Over the past months, much has been written about the Occupy movement. Critics bash the movement, calling protesters "lazy freeloaders who should shut up and get a job," while supporters praise the movement, donating money, time, and supplies. Regardless of where you stand on the spectrum of support, one thing is certain: the Occupy movement has started a new dialogue between people, which in many respects is its main goal.
While critics may view Occupiers as unpatriotic and annoying, Occupiers are really following in the footsteps of our country's founders. Think back to your grade school history classes and you'll see that the United States was founded upon protests. From the Stamp Act of 1765 to the Boston Tea Party in 1773, protests are what shaped our country and helped us become a free nation. So why frown upon protesting today?
Here's why: The Occupy movement is powerful and shows the world how anyone can be just as powerful and make a difference. Instead of looking to others -- such as politicians and big business -- to make the changes society needs, the Occupiers are proving that power rests in each individual. The Occupy movement shows that anyone -- from a war veteran to a homemaker to an unemployed worker -- can stand up for what's right and change the country, even the world. For many in power today, that's a scary thought. And that's why I love the Occupy movement.
Critics of the Occupy movement attempt to undermine the movement by questioning its validity when protesters don't have any set list of demands. They claim that all successful protests have a succinct list of things they want changed. What the critics fail to see is that the main point of Occupy is less about generating solutions than about generating pressure, solidarity, visibility, and discussion. Remember, Occupy is a movement; it's not a list of demands. It's a call for wide-sweeping change, not a shot at single-issue reforms. And that's what makes the movement different and great. As one protester's sign beautifully proclaimed: "Don't confuse the complexity of this movement with chaos."
What I find most interesting about the Occupy movement is that it provokes a response from the state, and the state responds in the only way that it knows how -- with force, control, and violence. Nowhere was this more obvious than at UC Davis, when police attacked seated students with a chemical gas. It seems that the Occupy movement forces the state to show its hand. And it shows us that our society has not changed much in the past 200 plus years.
A Bittersweet View
While I believe in the Occupy movement and applaud the protesters for bringing key issues to the limelight, there are a few things I hate about it too. For one, I can't help but question their approach and the way they are organizing (or perhaps not organizing) their protest. I wonder if they'd get better results, more awareness, and more support if they had a bit more of an organized structure.
It seems from watching the protests around the world, and even seeing protesters in my own city, that minorities and the underprivileged -- the people who need the message the Occupy movement stands for the most -- actually suffer the greatest consequences in the Occupy movement. For example:
• Family Supporters -- People whose livelihood and family income is reliant on them attending their jobs the next morning cannot afford to camp out with the Occupy movement, nor is it necessarily safe for them to do so. Could there be some other way for working people to join the message without risk losing their job, especially in a time when jobs can be hard to come by?
• Homeless -- The Occupy camps easily become safe havens for individuals who don't have a safe place to go. Along with social activists, the camps attract homeless people and others who may not really be there for the cause but who just need food and a tent to sleep in.
• Women -- One of the greatest concerns for Occupy LA is that women in particular do not feel safe staying there. This is really a reflection of a larger issue that is often masked in our society. Safety, especially for women, must be addressed more strongly.
• Undocumented Immigrants -- Undocumented people are exploited for their labor in this country but are denied particular rights and privileges extended to full citizens. These people have as much (if not more) at stake in the Occupy movement but have to be extremely careful when protesting due to being possibly deported, even though their voices add to the beautiful communication that takes place in these Occupy hubs.
Occupy... Tomorrow
Love them or hate them, the people involved with the Occupy movement have no intention of going away or disbanding. But even if they did, they definitely started a new global discussion about society, about equality, and about the rights of every individual that will carry on for years. I certainly hope the dialogue moves forward and that it embraces a format that enables everyone to participate, listen, and learn. The time for real change is now.
Follow Lisa Haisha on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@lisahaisha
Shane Claiborne: Occupy Nonviolence
Occupy movement | World news | The Guardian
Maybe even open some issues up to online forums to get a census check among the wider country.
anyway, i like that your issues with occupy are workable, fixable issues; keeping it constructive!
We all do what we can and what fits best to the realities of our own lives - even if that is having a friendly word about Occupy to our friends, co-workers, and families. And trust me - it IS appreciated within Occupy. Thank you for caring. =)
On the other hand, I would not like to see OWS become "corporatized" or "lobby-ized" in its efforts, as is the case with the Tea Party. Once that happens, it becomes too easy to discredit the group as just a front face for one or another special interest group. I think OWS can start the dialogue and keep it alive, but ultimately it's up to the 99% to create its own "sub-movements" and specific actions to have the movements' goals coalesce into real policies.
