Asked and answered in one question!

You ‘wish you hadn’t’ quoted the woman?

WHY would you censor what seems to be the most compelling element in describing the mindset / behavior of this lovely crowd, for that matter, this entire ‘genre’ of ‘entertainment’.

It is a sad reminder of how much downtown specifically and Minneapolis in general have changed – FOR THE WORST.

Rex, the t-shirt, please!

Mark, I didn’t say any of the things you accuse me of, so I’m not sure what to respond to. I have no idea why security seemed light that night. And the Quest has been such a huge proponent of black music, salsa, dancehall, etc. that I’ll leave your comment about racism untouched.

My point was that Ryan might have good reason to change the subject. And since your hearts don’t bleed, I hope y’all recognize somebody not taking responsibility when you read it.

As I said on the DUNation board, the violent behavior was pathetic and disgusting. It was obviously the fault of those who initiated it and prolonged it. Most everyone else at the show felt the same way, judging by what they said, and the looks on their faces.

Why would anyone assume otherwise? Because of lyrics? Incidents at other shows? Let’s see, now, this is a tough one…

A phone call to the police on Monday made it clear that this particular incident was not under police investigation. After the art director downloaded the photo, I could see that the victim’s face was obscured. To me, what registers is the emotion and body language around him. This seemed worth making public.

I’ve been the victim of several violent crimes. I hope I’m tuned-in to the post-traumatic stress of people watching their tragedy play out in the media. The day after I was attacked by a crackhead in New Orleans in 1995, a copy of the Nation arrived with the headline “One Violent Crime.” It was an editorial by a victim who felt attacked all over again when his image became a propaganda tool in the crime war. The article opened: “Alone in my home I am staring at the television screen and shouting. On the evening local news I have unexpectedly encountered video footage, several months old, of myself writhing on an ambulance gurney…”

It would be a nightmare come true for me if this piece further afflicts the afflicted. I can already tell it comforts the comfortable.

I’m pretty sure no other publication or tv station would run images of shooting victims outside bars. Does that mean I think it’s a bad idea? Not really. I think what’s interesting here is that a blog (even a blog under the name of a media outlet) can “get away” with running these kinds of photos. And you can only bet that you’ll see more and more of this as owning a digi cam (and having a publishing mechanism) becomes as common as owning shoes.