Someone asked me to open my brain on Occupy [insert clever name here]. So…
I’m not feeling too well so I’ll just bullet point my thoughts instead of forcing an attempt at beautiful prose that of course I’m so well known for.
First, the bad:
-The whole thing is a PR disaster. This is mostly to fault the ‘few bad apples’ that are a part of any group, but if a movement is to grow the nature of our world is that you need to have a level of control exerted in the environment. The moment a movement continues to raid a business for their restrooms (and leave it as a mess) is the moment you create someone who is not on your side.
-Inability to convey what they want. Contrary to most people’s dismissal of OWS as “leaderless,” “without goals” and “just people who want to complain,” I believe OWS does have a goal. With a little thought, I think it’s pretty obvious protestors are upset at inequality–in all forms. Economic (being in the 99% without jobs and making little money), injustice (banks get bailed out for their recklessness–which is often looked at as absolutely necessary, and then top CEOs continue to get seven-figure bonuses) and oppression (police–seemingly more often than not–standing on the side of those in power and antagonizing those who pay them a yearly salary). But go to any demonstration and see if that’s the message you get. Which leads to my next point of:
-Inability to turn those goals into something concrete. Ideals are awesome (coming from an idealist). What’s better, is some actual practical way to build that ideal and turn it into reality. Demand that top bankers who received TARP funds give up their bonuses and turn them to charity (they don’t need the money anyway). Demand a repeal of the Bush-era Tax Cuts. Start a discussion around ways to make things happen. Do something besides continue to be vocal. People can be generous and allow for people to complain about things and mope for a while–but no one tolerates someone who only complains and never does something about it.
-Poor location. The movement started as Occupy Wall Street. Why Wall Street? For symbolic reasons, mostly related to their named goals. Except head bankers don’t work on Wall Street. Politicians don’t work on Wall Street. If I were upset at JP Morgan Chase, I would not walk into a local Chase branch and chastise the rep there. It would be pointless. If you want to march and make your voice heard, go to the actual bank HQs. Go to Washington. City Hall. Police HQ. Not a place that’s merely symbolic of something you hate.
-Myopic means of protest. Related to the first point about bad PR and the third about poor location, be a little careful where you choose to protest and cause a disruption. If you choose a commonly crossed bridge in Seattle and block it–a bridge that no one “in power” is going to cross mind you–you will have made your voice heard. You will have made your voice heard to ordinary citizens that belong to the exact group you are supposedly fighting for. And they will not be happy.
Now, the good:
-The goal. There is an extreme amount of inequality, of the aforementioned types in this country. Certain people have this idea that they worked for every penny of those billions that they have now (which is borderline delusional). It is good that the issue is being raised and that people are willing to take to the streets to talk about it. It shows people care, whether or not it’s because of their own dire situations or not. I feel for this ideal.
-It makes people uncomfortable. If the status quo is bad, then there’s nothing better than to make people uncomfortable with it. Protests tend to also reflect the thought process of those who do have power, for example the police. Regardless of what students did at UC Davis I find it highly improbable that they did something to warrant being pepper-sprayed. Yet it happens, and it reflects the state, and the reasons for American’s attitude of distrust towards the police force (and I do have a friend who’s a cop so I understand the delicate balance here).
-The communal sense of venting. OWS is really an act of catharsis. Sometimes bad things happen to people and all they want to do is tell people about it. Or if I do something wrong to a friend they will probably come yell in my face. They have the right to do so. In the same way, there needs to be a place in the public sphere that allows for people to just vent when they are upset with the actions of a group of others. To say protests are inherently useless is to say no one should ever vent. About anything. There is a power in letting people know how you feel.
And, to wrap it together:
-I believe in the ideals that OWS is fighting for. I would never join it. For the same reason I try to keep my feelings in check when I’m enraged at something–it’s rarely the best course of action to get what I actually want.
I believe in creating a space that allows for people to vent. I believe it on a personal scale and on a communal public scale. But I also believe in moving forward and not staying at the place of just venting. At some point there needs to be action, and this is probably where I am less willing to defend OWS.
I don’t doubt that there are people within OWS who are they because it’s cool, because all they want to do is complain or because they want things fixed without working for it. But could there be a group of people who genuinely are upset and want to share that frustration with people they believe are in charge?
I’m just not ready to slam the gavel.
