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From: chas@ihuxe.UUCP (Charles Lambert)
Newsgroups: net.flame
Subject: In the service of the citizen.
Message-ID: <1126@ihuxe.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 14-May-85 11:11:37 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihuxe.1126
Posted: Tue May 14 11:11:37 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 15-May-85 01:13:34 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 25

Well, I see that in another demonstration of the subtlety and elegance
for which American law enforcement is justly famous, the Philadelphia
police force has virtually destroyed a neighbourhood.  For more than
eight hours they poured water and tear gas into the row-house which had
housed members of the radical MOVE group, despite the fact that no-one
had seen any sign of life from the place since early morning and the police
could not say whether there was anyone still in there.  At a loss for any
constructive course of action, they enacted their masterstroke: a helicopter
dropped an explosive device onto a "fortified structure" (made of wood)
on the roof of the house. Casting around for some justification for this
clumsy extravagance, the officials suggested that this would also pierce
the roof allowing them to pump more tear-gas in. More, that is, than the
thousands of cubic feet already used. In a paralysis of stupidity, they then
allowed the resulting fire to spread to four neighbouring homes before
the fire department was permitted to act.

This morning, in the aftermath, it is reported that "as many as 60" homes
have been destroyed or damaged.  The outcome? One woman and a nine-year-
old child are in custody.  Residents of the neighbourhood, who originally
complained to the mayor of the anti-social behaviour of the MOVE group,
must be deeply grateful to the authorities for restoring the peace of 
their homes in this way.  The cost in suffering and displacement will
probably go largely unregarded, since this was a low-income neighbourhood.

Charles Lambert @ the Death Star, IL.