It was just a couple of days ago that some here on DU called "Occupy Wall Street", silly.

[trumad]

Well---it's not silly anymore.

[Taverner]

1. No - it never was

It's the real deal

[roguevalley]

69. this is how the world changes, from small steps. once the unions

come -regular people, unionists- then it can't be stopped.

[mmonk]

2. Recommended.

[lunatica]

3. I've been swatting at them like flies

They're obviously on the wrong side of history and facts.

:rofl:

[Fire Walk With Me]

23. :)

:hi:

[hlthe2b]

4. Heartening to see it finally being taken seriously...

:thumbsup: and thank you, protesters!

[trumad]

5. It's a conduit for bigger and better things.

Nationwide.

[county worker]

6. It's the only way we are going to save our selves.

[Name removed]

7. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[trumad]

8. Really a stupid post.

[Name removed]

30. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[awoke_in_2003]

35. Ahhhhh....

look at all them hippies :)

[L0oniX]

55. I think Bruce Dickinson is in that crowd.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

82. I had to Google the reference. Holy shit, I had no idea. He's one talented dude. nt

[Name removed]

9. Deleted sub-thread

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Hissyspit]

19. I do.

So your premise is wrong in at least one way, and in other ways, too. But no surprise.

[proud patriot]

34. I sure hope that was sarcasm

x(

[steve2470]

45. nvm nt

[Fire Walk With Me]

10. Recommending.

[Cal Carpenter]

11. The more unions sign on

the more credibility it gains.

The bigger and more diverse (eg age-wise) the crowds, the better. This has the potential to defy all the divide-and-conquer crap out there.

While I understand and agree with (some of) the criticisms regarding platforms and demands and so forth, the recognition that there is only one important Us vs Them distinction, and that is the 99% vs the 1%, is a very, very powerful thing and hasn't been seen in decades. Not in the US, anyway.

[kentuck]

12. Sometimes DU sounds a lot like a moderate....

...Republican site. And there is no way to fix it.

[trumad]

13. And sometimes it sounds like a bunch of old farts

who scream at the kids for being on the lawn.

[kentuck]

14. Yep.

:-)

[trumad]

15. The use of the word "Hippies" is the dead give-away.

[kentuck]

22. It's spoken in a spiteful tone...

Like something conservatives would do?

[trumad]

24. Conservatives who never really had a good time in life....

Very insecure and they look bad in Jeans.

[hatrack]

25. Which kind of explains Limbaugh, et. al. . . .

Even during the 60s they couldn't get laid.

[JDPriestly]

78. I was going to say derogatory term for those conservatives

who think that "fun" is eating a whole pizza by themselves in one sitting. Ugh!

[kentuck]

26. I think you might be on to something there.

:-)

[JuniperLea]

41. Yes it is!

I sometimes call myself a tree hugging hippie... I think people get that I'm not putting hippies down or using it in a spiteful tone against myself... but I do see it used in a spiteful way. Not nice.

[JDPriestly]

77. Hippies is not a derogatory term, at least in the view of many

who remember the time!

[Harmony Blue]

76. There is a way

keep posting liberal and progressive values. The light of truth will make these moderate right wingers whither.

[brettdale]

16. Has the MSM

Started giving this thing, big time coverage yet.

[trumad]

20. They will

[Stuart G]

21. Today, more coverage than before.

Especially with the investigation into the pepper spray incident.

[sabrina 1]

84. No, and that's why it has been so successful so far.

The few references they have made to it, have been distorted to make the protesters seem violent. Example of a recent headline 'Violence Erupts At Wall Demonstrations'.

It did, but it was the police who erupted in violence. But this is how the MSM would have covered had they not made the decision not to cover it all, assuming that if they remained silent, it would go away. What happened was that the protest got its message out through the Foreign Media, the Independent press, (thank YOU Amy Goodman btw) and word of mouth, along with the social media.

In fact, the success of this movement so far without the interference of the MSM, shows how irrelevant they are becoming.

So, I hope they stay away. But I'm afraid they will not. And when they start 'covering' it, get ready to see how they will try to minimize and distort it in not-subtle ways.

I'm sure there will be plants in the crowds also, as it grows, creating violence so the Corporate tool known as the US media can 'cover' the violence.

The more people who learn about it now before the MSM starts undermining it, the better.

They need bumper stickers, tee shirts, posters and leaflets placed in supermarkets and elsewhere so that the people know about them before the MSM starts smearing them.

[EFerrari]

17. The timing seems damn near perfect.

I can't even keep up with the new groups springing up all over.

