I LOVE OCCUPY PORTLAND!

[Sarah Ibarruri]

As I watch the Occupy movement expand and grow exponentially throughout my country, I can't help but be amazed (and proud). I didn't think Americans had it in them.

I had begun to believe that Americans were a bunch of wimps, terrified, scared, servile, serf-like, and unable to fight the damage done to them by the corporatocracy that has controlled our country for the past few decades, from Reagan to the present.

The fact that this peaceful movement arose out of nothing, and that it is growing ever more, and that the corporate media can no longer ignore it, causes me to reassess what Americans are made of.

Our country once understood revolution. We practically WORSHIP the revolution we fought against the British. We once were proud and unwilling to bend down for those who would have us serve them without representation. And yet for decades we've been mute. Gagged. Appearing helpless.

Little groups that sprang up, attempted to approach the powers-that-be, ever so nicely, and they were given no respect, the media ignored them, their attempts fell by the wayside. It was as if they had not even existed.

Now, however, for the first time, there is a leaderless movement of the people, and this movement does nothing but grow and make itself heard. For the first time, the powers-that-be cannot ignore it, and any attempts to hurt it, will be recorded, photographed and spread. I do what I can. I talk to people about the movement, spread it via e-mail, have a quote about OWS on my e-mail that goes out to anyone I email. This is MY movement. OUR movement.

The powers-that-be are slowly losing their grip, thanks to this peaceful, ever-growing movement.

And I am SO proud of them.

[Fumesucker]

1. Oliver Twist is not the way to do politics..

"Please sir, we want some more"..

Power gives up nothing without being forced to do so.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

2. Exactly! Very well put! Being servile and begging the powers for a morsel...

is NOT the way to get changes made.

Americans once knew this. I THINK Americans just remembered. :)

[Bluenorthwest]

6. No offense, but Straight America took time off, some of us were

active and getting things done all through the era of the straights constantly whining that no one is 'in the streets'. Well, we were, straights were too busy 'defending marriage' and making money to bother. Straight culture sat on the sidelines all through the major and foundational actions of my lifetime.
Gosh, even in the recent era, straights would wail 'why are there no activists' and then when Choi and Company would get arrested at the WH, they'd say 'why are those gays being active'. Every single action we took was criticized. All of them. On DU some took issue with Lady GaGa going to the Maine State Capitol to get in the face of Snowe and Collins about DADT. 'Why must they make these displays, when the war is more important than their rights'. Another DUer asked on these boards, about DADT activists 'should WE be helping THEM?' that's right, gay folks are 'them' and straights ponder if 'they' are worth helping.
So yeah those who whine about decades of no activism simply sat out for decades when they could have helped instead. But straights will tell the story as they wish, leaving out the part where they went to the mall for 25 years and left the driving to us.....

[Fumesucker]

7. A bit of a broad brush there..

You're right, the vast majority of straights ignored or belittled gay activism.

But not all of us are clueless breeders.

:hi:

[Sarah Ibarruri]

10. So true, but we're making sure now that they know what happened while they were asleep! nt

[TBF]

3. I think this Occupy movement has been great for raising consciousness -

and allowing folks to voice dissent. We've had little of that in the last 50 years, virtually none in the last 30. I'm smack-dab middle aged (45) and see all the folks younger than me who have grown up under very conservative rule ... I doubt they even remember Carter.

This is just the start. It will have to beef up and include much more agitation to start really threatening TPTB. Right now they're watching, slightly amused, with their wine glasses while our democratic president appoints his super committee to gauge social security and medicare. I wish I could say otherwise, but it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better and will take a lot more than sleeping in the park to change anything.

[MedleyMisty]

11. So go to a general assembly

and suggest what it is you want them to do.

[TBF]

12. I didn't say I wanted them to do anything.

I don't think OWS will be the group that changes things - at least not in it's current form. Just commenting that they've been effective in a way. That's what we do on message boards - give our opinion.

[NOMOREDRUGWAR]

4. Two assholes left that won't get out of the street

Vast majority of protesters are complying, but not those two sanctimonious assholes.

[Ginas]

5. Some of 'occupy' demands are undertandable... but

I am afraid hooligans, extre,ists and racists hijack the group.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

14. What hooligans are you referring to? And you know, as the REAL hooligans (the 1%) continue

to impoverish our damaged country, this movement will continue, and strengthen.

[NOLALady]

15. Well

it does seem that some hooligans, extremists and racists (aka as cops) have infiltrated the group. They seem to be trying to provoke a riot with their thuggish tactics.

[NOMOREDRUGWAR]

8. Look at that park -- that is disgusting!

How can the protesters treat the park that way, leaving used needles there and empty beer bottles? Ever heard of not littering? Just disgusting.

[Lizzie Poppet]

13. In the main, those aren't protesters.

The park encampments here in Stumptown, almost from the start, became about 50% protesters, 50% homeless "street people." While I have considerable sympathy for the latter, it's simply a matter of obvious fact that they're the ones causing the substance abuse and littering problems (just like pretty much every other homeless encampment you'll ever see...).

[Fire Walk With Me]

16. At Occupy Ottawa someone dumped 400 new and used needles

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x2288694

Police and Repubs trying to set up the camps for closure. "Creating causes and conditions." Bastards all.

[FirstLight]

9. watching the livestream now... they are at 14% battery!!

looks like the breakfast table, very celebratory...

but it looks like they could be having a power problem... can anyone get down there with batteries?