I agree with the message of the Occupy movement. The method is a different story.
I do think that there is a serious problem with the wealth distribution in this country and while plenty of people will say that protesting doesn’t actually change anything these days, the Occupy movement is getting some serious press. I hated reading stories of police using tear gas and rubber bullets on protesters and when I heard about cities cracking down on camping in the parks and arresting protesters I felt a little conflicted. On one hand, I hated to see these peaceful protests broken up. On the other, I was thankful that this would give the protesters a chance to wash the fuck up.
Seriously. If I go one day without a shower I get a little greasy and if I go two I’m pretty ripe. These protests have been going on since August and most of these hippies haven’t had more than whore baths in Burger King bathroooms. There’s nothing sanitary about a burger king bathroom. That’s where Humpty gets busy.
Frankly, I’m not even sure why they camped there anyway. Would it be less effective to Occupy Wall Street until 10PM and then go home and sleep? Am I missing something important to the message here?
When you think about it, the government is probably doing these people a favor by making them go home. Sleeping in a tent and eating hobo stew every day can’t be good for the mind. I’ve never camped for more than three nights in a row but whenever I got home after a camping trip I’m always a little feral. I can’t imagine shitting in a port-o-potty for 60 days straight will leave a man with much sanity.
Is that really who you want to be representing your message? Some crazy eyed stink machine with chunks of pigeon meat in his shaggy beard? Sure, bank executives are greedy but at least I don’t have to make sure to breathe through my mouth while talking to them.
Now Thinkprogress just reported that NY Mayor Bloomberg was issued a temporary restraining order allowing protesters back into Zuccoti park with their tents. That’s all well and good but how about a compromise? You can chant and wail about the Bildeberg group all you like but how about two nights a week you go home, clean up and sleep on a bed? Wednesdays and Sundays. Your message will get across just as clear and you won’t seem like insane sewer dwellers.
Bill, Jena, you know I love you guys. I must because I ignore most people’s blogs. But on this point you’re buying into a bit of the right wing smear.
I can tell you first hand that the Minneapolis occupy is comprised of much more than dirty hippies (though yeah, there are some of those too). At the Minneapolis plaza I have spoken to people from every age group, every income bracket (save the top one), and every level of cleanliness. So there you go, that’s the Minneapolis occupy. But that’s Minnesota, maybe we’re just cleaner people?
Nope, I’m so invested in this movement that I lose hours every day to combing through video from New York to California and I can tell you that very few are there 24/7. Most seem to operate more in shifts which gives them a chance for showers and the like. Much of this is out of necessity because a large percentage of the participants HAVE JOBS. They also aren’t just eating hobo stew. The Minneapolis occupy gets frequent donations from local resteraunts (I’ve eaten there three times and it was quite good) and the larger occupies get that plus things like direct deliveries from Ben & Jerry’s (they are big supporters).
The truth is most of the occupy encampments have raised enough money that they provide heat, shelter, sanitation, food, basic medical services, etc. In those respect they’re doing better than some local governments. They do this until the police move in and shut parts of those operations down. In New York that was especially tragic because that occupy has raised five hundred thousand dollars and with that money was running a very complex and comprehensive operation with luxuries such as daily laundry services (yup, no shit, laundry).
So why do we usually see dirty people dressed as D&D characters on TV? That’s a valid question and it should be asked. If kids with video cameras can show thousands of people who are clean and articulate, what’s with these lazy reporters?
As to why a 24/7 occupy is better than a march or afternoon protest? It’s a strategy and based on the fact that we, a couple people in Minnesota, are having this conversation, I’d say it’s an effective one. Historically people occupy administrative buildings and such but the goal of an occupy is always the same, get attention for your cause and force the establishment to deal with you and subsequently get even more attention for your cause. It’s harder work but it is effective.
Differing on method is fine, I’m just glad to have you on our side.
Uh, Terry? This is a comedy blog, hon. Comedy often takes the stereotype, the concept, a detail and exaggerates it.
Though I hear it’s REALLY stinky down there.
Oh, I’m well aware that it’s a comedy blog and I see where the piece was being funny. But when a piece of comedy perpetuates a stereotype, concept, or detail that’s untrue the audience is allowed to call it out. I would react the same way to a piece that made jokes based on misguided generalities about gays, for example. This piece, though comic in intent, reads exactly like much of the serious conservative commentary that already exists. You could take it, paste it into a conservative blog and nobody would see it as exaggeration. They would laugh but only because the piece does a good job of making fun of the occupy movement, reinforcing conservative assumptions, and doing it while not getting so absurd that it achieves the level of parody.
So this wasn’t a joke? Then I totally take issue with your stance on homosexual penguins, Bill.
Pingback: If Pizza is a Vegetable I’m a Health Nut. « Young Notions