The absurdity of the Summit

The G-20 this week was supposed to be an opportunity to showcase Pittsburgh. Instead, the city turned into a police state as 4,000 officers tried to fend off freaks run a muck. Obviously, we all expected this to happen, but it is very disappointing that many in the international press corps are expressing dismay that there aren't any real yinzers to interview. But would YOU go dahntahn and be immersed in the possible mayhem? These reporters have to be a little disappointed when they can only train their pens and notebooks on Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato and Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Steelerstahl.

Clearly, the most bizarre moment happened when a man in a bloodied seal costume crawled on the sidewalk with the anarchist mob. The Post-Gazette and their Big Story blog put it this way...

***The goal is to reach the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, where The G-20 is set to convene. How close they will get, even what route they will take, remains unclear. Nobody at the park had a clear idea, nor a single message.Near one entrance, a group of city bicycle patrolman watched a man dressed as a bleeding baby seal drag his way along the sidewalk.

"I think he's a seal," said the one officer.

In truth, he looked like a bleeding mushroom. The guy dragged himself until he got out of camera range, then got up and joined the others.***

(Here's the video that shows the ailing seal about one minute in)

I don't mind most of the protests, in fact, some are quite clever. But I sure hate those anarchists. Obviously, their title says it all. However, why do mom 'n' pop shops deserve their business windows smashed because their owners are trying to make a living? How are they a part of this globalization conspiracy when they're probably barely making enough money to keep the lights on? It's ridiculous, and I wish the anarchists many arrests during their recent vacation to Pittsburgh.

(Photo by Scott Beveridge)