Cornel West at ‘Occupy Wall Street’ protest: The elite will tremble

[Playinghardball]

Source: RawReplay
By Eric W. Dolan

Public intellectual and Princeton professor Cornel West appeared at the “Occupy Wall Street” protest on Tuesday, the eleventh straight day of the demonstration.

He gave a speech during the General Assembly in Liberty Park applauding the “sweet spirit in this place” and denouncing “the greed of Wall Street oligarchs and corporate plutocrats who squeeze the democratic juices out of this country.”

“I am so blessed to be here,” West said. “You got me spiritually break-dancing on the way here. Because when you bring folk together, of all colors, of all cultures, of all genders, of all sexual orientations the elite will tremble in their boots. And we will send a message that this is the U.S. Autumn, responding to the Arab Spring.”

“Don’t be scared to say revolution,” he added.

Watch video, uploaded to YouTube, below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H31XN8zgXlI&feature=player_embedded

[Vanje]

1. "Don't be scared to say 'Revolution' "

K&R

[Township75]

2. I'm happy people are protesting wall street, but...

this stuff about the elite trembling in their boots is just a horse-shit line by someone trying to make a popular speech. Do you really think anyone on wall street is scared or trembling regarding these protests? I doubt it.

[coalition_unwilling]

4. Maybe not 'scared' or 'trembling' just yet, but unless they're fools,

they should be at least looking over their shoulders. The working class in this country is a sleeping giant who, when aroused from its current slumber, will devour and destroy all who stand opposed to its interests.

[Loge23]

8. Yes. There's just too many getting the short-end.

This action (Occupy WS) may not provide the ultimate spark, but the current situation and radical inequity simply cannot be sustained forever.
There was a picture from WS recently of champagne-drinking swells on a balcony looking dismissively at the demonstration below. Drink up I say, nothing lasts forever and time is a'wasting.

[coalition_unwilling]

9. Seeing that photo and the video whence it originated brought to

mind Dickens' "A Tale of Two Cities" and its infamous opening line, "It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." Then I flashed to Pasternak's "Dr. Zhivago" (and the movie based on it). Or maybe Warren Beatty's film "Reds".

[AmBlue]

13. It is figurative, not literal.

The most insidious and crippling thing the powerful elite in this country can do to us is to pit us against each other-- Democrats against Republicans, straights against gays, blacks against whites, for instance. And they have done a masterful job of it, constantly yanking our chains with inflammatory social issues. It's a strategy as old as the hills. Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, all tried to divide their people with hatred of the "other." Witness today the Koch Brothers' Tea Party and all the many "think" tanks they have spawned, to control the discussion, to cram lies and propaganda into our brains 24/7, to try get us to question who among us are "real" Americans... to trick regular citizens into voting against their own interests and, ultimately and most importantly, to distract us from the REAL enemy. But that's not even the worst of it. Their ultimate goal is to rob America blind while we are busy fighting the wrong enemy, to yank the remaining flesh from the bones of our dying economy. And they've been robbing us for years now.

As we awake from our national stupor (FINALLY!!) and see our true enemy, as we UNITE-- regardless of race, creed, color, sexual orientation and political party-- AGAINST THEM, THEY KNOW OUR UNITY MEANS THEY ARE LOSING POWER. That is why They (and yes it's They with a capital T, for the soulless, multinational corporate interests that don't give a shit about you or me) are working so hard to keep this off our tee-vees, out the of national media... hush-hush... nothing to see here, move along folks.

But They can't keep a lid on this thing. I think it's about to explode. And I think *They* know it to. Be careful out there folks.

[PotatoChip]

27. Excellent post and so true!

Thanks :thumbsup:

K&R to the OP as well.

[AmBlue]

28. Why, thank you, PotatoChip!

:hi:

[jwirr]

18. They did not tremble at the beginning of the 60-80s either. What we

are hoping is that as Dr. West said that this will spread. And from what I read there is to be a demonstration in Boston next. I do think that today we are fighting a full grown oligarchy/plutocracy which was only in it's infancy back then. It will be harder to shake their rafters. But it must be done - or we can just surrender. As for me......

[Ignis]

26. You're right, a populist protest is the wrong venue for fiery polemics!

Oh, wait ... :think: ... it's exactly the right place.

You were expecting perhaps the McNeil-Lehrer News Hour? :shrug:

[frazzled]

3. Isn't he the part of the elite?

I mean, Princeton, pip pip and all that rot?

[FarLeftFist]

6. When people speak of elite they are speaking of those who are so rich they can buy senators, votes,

Etc. The more Govt they buy the smaller our voices become.

[frazzled]

7. Oh, under that definition, fuggehdabout it: they won't ever listen

The larger definition of "elite" are those who are part of powerful, influential institutions.

[RufusTFirefly]

10. Yeah. Kind of like that elitist Franklin Roosevelt

What did he ever do for the poor and dispossessed?

[frazzled]

14. That wasn't the point: if you're talking about the "elites"

and you are one of the elites, then it's weird to use that phrasing. I'm not acquainted with FDR having ever talked about "the elites."

[jwirr]

20. Oh, he did talk about them occasionally - to say how they hated him

and how he welcomed that hate.

[justiceischeap]

11. One could argue West is part of the elite but then he's from a generation

that thought that to change those institutions, you do so from within. It's a very fine line when you're talking elitism. I also think elitism is a state of mind if you wanna get philosophical about it.

[Whisp]

22. Lady GaGa was an 'elitist' here yesterday...

here on DU. wonder what would happen if She showed up there...
would they boo her?

pretty complicated, this labeling stuff, isn't it?

[Pacifist Patriot]

32. I'm beginning to suspect....

simply having a name recognized by more than fifty people and earning more than the poster equates with "elitist."

[arcane1]

5. Hell yeah! The more names, the better!

:toast:

[xchrom]

12. ...

:thumbsup:

[TBF]

15. K&R nt

[CalvinJam]

16. Another camera hungry "leader"

Cornel West doesn't do anything unless it benefits Cornel West. As someone else stated, he's part of the elite himself.

He charges over $5000 just to come visit a place. I know. I checked.

[jwirr]

21. So? All professor's charge to speak at some events it is part of the

way they make a living. Are you saying that he charged to protesters to be there? I doubt it. Link please.

[fasttense]

24. And yet Cornel West has the nerve to support the poor

the down trodden, the rejects kicked off the American social ladder.

How dare he stand up for the working class. He should be over there with the Koch brothers trying to take every last dime they have, or maybe he should be with the teabaggers railing against government that protects them from thieving corporations, perhaps he should be with idiots like Milton Friedman advocating free trade so GE can make billions off the starving poor in India.

So nice when people stay in the stereotypes you assigned them to.

[jwirr]

17. That video brought tears to they eyes of this old 60s demonstrator. nt

[Freddie Stubbs]

19. Ha ha! A tenured Ivy League professor is railing against ""The elite"

[jwirr]

23. Are you equating a tenured Ivy League professor with the Koch brothers

and Buffett? He may be good but I seriously doubt the makes anywhere near their income level.

[Kingofalldems]

25. Funny, never any comment on the Koch Bros

or the monied elite. Ever notice how republicans go after Ivy Leaguers as elitist, yet never mention the super rich country clubbers? Oops.

[Solomon]

29. And Moses was raised and educated

in pharoah's house. What's your fucking point?

[Coexist]

30. Revolution!

[Pacifist Patriot]

31. I don't know whether to be amused or disgusted....

with some of these responses. Equating an ivy league professor with the likes of the Koch Brothers -- Are you freaking kidding me?!?!