What If The Bullet Were Real?

A man filming a police line at the Occupy Oakland protest was shot by police with a rubber bullet, although he provoked no one and was given no warning.

No doubt, city officials and police forces are challenged by the Occupy Movement to strike a delicate balance between ensuring public safety and protecting the rights of all of us, but when that fine line is trod all over by a pair of jack boots, the authorities do themselves no favors.

As I watched the clip below, I wondered - what if the bullet were real? What would the unprovoked police shooting of a protester, presumably armed with only a video camera, say about the state of our democracy? Are we one poor decision away from witnessing a bizarre Tiennamen-style showdown in the U.S.?

It wasn't a real bullet this time, but with so little organization in the Occupy Movement, and with thousands of frustrated and overworked cops interacting daily with teeming hoards of tired and angry protesters, the opportunities for a tragic mistake are mounting. Keep your wits about you, America.

This is a chilling and sobering scene.

Viewing Tip: Click the title bar at the top of the clip to view in a larger window.