Mixed Martial Artist Jeff Monson was caught and eventually pled guilty to spray-painting an anarchist symbol on the Capitol of Washington state last year. According to the Cagewriter blog: “Monson, 38, is scheduled to be sentenced in October, with the prosecutor recommending 90 days in jail. He was also slapped with a $21,894 fine for restitution. However, the crushing blow for Monson is that he was forced to hand over his passport. He is reported to have fights scheduled in Russia and Japan in early 2010, and won’t be able to travel for them. When asked to turn the passport over, he asked the prosecutor, “Are you going to support my family now?”
Monson, the Mixed Media Artist
So now the Anarchist hero is worried about the consequences of breaking the law. Monson has a master’s degree in psychology and is an outspoken Anarchist. Apparently he thought that tagging the Washington State Capitol with the anarchist symbol would advance the cause. Just like it it has when thousands of teenagers have tagged other buildings that did not belong to them. That, of course, is the public face of Anarchism. No reasoned argument about the power and evil of the state – just juvenile vandalism and rebellion against anything that gets between the juvenile and whatever he desires.
Monson invited ESPN the Magazine along on his Mixed Media Arts adventure. This makes me think that he wanted some publicity (duh). And so the price of this publicity stunt is a fine for $21,894, 90 days in the can, and the restricted ability to travel. And this really surprises him. So surprised that he whines to the prosecutor, “Are you going to support my family now?” I find this comical.
I am sure that Monson has the ability to rationally argue on behalf of Anarchism. Maybe the publicity he got from this stunt caused some people to seek out more information. Maybe some teenager with a can of spray paint will try to understand what Anarchy is all about. Or maybe they will just vandalize other peoples property, break whatever rules suit them, and pretend that that is what Anarchy is all about.
Recent Comments