That's very good, and it is why they have gotten headlines and changed (some) of the political discourse. But the majority of people that Occupy needs to connect with - regular working people - can't live communally in the camps with them. The MSM ends up filling that void, and more often than not, it's with negative disinformation about Occupy.
I think Occupy either doesn't realize how much this is undermining their momentum, or is just at a loss as to how to solve that problem.
The Civil rights effort had a defined goal... Ghandi had a goal... OWS has managed to yell very loudly that Bad is Bad, but they have had little real effect in changing anything.
From "The Storm before the Calm"
by Neale Donald Walsch
1. An acceptance, at last, of the true identity of ALL humans as an aspect and an individuation of Divinity.
2. The embracing by more and more people-ultimately, millions-of the truth of the Oneness of ALL life and humanity.
3. An understanding of why we are here upon the earth; a clarity as to the soul's agenda.
4. An end to abject poverty, to death by starvation, and to mass exploitation of people and resources on the earth by those in positions of economic and/or political power.
5. An end to systematic environmental destruction of the planet.
6. An end to the domination of our culture by an economic system rooted in competition above cooperation and in the continuing quest for economic growth.
7. An end to the struggle for Bigger/Better/More.
8. An end to all limitations and discrimination holding people back whether in housing, in the workplace... or in bed.
9. The providing, at last, of an opportunity-one that is truly equal-for all people to rise to the highest expression of Self.
10. Not just the putting into place of social adjustments for the sake of "social correction," but as a living, on-the-ground demonstration of who we really are as a species
Personally i would like to think this speech may one day be a reality,
http://youtu.be/WibmcsEGLKo
"It seems from watching the protests around the world, and even seeing protesters in my own city, that minorities and the underprivileged -- the people who need the message the Occupy movement stands for the most -- actually suffer the greatest consequences in the Occupy movement. For example::
Homeless -- The Occupy camps easily become safe havens for individuals who don't have a safe place to go. Along with social activists, the camps attract homeless people and others who may not really be there for the cause but who just need food and a tent to sleep in. "
We fully understand your frustrations. Everyone wants it to work; organizationally it is structured about as poorly as possible. This is the reason for our urge to move towards an organized, internet based movement.
Our recommendations read: Solidarity is just a word unless put into practical use--We encourage
1. Linking of all Occupy cities so all involved are on the same page 2. A national vote to finalize the list of Demands 2. Grow to 12-15 Million overall OWS supporters by Election Day, 2012. 3. We endeavor to exert enough power by sheer numbers and organization to become a respected (and feared) voting bloc 4. Help to facilitate an organizational structure nationally; leaderless is proving to be a failed strategy. We urge for OWS to implement state and city coordinators or link up with other sites to begin a new movement (OWS 2.0) that is highly organized and effective; primarily internet based. NO GA attendance will be required to participate.
This is our intent: To effectively ORGANIZE and clearly communicate the BENEFITS of The OCCUPY philosophy / platform to a far greater audience. To do this, we believe The Occupy Movement needs MAJOR CHANGES to adapt to and overcome the barriers. Too many people who want to participate, especially via the internet...are disenfranchised.
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Wall-St-Phase-Two-Advocating-Change-for-The-OWS-Movement/237495236307425?sk=info
200,000 name petitions, thousands of calls to Capitol Hill and emails to the same have proven to be remarkably effective in the last 6 weeks.
These strategies will accomplish more than 3000 General Assemblies. Occupy is in the dinosaur age, when a computer and 10 times the participants will do the job. We have a strategy that will work
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Occupy-Wall-St-Phase-Two-Advocating-Change-for-The-OWS-Movement/237495236307425?sk=info
Wait, don't tell me, let me guess: "agent provocateurs!!"
Yes, the State is opposing us. Its calculated, planned and they use as much force as they think they can get away with. They know better but do it anyway... Recall Chief Bologna in Zuccotti park.... very abusive, not accountable.... nearly as I can tell there has been no accountability for any of the serious injuries caused by police malfeasance like shooting a protestor in the head with a CS canister, or group pounding a protester into a coma....spraying peaceful protesters while sitting down with CS, etc..... Rest assured, the State opposes us. Thus we have NDAA and Patriot Act and DHS controlling dissent on behalf of the Gov which is firmly driven by corporations and businesses and banks......
Olsen was hit in the head by a tear gas canister, but no one could reasonably say he was targeted. Yet you seem to ignore the rocks and other objects thrown at police OWS protesters in several cities.
A simple Google search for "hundreds" or "thousands" and "OWS protesters" would contradict your claim about media estimates.
And the 4-day "blackout"? Please. There are protests every day in NYC. The fact that OWS wasn't covered to your satisfaction until it gained some momentum is hardly a blackout.