An Outsiders Point of View

Submitted by matheson on

Forums: 

Let me start by stating that I am merely an observer of this entire movement.  I have not participated in any way with any of the Occupy protests but like many in this country I watch with curiosity knowing I should be out there doing something to affect change in this country.  I doubt this will get read by many, but it is sincere and I can gaurantee it represents the thoughts of many who are hesitant to get involved.

When I get on this page or many of the occupy websites I am more and more reading posts of infighting over petty disagreements rather than fruitful discussions of how to further the cause.  I mean look at the most recent blog posts on this site.  It's a lot of negativity and inside politics.  For those of you involved first hand in the movement these are important issues that probably need to be hashed out, but it is distracting from the message and turning off potential activists. 

What has amazed me is how fast this movement is reaching a certain level of dissent internally.  In many ways the founding fathers of this great country were no different than those in this movement.  They were a small group of activists that set out to develop "a more perfect union" where freedom could exist for all and would have a say in their government.  Despite their many flaws and exclusions they were able to create a society that completely changed the world.  They accomplished this by following through with the unifying belief that they should be able to live without the oppressions of their government.  Of course there are no new lands to go to, but revolutionary change is possible as is evident all around the world. 

Where did this great country loose focus and devolve into the society we have now.  I would suggest it is when internal politics became so disfunctional in our government that the only ones making change are large corporations and the wealthy who have a clear goal to accomplish.  Change is not possible in our current government because their are so many petty disagreements between and within the political parties that nothing radical can get done so the status quo is almost always upheld no matter the implications, and it took a lot more than a few months to reach this point.

I plead with all those involved in this movement to put aside petty differences and meaningless arguments and return focus to the ultimate goal.  That is the only way you will be able to sustain and grow this important movement.  Now is the critical time as many have written you off as a one trick pony that has been taken care of.  I don't believe that.  Remember what got you involved in the first place.  Just based on a blog I read and I mean no disrespect but for most of us out here we don't care how you define nonviolence for example.  Things like that do nothing to further your cause and keep people like me on the sidelines.  If you let this movement seperate itself into differing groups and factions you have quite frankly become no better than our government only looking out for your personal best interests and ignoring what is good for all.

You can change the world.  Believe that and don't stop until it happens.  The rest of us will follow your lead but you have to give us something we can believe in.

The world is changing

Submitted by Antagon-X on

Matheson,

First of all, thank you for posting your opinion. I think the majority of the people who visit this site will agree with you. This movement has accomplished so much in just a matter of weeks that it is totally silly to fight against each other. I'm not a full-time "occupier", however I have had the fortune of meeting some of the organizers and believe me, they will do whatever it takes to continue.

They need our help, however. They cannot do it by themselves. They have been living in the middle of nowhere, isolated from society, waiting for donations to eat, they got arrested defending the movement, etc. and those who are not homeless have dedicated most of their free time collaborating and supporting the idea of a change.

If you cannot participate in General Assemblies I invite you to come to this site and post your opinions. We all learn from each other.

Thanks!

My 2 cents

Submitted by hnsteyes on

Hello fellow occupiers & onlookers

I have been involved since day 1 here in L.A. but I have never slept anywhere but my home.  I am a mother,student,gma, occupier, employee etc & I am here to tell you that I do what I can, when I can, that is how I help with this movement.  I have attempted to join many committees but pushed aside by many because it is just too difficult to organize people on a part time basis.  I get it, as I can only participate on a limited basis, but my heart & soul is with all the occupiers in whatever form it takes, now & forever. I watch the G.A.'s almost every night or read minutes to keep up to date, I have donated trunk loads of stuff from clothes - shelving-crates, made pb & j sandwiches to last a lifetime.  My point is To Matheson...We all do whatever, whenever we can, that's it!  I am here to support Occupiers / The Movement (or like my friend & I call it....The Rev) to the best of my ability...Happy Holidays to one & all & wish us the best (we will need it) for 2012!

 

Very Appreciated

Submitted by 3rock on

1: Matheson
    Your post is so appreciated. So On Point. So intelligent and relevant. Hurray!
    Thank You
2: hnsteyes
    When I first started getting involved, I read about you (by you? my memory...) and I thought, "She is sooo Beautiful" & inspired me. You are one of the ideas that 20 years down the line researchers will smile with.
3: Antagon-X
    I've been posting here A LOT, oops... recently...
    I'm afraid I sound angry & offensive, not my norm but your post;
    "The(y) need our help, however. They cannot do it by themselves. They have been living in the middle of nowhere, isolated from society, waiting for donations to eat, they got arrested defending the movement, etc. and those who are not homeless have dedicated most of their free time collaborating and supporting the idea of a change."
    These simple, "not all there", & I'm not looking down on them. I love crazy people, because I am quite myself are having a HUGE negative impact at a worst of possible time. I don't do guilt, manipulation, but sometimes one has to stand up & say ENOUGH!
    AGAIN: Beautiful, Beautiful post & comments.
    Thank You

get involved

Submitted by johnoccupyself on

'petty differences and meaningless arguments' will fade when people like you become actively involved and stop with the side-line analyst routine. get it? YOU are the solution!