[Booster]

18. I, for one, am just proud as punch of those people in NY. If I

were there I'd probably be in jail for slugging that cop that pepper sprayed those young women. What I'd like to see would be those same young women being interviewed on the morning shows. For God's sake, producers, they are right there in your damn neighborhood - send Ann Curry down there or Robin Roberts. Where's your balls for REAL journalism? Show these brave people to America, I dare you.

[randome]

27. Don't know what digitaln3rd's problem is but...

...it WAS silly because no one could explain what they were doing there. I'm still not sure if there is a coherent message in play. If that's changed, more power to 'em.

[trumad]

31. They started something that is growing very fast..

Not only in New York, but nationwide.

[emcguffie]

58. No, it wasn't silly.

Maybe you're out of touch?

The vast majority of us have no difficulty understanding what their point is. The 99 percent business sums it up pretty well.

[deutsey]

66. I heard something today that made some sense to me

Whether you agree with their approach or not, it seems they're using old anarchist tactics (such as the general assemblies) to craft a message as the protest unfolds.

That can be very frustrating, but when I heard that I thought it made sense, considering the collectivist/Adbuster roots the protest has. They're also all about creating and occupying an open, non-commodified free space (another old anarchist tactic).

It may seem questionable to take such an approach given what we're up against today; however, I wouldn't call it silly...but then, I'm a fellow traveller with these kinds of folks (I admire the Diggers--both the '60s San Francisco variety and the 1600's England sort--for example).

[JDPriestly]

80. This is what happens when there is an impasse in an elected government

about taxation. This is what happens when the upper class, the rich, decide to fight wars and try to make the middle class and poor (who cannot afford the wars) pay for them.

Something very similar happened in France at the end of the 18th century. Here is some information about it.

Whether we are talking about a dish of bacteria or a national revolution, the beginning always seems to be a disorganized group of individuals with vague agendas. Form comes out of the environment, the needs of the time, the personalities participating, even the physical characteristics of those participating and factors of that kind.

Here is some interesting information about the French Revolution. Again, it started after war debts that no one wanted to pay piled up. The legislature refused and was unable to impose taxes that citizens would pay. And so, the entire history, not just of France, but of Europe, changed.

A lesson for those willing to pay attention.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_the_French_Revolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Estates-General_of_1789

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Assembly_%28French_Revolution%29

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Constituent_Assembly

Most important part:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Commune_%28French_Revolution%29

[deutsey]

90. From Grapes of Wrath

This is the thing to bomb. This is the beginning—from "I" to "we". If you who own the things people must have could understand this, you might preserve yourself. If you could separate causes from results, if you could know that Paine, Marx, Jefferson, Lenin were results, not causes, you might survive. But that you cannot know. For the quality of owning freezes you forever into "I", and cuts you off forever from the "we".

[truedelphi]

99. Both your post and JD Priestly's are most excellent.

And Springstein's song about Tom Joad is one of my favorites modern protest ballads as well.

[sabrina 1]

67. The only people who couldn't explain what they were doing there

were the clueless MSM stenographes. Millions of people all over the country and the world, including CHILDREN in some cases, knew why they were there.

Even if someone didn't want to take the trouble to go read all their literature which was available even months before, just their title 'Occupy Wall Street' should have been a clue.

The truth is the MSM DID know why they were there. Wall Street knew why they there. Wall Streets man in City Hall and his Police Commissioner knew why they were there which is why they sent out an army of police to try to get rid of them.

And when the MSM mentioned them at all, they distorted the reporting like good little soldiers for Wall Street.

But the American people quickly understood and as a result this movement is spreading faster than anything I've ever seen in my lifetime, and WITHOUT the MSM, which is a good thing, I hope they stay away, but I'm sure they will be told when to join the effort to suppress this movement.

[kenfrequed]

72. Not sure either

But...

He was pro-death penalty in the Troy Davis case and posted a lot on that subject among other rather anti-progressive bits of craziness. I think he even went after the protesters as well.

[fascisthunter]

75. it all depends on your economic conditions

or at least how much you care about the majority in this country.

[frylock]

28. called it silly while sitting on their asses behind a keyboard

[RetroLounge]

29. Yup

exactly

RL

[mistertrickster]

62. Ain't that the truth. +1000. nt

[smokey nj]

32. Proposed list of demands from Occupy Wall Street.

1776Forever posted the thread late last night.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2021343

[Rex]

33. Some people here hate protests and the idea of democracy in general.

They love authority telling them when to bend over.

[awoke_in_2003]

36. I work in a flight training center...

and deal with pilots all day long. They TEND to be a conservative bunch. Them jumping into the fray is a really good thing.

[L0oniX]

57. Conservative??? ...like Bruce Dickinson? Flight 666?

[awoke_in_2003]

103. I did not say all pilots are conservative...

I said the TEND to be. Sure, you can find some that aren't, but in my experience of dealing with thousands of pilots in my 12 years in this field, the majority are.

