occupy whaaat?
I went to an Occupy Wall Street organizational meeting yesterday for my journalism class. It was the craziest thing I’ve ever experienced.
First of all, I got there and I felt as if the meeting would eventually go somewhere beyond discussing spaces. I really thought so. I was excited to learn about what the movement was actually about. I learned nothing. I was expecting to hear about what the goals of the movement were, and I heard no goals. I heard people complaining about how they had nowhere to sleep, and how the police were giving them a hard time, and how nothing was changing politically.
I’m not sure if I’m misunderstanding the movement, but isn’t it about some sort of 99% to 1% ratio involving the poor and the rich? Isn’t it supposed to be addressing the way that our economy is, and what we can do to fix it? Isn’t it about issues of elitism and taxes? A lot of those issues can and should actually be addressed, in a rational way. But these demonstrations are doing none of the above. They aren’t asking for social change. They’re placing themselves in compromising situations and disturbing peace, and turning into riots. I really do think that the movement has potential. But before anything can be done, the protesters themselves should sort out what exactly they’re protesting against. Is it homelessness? Is it taxes? Is it the government? What is it?
Once that is sorted out, some sort of organizational action should be taken. How can you take on an organized system without an organized system? Goals must be seen. There needs to be some control and some clear methods for trying to get the government’s attention. Maybe then the movement can be known for something besides the disturbance its causing in traffic and civillian experience. Until then….
What are we occupying again?
