Dance troupe from Jacksonville shuts down the Lincoln Tunnel

[BigGuy219]

there is a huge gulf between 'can't' and 'shouldn't'.

The drivers of the vehicles were still in them. 

And if no one is moving (which was the case) the only danger is that Homeland Security might mistake your intentions.

It doesn't matter if the drivers were in the cars or not. Traffic stinks. We all hate it, but you can't say "to heck with this" and jump out of the car (even as a passenger) and proceed on foot. Those are not pedestrian areas.

Think of our I-95. Only enclosed and at the bottom of a river.

You can't walk on that.

[BigGuy219]

there is a huge gulf between 'can't' and 'shouldn't'.

The drivers of the vehicles were still in them. 

And if no one is moving (which was the case) the only danger is that Homeland Security might mistake your intentions.

It doesn't matter if the drivers were in the cars or not. Traffic stinks. We all hate it, but you can't say "to heck with this" and jump out of the car (even as a passenger) and proceed on foot. Those are not pedestrian areas.

Think of our I-95. Only enclosed and at the bottom of a river.

You can't walk on that.

.
Ive been in the tunnel. I used to live in the City.  Bleeker and Christopher, across from the old Apothecary, if you know the area. But thanks for the explanation of what 'tunnel' means.

These roads and tunnels were made to enable, not imprison us, Big Guy.

They are made for vehicular traffic. Not pedestrian traffic. It's an underwater tunnel filled with vehicle exhaust. There's a reason why you have to roll your window up when you go through one. It's not for people!

[BigGuy219]

Well then I guess they all got arrested right?

No, but a citation of sorts against the operator of the vehicles is certainly in order.

[BigGuy219]

Well then I guess they all got arrested right?

No, but a citation of sorts against the operator of the vehicles is certainly in order.

but that didnt happen either?

It's too political. No one wants to see a bunch of black kids hassled on a trip to New York. Not at the start of the holiday season. Once it settles down and nobody's paying attention there'll be some more clearly posted regulations.

[BigGuy219]

oh.  so homeland security shut down the tunnel, there were cops all over the place, and neither the kids nor the drivers were arrested, or even ticketed, but people 'can't' get do that and you know better than the professionals on the ground?

um.

ok.

Well I can't argue with that kind of self view man.

Why should they be arrested? It's traffic law. Not criminal law. Like jaywalking.

[BigGuy219]

Well then I guess they all got arrested right?

No, but a citation of sorts against the operator of the vehicles is certainly in order.

but that didnt happen either?

It's too political. No one wants to see a bunch of black kids hassled on a trip to New York. Not at the start of the holiday season. Once it settles down and nobody's paying attention there'll be some more clearly posted regulations.

Ah.......I see.  Its because they are black.  Well that certainly explains everything.

Most of us would have thought it was because Homeland Security overreacted in an incredibly expensive, pain in the ass but still amusing kind of way.

But, hey, if the black angle works for you, then I think I get where your coming from suddenly.

Just gotta love you northern, enlightened liberal yankees.  Never fail to entertain.

I am most definately not a liberal. In fact, I'm here to throw my very own crate of tea into the St. John's River.

And yes. Race plays a factor in every single aspect of life, and nowhere moreso than our criminal justice system. Someone has to be honest about it. Race played a part in why the alert was issued. It also played a part in why the matter was dropped. This is not a post-racial society. If anything, we're moving in the opposite direction.

[BigGuy219]

what you implied was that these kids didnt get punished because they were black---don't try and deflect your words.

sounds kind of backward and a little ignorant to my southern ears actually.

just letting you know.

racist talk might have been fine in whatever place you came from, but most of us have moved beyond all that.

I'm not trying to deflect my words. When the cameras are off black people get worse treatment than whites. When the cameras are on black people get better treatment than whites. It's terrible that society is that way, but that's just how it is.