[chill_wind]

37. Recommend

[War Horse]

38. I was sceptical at first, but

"The foolish and the dead alone never change their opinion." :hi:

[RZM]

39. I'm not confident that these protests will affect much of anything . . . HOWEVER

That certainly doesn't make them silly or stupid either.

These protests aren't going to effect change on Wall Street or Washington. After all, the Iraq War protests were far larger, but they didn't stop the war. I think the legacy of these protests will be their showcasing of a strain of thought that is out there and will probably grow in the future, especially if the economy gets worse. In and of themselves they aren't all that significant and sooner or later they will go away. But the sentiments behind them won't. Those sentiments were there before the protests and they will be there after them.

[fasttense]

49. One day protests or even one week wont accomplish much.

But continued protests day, after day, after day will change the world.

Just remember the Vietnam war protests.

The Gandhi protests against the British empire.

Union protests during the 1920 and 30s.

The French revolution.

The bigger the protests the bigger the change.

[RZM]

53. Maybe. Though I'm not sure those analogies work all that well

The French Revolution didn't start from below. Well off members of society initiated the sparks that then prompted action from below.

I'm far from an expert on Vietnam, but I think it's still debated how much effect the protests had. As I mentioned in my post, the Iraq protests were quite large and didn't change a thing.

But you may be right. Time will tell, I guess.

[Fire Walk With Me]

83. There is thought that the Iraq protests stopped the neocons from continuing their plans with Iraq,

syria, and other nations.

[RZM]

86. I assume you mean Iran and Syria

I don't know. I guess you could argue that, but I'm quite skeptical. Honestly I don't believe that military action against Iran has ever 'really' been on the table. My sense is that it's all bluster. The Bush administration knew it was never a realistic option and that even if it was, Israel's threshold for action is less than ours. I judge the Iran stuff to be pure showboating in a vain attempt to get them to give up their program voluntarily.

Just my opinion, though.

[Fire Walk With Me]

89. Yes, "Iran". Having a bad day for internet posting errors. Have a cold. Thanks..

[bluestateguy]

40. I would love to see the march taken over by the adults

The unions should shove these clowns out of the way.

The unions would at least know what they were doing.

[trumad]

44. uhh the clowns started the protest

[RandiFan1290]

50. How's the couch?

Hope it's comfy while you enjoy your tv and dvds.

[Ignis]

64. !

:spray:

[quakerboy]

71. DVD's? surely you jest

When there is the tried and true proven technology of VHS readily available at all finer Goodwill locations?

[Modern_Matthew]

52. Yeah, because they've done so much in regards to Wall Street.

I am highly appreciative of what else they've accomplished over the years, but putting a leash on Wall Street was never one of them... apparently.

[Zorra]

56. Well, since you are obviously a sensible "adult", why don't you go there and

try to guide these unruly children?

Egypt 2011 Revolution

[Enthusiast]

63. You just made the list, clown.

[sabrina 1]

87. The protest is in the hands of adults.

And the Unions were so impressed with those adults, that they have voted to support them.

Who are you talking about btw? Not the Occupy Wall Street Protests I think. Were are the other ones, the ones run by 'clowns'? The Tea Party? I doubt the Unions want to get involved with those clowns.

[Bluenorthwest]

42. It was genius from the start.

I'm very proud of them.

[malaise]

43. Of course the critics hae disappeared

I remember one wanted to know why they started the protests on the weekend.

I'm lovin' it.

[SixString]

97. Yea...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x1957729

[steve2470]

46. k&r nt

[Liberal_in_LA]

47. k&r

[Odin2005]

48. K&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NNN0LHI]

51. Someone on an anonymous website called it silly?

Well, that proves a whole lot doesn't it?

Don

[emcguffie]

59. Someone's calling it silly in this thread, too. N/t

[ohheckyeah]

54. I've been working and have missed the latest.

Can someone catch me up?

[nadinbrzezinski]

60. So I missed the going from silly to serious

:thumbsup:

[mistertrickster]

61. A lot of the fearless Keyboard Jockeys that pooh-pooh activism never really DO anything.

And they are the first to criticize people that DO SOMETHING.

Occupying Wall Street might not be the most well planned or well organized protest we've seen in 100 years, it may not have clearly defined goals or sound-bites, but, dammit, it's SOMETHING.

And something is always better than nothing.

[sabrina 1]

65. If the critics calling it silly had actually paid attention to what it

was about, they would have known better. From the beginning, they intended to connect with the Unions and Community organizations so it's not a surprise to those who took the trouble to actually read what they were about.

[SOSpy]

68. Speaking as a hippie...Good for them good for us

also I resemble some of those remarks....


