The past few days have not been pleasant for me. At all.

I work in the financial district of downtown San Francisco, which is a major site of all the war protests going on here. Can you imagine my paranoia/fear/anger when I arrive in the city and find protesters throwing entire huge metal newsstands into the streets? Or when protesters are throwing water at people who are trying to get into their office buildings? Or when I get to the train station to go home and find that service has been delayed due to protesters throwing rocks at the trains going from San Francisco to the other parts of the Bay? Or when I am stuck in my office for hours because the police have asked building security not to let anyone in or out of the building?

This is what I have had to deal with these last few days.

I mean, come on. I’m all for people voicing their opinions through large group demonstrations — heck, I went to UC Berkeley, the home of the free speech movement. But I do not understand why a protest needs to escalate into violence and the destruction of property.

At first I was scared. But after two straight days of feeling that way, I think I’ve reached the point where I feel upset and angry. What is the point of taunting innocent people who are trying to go on with their daily routine? Am I a selfish person for going to work while the war is going on?

Gah.

Anyway. The answers to more of your questions tomorrow.