When your civil resistance makes them think

Civil resistance alongside the term nonviolent resistance, is used to describe political action that relies on the use of non-violent methods by civil groups to challenge a particular power, force, policy or regime. Civil resistance operates through appeals to the adversary, pressure and coercion: it can involve systematic attempts to undermine the adversary’s sources of power. Forms of action have included demonstrations, vigils and petitions; strikes, go-slows, boycotts and emigration movements; and sit-ins, occupations, and the creation of parallel institutions of government.

Backstory, according to the YouTube page – I got this ticket in a town where the cops (and absurd redlight cameras) are pretty much a money trap and that’s it. I decided to pay in an appropriate manner – 137 origami pig $1 bills, put in a pair of dozen-donut dunkin donut boxes.

My thoughts – Half of me thinks he wimped out on his protest. He went to all of that trouble to fold all of those dollar bills and then let a clerk tell him to unfold them or he wouldn’t accept them. He caved really easily. The other half of me thinks that he had a greater impact on the clerk and the officer who understood the protest, weren’t made to look like jerks in the video, and no doubt told everyone they knew about the guy who paid his fine in origami pigs.

What do you think? Did he wuss out? Or did he make his point and carry on? 


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5 responses to “When your civil resistance makes them think”

  1. Joe Troyer Avatar

    Sorry, i feel bad for this guy because it ended up being a little lame. He didn’t clearly state his protest. He ended up being their entertainment for the day. It was kind of a waste of time. When they asked him why took the time to fold the pigs he said something about people have piggy banks or keep money in pigs so…. He didn’t even take the chance to protest.

    Good idea, but the point was lost in the presentation. Sounds like some of the Bible studies I’ve planned in the past.

  2. Christopher Benek Avatar

    I am not sure that, by definition, this was civil resistance – considering that he didn’t resist anything. The issue of the ticket was never addressed. But regardless who has 4 hours to fold origami “pigs” (they look more like origami Eeyores to me) and doesn’t have a follow-through plan? This video makes me think that this is really the Star Wars Kid: http://tinyurl.com/ydfxkn at work again in the world.

  3. The Church State Guy Avatar

    Technically not civil disobedience since there was no disobedience or resistance involved. Harvesting your own salt to avoid salt tax, not moving to the back of the bus, that’s civil disobedience. This is just a bit childish, and the message, honestly is kinda worthless. You don’t like that you got caught running a light, so you tell the sheriff’s office CLERK that cops are pigs who like doughnuts. Sorry, this is a fail. (p.s. $137 is a bargain for a red light ticket compared to San Diego — I’m ashamed that I know that).

    1. The Church State Guy Avatar

      But “the sole survivor of the great dollar pig massacre of 2012” was awesome.

  4. Brandon Pachey Avatar
    Brandon Pachey

    Completely stupid. The only thing this guy proved is that hes taking freedom for granted and being irresponsible. Its an obvious cry for attention. Fail. Some peoples kids. Not civil disobiedence.

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