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Actually all you are doing is giving your opinion in lieu of actual law and making excuses for the actions of the protesters.
I have 10 years of law enforcement experience so yes, i'm willing to tell you that you are wrong in your understanding of how our laws work and apply. and what constitutes a crime and what doesn't.
Whats your background?
Originally posted by charles1952
reply to post by XPLodER
Dear XPLodER,
Nice to run into you again, mind if I butt in?
The United States was proud, at one time, of the idea we were a nation of laws, not men. That reality has crumbled significantly, but we are not yet at the point of authoritarianism or dictatorship. Our laws, and our police are pretty much all that keep order. Citizens are discouraged from carrying weapons, or getting involved in any way, and conscience and civility have been eaten away in large segments of our society.
So, no surprise that laws are important to us.
We expect everyone to know basic rules underlying our laws, human rights, property rights, etc. We are not required to put up signs outside our houses saying "Uninvited guests, stay out or you are violating a law!" It's assumed everyone knows that.
We, in the vast majority of cases, expect our laws to be enforced. So, when a law says "Doing XYZ is a bad thing," we expect some punishment for people doing XYZ. We don't stop to ask, "Is doing XYZ really a bad thing?" That question has been debated in our legislature and decided.
We also believe that property rights are human rights and should be protected. So yes, the protesters are violating laws and should be punished.
HOWEVER, the tradition of dissent has been powerful in the United States and has many admirers. The Supreme Court has ruled some laws restricting dissent to be unconstitutional, but not all. The government may, constitutionally put some limits on protest. People are free to ignore those limits, but then they should expect to be punished.
So either obey the laws with your protest or not. If you don't you'll be punished (possibly) and that's the price you pay. Some people think it's worth it, others don't.
I agree completely that different rules apply, but certainly the underlying principles are the same. Don't interfere with someone who wants to use their property. Leave if you're asked to. Behave yourself. That sort of thing.
the difference lies between the distinction of "private property" someones house, and an embasy (forign soil)
so different laws and customs must be observed in each differentr place.