“Any success?”
“Nope. I show them over and over.”
“And… .”
“They keep using that little room.”
“Nope. I show them over and over.”
“And… .”
“They keep using that little room.”
Occupy
1. To fill up (time or space).
2. To dwell or reside in.
3. To hold or fill (an office or position).
4. To seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.
5. To engage or employ the attention or concentration of
Change is hard. I wanted to like this movement. Occupy Wall Street and its offspring apparently originated from a magazine article by Adbusters Foundation that challenged people to challenge corporate greed and economic disparity. With the economy in the doldrums, politicians in gridlock, and more and more people unemployed, a movement that asked that we reexamine our basic social contract seemed welcome relief to the shrill voices that cared more about the argument than restoring prosperity. I wondered whether the movement would demand compromise or a bold vision that rivaled the New Deal. I recall the Civil Rights Movement that demanded integration, voting rights, and employment and housing equality. I appreciate the Gay Rights Movement that demands equality. Our nation has a long history of movements that engage in lobbying, protest, referendums, guerilla theatre, and political action to gain rights. It was not so long ago that suffragettes demanded voting rights for women. I marched and lobbied to end our involvement in the Vietnam War. Despite my disagreement with its lack of compassion, I understand the Tea Party’s demands for lower taxes, less government, and a balanced budget.
Begun as a peaceful protest, the occupiers have devolved into more style than message. Testing the limits of free speech in public places and employing cute hand signals are not substitutes for an articulate agenda. As the economy rebounds, will the moment be lost? Will the center hold and the casualties of this most severe recession – including the thousands of newly discharged veterans - continue to suffer without meaningful help? Will the Occupy organizers have squandered their fifteen minutes of fame with catchy demonstrations and memories of what might have been?
Perhaps I am too critical and from chaos shall spring transformation. While I prefer a clearly articulated movement, I guess I will have to settle for mainstream Democrats becoming energized by the Occupiers’ outrage to craft a message with inspiration and understandable goals for the “movement.”
1. A series of actions and events taking place over a period of time and working to foster a principle or policy.
2. An organized effort by supporters of a common goal.
3. A tendency or trend.
2. To dwell or reside in.
3. To hold or fill (an office or position).
4. To seize possession of and maintain control over by or as if by conquest.
5. To engage or employ the attention or concentration of
Change is hard. I wanted to like this movement. Occupy Wall Street and its offspring apparently originated from a magazine article by Adbusters Foundation that challenged people to challenge corporate greed and economic disparity. With the economy in the doldrums, politicians in gridlock, and more and more people unemployed, a movement that asked that we reexamine our basic social contract seemed welcome relief to the shrill voices that cared more about the argument than restoring prosperity. I wondered whether the movement would demand compromise or a bold vision that rivaled the New Deal. I recall the Civil Rights Movement that demanded integration, voting rights, and employment and housing equality. I appreciate the Gay Rights Movement that demands equality. Our nation has a long history of movements that engage in lobbying, protest, referendums, guerilla theatre, and political action to gain rights. It was not so long ago that suffragettes demanded voting rights for women. I marched and lobbied to end our involvement in the Vietnam War. Despite my disagreement with its lack of compassion, I understand the Tea Party’s demands for lower taxes, less government, and a balanced budget.
Begun as a peaceful protest, the occupiers have devolved into more style than message. Testing the limits of free speech in public places and employing cute hand signals are not substitutes for an articulate agenda. As the economy rebounds, will the moment be lost? Will the center hold and the casualties of this most severe recession – including the thousands of newly discharged veterans - continue to suffer without meaningful help? Will the Occupy organizers have squandered their fifteen minutes of fame with catchy demonstrations and memories of what might have been?
Perhaps I am too critical and from chaos shall spring transformation. While I prefer a clearly articulated movement, I guess I will have to settle for mainstream Democrats becoming energized by the Occupiers’ outrage to craft a message with inspiration and understandable goals for the “movement.”
1. A series of actions and events taking place over a period of time and working to foster a principle or policy.
2. An organized effort by supporters of a common goal.
3. A tendency or trend.
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