I keep thinking back to things like the SI Hayakawa and Ronald Reagan days in CA along with one of my favorite profs, Angela Davis (I hope she talked to OWS folks about what went wrong as well as what was positive "back in the day"). My biggest fear is that what is going on in some of the OWS camps will lead to the use of the National Guard to break up camps. This was a horrible time in the history of social activism in US history. I remember Kent State, too.
Things got twisted and violent even though that period brought about important change. I don't want this to happen again. I am having problems with continued support of OWS after things like rape, the drug overdose and death of a 20 year old as well as people just slashing cops in SF with exacto knives while they were simply standing by (doing their job) as OWS folks marched the other day. One was slashed on the face. Artisans that sell their wares at street fairs in SF were ripped-off and harassed by the negative groups in the SF camps over the weekend. These people make a living at these events and also pay to participate in these events. This is the time of the year in which they do a lot of business.
I want the core of this movement that is working on coalitions and ways to effect change for all of us to make a clear separation of themselves. The kinds of efforts to help the cop stay in a home is one way to do this. So is working with legislators on putting together real banking reforms is also great and these ideas are being presented by the 99%. Having some spokespeople out there making it clear that the core is non-violent and disagrees with the anarchist activities is a good idea. And I have had it with the punching-out of the media- they are doing their jobs, too (even those for Faux affiliates).
I hope the latest efforts of those that really are the OWS movement take over media reports so that what is really important about this movement is what the general public hears because this is what they can support that can effect positive change.
Social democratic values are based upon respect for all and working together to promote good for all- even if we disagree. I feel an obligation to support things like school or other municipal bonds that help stop lay-offs even if higher property taxes are crunching me during these financial times. And I will always vote for social programs because I think we all need to take responsibility for disadvantaged groups.
It has been interesting to be teaching community college students here this term. The bulk of my students are of color and young parents. Some are older and are trying to re-train due to being laid off. There are veterans too that have not been able to find employment. Obviously, fee hikes in education are on their minds and some are getting assistance from social programs- thankfully- they wouldn’t be able to attend classes if they couldn’t do this. Some have gone out to marches, but most need to take care of their children and also have some “under the table” type part-time jobs. Just about every one of them state that the camps should be broken up. Seven of my students that are parents of young kids and live in Richmond don’t want the only place they can take their kids too and play outside to be taken over by campers. They live in small apartments without safe play areas for their kids and use city park playgrounds several times per week. They have grandparents of little means that play checkers there, too. Our whether has been pretty good lately, so people can still be outside and enjoy themselves.
I know, I’m a broken record, but the fact is, I don’t think the general public gets how important public use areas are to low income people and senior citizens. I really don’t. Plus, I deal with this student group that is nothing like young, white, middle and upper middle-class university students. But I was an activist during the Vietnam War years. I get the importance of social discourse and protest, yet, we also made mistakes back then in taking over public space for prolonged periods and didn’t think about how this effects others. And I get really tired of other people thinking they have a right to take over public space for their agendas without going by the rules that are set up do that all of us so that we all can use these spaces. I really am a social democrat and don’t believe any of us have a right to interfere with public land use by all to the degree these camps are.
And I really don’t want to see force being used against people. But, city officials have asked and asked for people to stop camping and offered alternatives for those that are homeless. Day protests without camping is effective, especially if it continues on and is peaceful and respectful. In fact, this would go much further in effecting change.
Right now, this AM- Oakland- so far (6:33 AM) no violence.
http://www.contracostatimes.com/news/ci_19331753