i know i should have ignored this post and let it get buried like all the other side-line analyst critiques that pop up here, but you say you believe in the movement, and the important change that is necessary, so stop being scared and show up! every major social movement has had tons of infighting; the peace movement, civil right, the american revolution...intense, ferocious and lethal infighting (yes, even among the hippies). so what? movements only succeed when enough people get involved! what do you want, a red carpet and a love letter of invitation?


dmbondi's picture

You make his point precisely...

Submitted by dmbondi on

Matheson is involved and the post is not idle sideline analysis.  People like Matheson, folks already stretched and overwhelmed in thier personal lives but nonetheless still willling to dedicate some small part, are where the power in the movement comes from.

PLEASE read this important article by Michael Albert on Znet about what has happened to other recent protest movements, why they have failed, and what we can LEARN from their experience:

http://www.zcommunications.org/occupy-to-self-manage-by-michael-albert

This time period is a crucial test for occupy, let's not fail.

Outsiders looking in

Submitted by worldthrumyeyes on

Mr Matheson, first off i speak only for myself as a part-timer and not the occupy movement. I agree in principal to your message about petty arguments and minor issues that take focus and time away from the more pressing issues. We need to organize, strategize and keep our eyes on the prize! You are the type of person i have been thinking about how we can bring into the movement and& the other people who think the movement ended once the camps were raided. Its Occupy 2.0 now. Our strength is in the people who get off the sidelines and get involved,however possible,& your voice might just be the voice of reason needed. This is a serious movement seeking to provoke real change I believe. A recent poll sited 69% of Americans think the country is headed in the wrong direction,but how many of that 69% are doing something to fix that? Not enough. All that being said i welcome and encourage you to stick with the movement,3 months old its still going through growing pains, but i have met so many intelligent, caring and dedicated people its changed my outlook on life and the possibilities to affect change,non-violently of course. This Govt has turned into a joke and we're not laughing.
I look forward to meeting you at some point. Maybe the Occupy Rose parade. WE ARE THE 99%, late J

macbug's picture

Matheson

Submitted by macbug on

 

Well said, I would offer this, these are growing pains. These are passions and opinions of regular people NOT professional politicians. They would no doubt work it out in a backroom somewhere... If they had one. Focus is a difficult thing to achieve when there is no one person who can claim to be THE leader and even more important... Have THAT ONE unifying vision. Everyone seems to have a slightly different ideal of what needs to be done. If no one will compromise then it will die and that is what the 1% are hoping for. We will all fade away, or get hijacked the way the “tea party” was.

 

Stay Angry and vote...

macbug

sarahY's picture

I can say that stuff like this not only happened

Submitted by sarahY on

I can say that stuff like this not only happened in LA, I  read from an article recently that a team of Occupy Wall Street protestors in Boise, Idaho, protested payday lending regulations on Monday. The protestors say that the loans prey on the poor. What the protestors do not know is that payday cash advances are not even available to people who cannot afford to pay them back. The individuals who qualify for a cash advance have the means to pay back the loan and the interest. You can go to Payday Loan to get more information.

 

Pretty much agree with the premise here

Submitted by mtbinary on

As a casual observer who supports the movement only by social commentary on news media outlets, I find myself trying to understand exactly WHAT occupy is trying to acheive?

It seems that there are factions who have grabbed Occupy to politicize their issues. When this first broke out, I thought, "Finally! We are going to call out our government representatives and corportate interests (Goldman Sachs) for their complicit permission of the theft Wall Street perpetuated through the home loan debacle"

I never saw that articulated. As a matter of fact, I can't say that I've ever seen a protestor comment about the fault that lies with our corporate sponsored Goverment Representatives. If we wanted to expose the truth, our representatives would wear suits adorned with corporate logos much like a Nascar driver.

Occupy frustrates me because this is such a massive opportunity that is being wasted by a complete lack of focus... If Occupy is about forgiving $1trillion in student loans, count me out. Those loans are purely choice. Albiet a choice that has gotten out of control with all other government related programs.  Universities are thick with bureaucracy and waste. Students pay for it and nobody is held accountable.

Its Governmment!!! That is where Occupy needs to focus its ire.

 

Maybe you could find out by

Submitted by lizsavage on

Maybe you could find out by attending a General Assembly. In Los Angeles they happen on M-W-F at 7:30pm at Pershing Square on the corner of 6th and Olive.

Also follow us on twitter, and facebook, attend meetings, join google groups, there is a million ways to get involved, and we have many things we are working on, and its a lot!

 

My words represent myself and not Occupy Los Angeles. @lizsavage on Twitter

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