[DanaC]

Oh undoubtedly. A little like with my recent experience of the world of politics: knowing something is so and actually experiencing it first hand are two different things. I knew the police were violent towards the miners; I knew that their role in such situations was less about maintaining public order and more about upholding the state. Actually watching people battered by police in body armour and having a fucking big horse charge towards me was nonetheless a tad shocking:P

I went on quite a few demos after that; some small some big. After the Poll tax riot though, I had one eye out for oncoming trouble. Judah and I generally tried to be in the thick of it if it kicked off. I've had some interesting experiences because of that tendency:P

Of course that was when I was young and invincible......these days I am convinced enough of my own mortality and frailties (ie. fear of pain) that I generally avoid fights with baton wielding riot police.


Funnily enough, I met and got to know a guy in Halifax a couple of years ago (still a good friend) and during a stoned, drunken exchange of war stories, it transpired that he had been there too! He still had his placard.