These "kids" or "clowns" have been the spark that was needed to start the ball rolling...
All praise to them for not forgetting the core values and rights that have been chipped
away by the 1% for the last several decades...


We all know why they're there.:fistbump:


sonofspy

[Tsiyu]

100. Welcome to DU SOSpy!

Exactly.

As I've said here recently:

Some need sparkles and theme music and a bullet list. They need shiny large fonts to direct their brains and order their little universes (universi?) They are comfortable and still haven't grasped how uncomfortable others really are.

The other 99% need jobs and food and health care and affordable homes. They know exactly what #OccupyWallStreet is about.

Welcome Aboard!!!!! :hi:

[OneGrassRoot]

70. I admire them tremendously, and am grateful. K&R n/t

[Plucketeer]

73. THIS is what Democracy looks like!

:kick:

[fascisthunter]

74. Well, That's actually a Good Sign... remember Duderstadt?

And how he would jump all over any post that even implied uprising, revolution, populism, etc?

Well, my take on some of these reactions are that these folks are to the right and benefit from Wall Street's rigged game. Well, fuck em, and ignore them while they gnash their teeth and quiver over each day of protesting.

[Blue_Tires]

79. +1

[ellisonz]

81. I stand by my initial criticism - but they're doing better this last week or so.

1. Not enough local residents.

2. Incoherent messaging.

3. "The group’s lack of cohesion and its apparent wish to pantomime progressivism rather than practice it knowledgeably is unsettling in the face of the challenges so many of its generation face — finding work, repaying student loans, figuring out ways to finish college when money has run out."

They've made some progress since -

1. There seems to be more Tri-state area residents - helps relations with the police and the appearance that outsiders are making trouble in the city.

2. The celebrities and Michael Moore especially has helped with their messaging - not that they needed it - but without it they'd still be having a hard time being taken seriously.

3. Getting busted by the cops has reduced the amount of weirdo silliness - when you're facing a truncheon and mace wearing no clothes doesn't make so much sense.

:grouphug:

[FunMe]

85. Unprovoked Police Brutality was a blessing in disguise!

The MSNBC report on the pepper spraying and other illegal arrests have helped shine light on this movement. Next week will be very hard for the "mainstream" media to ignore.

I just knew it would start small and get bigger by the day.

Good job NY protesters!

[Sandrine for you]

88. k&r& twit nt

[Mosaic]

91. Rock on!

We'll show them who rules the world.

The People!

[pa28]

92. Maybe they should consider their position again. K&R

[bluestate10]

93. The OP did not call Occupy Wall Street silly. The OP asked what was the theme.

That is worlds away from calling the effort silly.

[Divine Discontent]

94. I notice they've gotten quieter, in fact silent. People really proved them wrong.

I am pleasantly surprised. I want to be there with them so badly. I am so broke though, and far away (FL).



http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128002960205017719

[Cal Carpenter]

95. Tampa and Miami are both starting tomorrow. There are new cities every day.

From Twitter:


OccupyFlorida OccupyFlorida
A
»
OccupyFlorida
OccupyFlorida OccupyFlorida
#OccupyTampa - Lykes Gaslight Park - TOMORROW - Noon - Join the 99% tumblr.com/xkl4zi6255 @OccupyTampa
8 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply
»
OccupyFlorida
OccupyFlorida OccupyFlorida
#OccupyMiami - Bayfront Park - 1:30pm - TOMORROW - Come join the 99%. Miami’s first GA will be held TOMORROW... tumblr.com/xkl4zjg1ko
8 hours ago Favorite Retweet Reply

[Cal Carpenter]

96. And Orlando, Tallahassee in a couple weeks, and probably more by then.

OccupyOrlandoFL Occupy Orlando
@OccupyFlorida sorry for the delay. 10/1 7pm Lake Eola Park. Gen Assembly meeting. Just to gather info & ideas. More dates to come!

Tallahassee on the 15th:
OccupyTally Occupy Tally
OCT 15th, WE OCCUPY!! GET READY!!

There are also feeds for St. Augustine, Port St. Lucie and a few other Fla cities. As they get going there will be more info.

These things are popping up everywhere.

[JCMach1]

98. However, they need to work on PR... the interviewee I saw on Al Jazeera was

terrible...

[Exilednight]

101. No one called it silly, but I called it non-productive. Action does not

equal productivity. It's like a dog chasing his tail, just because he's running around in circle doesn't mean he is going to accomplish anything when he's done.

I will say this, last night I read their 21 points memo. It's a good first step and should have been done before the protests started.

Due to three reasons, this protest will not produce any quantifiable change.

1. It was poorly organized.
2. Weather will play an important role for how long these protests will last.
3. No single overarching message has yet to be created to draw more people.

[rucky]

102. I love the comma placement in this OP title.