through the forum I have to say that several anarchists have gained my respect as they see this event as being disrespectful and cowardly. I may not understand the anarchist movement but at least they see how much damage it has caused to the movement all together. For the 11, I propose that citizens in Asheville get the rights to their property. Cars, computer equipment, cell phones, video games, clothing, whatever they have….all goes to us to auction off and aid the people who were vandalized. After all, all those items were bought at some point and contributed to the capitalism of this nation. We wouldn’t want them to have items that contributed to what they are so adamantly against, right?

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