And, very few people here have seemed to move beyond it. You can draw lines between racially divided communities here in town.

[BigGuy219]

what you implied was that these kids didnt get punished because they were black---don't try and deflect your words.

sounds kind of backward and a little ignorant to my southern ears actually.

just letting you know.

racist talk might have been fine in whatever place you came from, but most of us have moved beyond all that.

I'm not trying to deflect my words. When the cameras are off black people get worse treatment than whites. When the cameras are on black people get better treatment than whites. It's terrible that society is that way, but that's just how it is.

And, very few people here have seemed to move beyond it. You can draw lines between racially divided communities here in town.

Im sorry that its that way where you come from.  I doubt that its true, of course.  I think in general people are treated better when cameras are on, no matter what color they are.  I certainly don't think the black people are being treated 'better' than white people under similar circumstances.  Sounds like a bit of paranoid racist fantasizing.

That you apparently cannot tell the difference is the problem.

I think its ridiculous that these kids have this crazy adventure, full of bad ideas, bad timing, stupid planning, but lots of heart and drive, and you have to come deface a discussion about the incident with your fantasies about how they apparently got away with something 'because they are black'.

Nice job man.

A real example to us dumb southerners, Im sure.

You need to spend time with more than just people who like to eat organic food and appreciate local artwork.

Go to the Cracker Barrel. Spend some time with the real folks and learn about what's really going on in this city and country.

[BigGuy219]

Which Im sure you do every day from your perch at Berkman?  Are you trying to imply that your uppity friends from the suburbs who won't come downtown because of the homeless take you to Cracker Barrel instead?

Well thats lovely, Im sure.  

Now that you know everything there is to know about Jacksonville, I think I would really appreciate your take on the 'real volk'.

That would be amazing.

Yes. That is exactly what I am implying. If we put a Cracker Barrel down here, maybe more people would actually come down.

[BigGuy219]

Which Im sure you do every day from your perch at Berkman?  Are you trying to imply that your uppity friends from the suburbs who won't come downtown because of the homeless take you to Cracker Barrel instead?

Well thats lovely, Im sure.  

Now that you know everything there is to know about Jacksonville, I think I would really appreciate your take on the 'real volk'.

That would be amazing.

Yes. That is exactly what I am implying. If we put a Cracker Barrel down here, maybe more people would actually come down.

Why not a Denny's and um, a general store while we're at it.....you know...the kind with peanut shells and straw all over the floor.

Something authentic.

Now you've got the right kind of thinking to rebuild downtown.

[BigGuy219]

Which is why you belong in the suburbs.  Of Folkston Georgia.

You clearly need to stop hanging out with downtown cafe owners, and spend a moment wondering why everyone is taking the piss out of you in this town.

You seem a bit backwoodsy, which is why I assume you left New York, but with a little therapy and a semester of finishing school you might turn out ok.

This may be NE Florida on the map, but culturally it is more like SE Georgia. Do you and I even live in the same city I wonder? Or do you just live in your own little bubble where people sing about parking tickets and panhandlers perform for you for nickels? I have never met someone so ignorant and naive before. You're in a for a difficult reality check one day soon.

[Ocklawaha]

Ah the wisdom from the north blows in again... Sorry boy's y'all have been played for suckers and these kids and their producer are the brightest stars on the block! They instantly went from "could have been" stars, to national acclaim.

Oprah? and God knows who else will have them all over the screen. Way to go Duuuuvallll

OCKLAWAHA

[tufsu1]

this whole tit for tat is completely unneccesary!

[ChriswUfGator]

this whole tit for tat is completely unneccesary!

And look who's talkin'. Most ironic post of 2010. And it's been a long year...

[Lunican]

You can't just jump out of your car like that. Not in a tunnel.  Not on a bridge. It's terribly dangerous to everyone around. Who doesn't know that?

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hypo_style/2295542830/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/hypo_style/2295542438/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/skelastic/104326513/