Occupy Kingwood – A Sustainable Form Of The Occupy Movement (2012-06-16)

[egbertowillies]

Today was a special day at Occupy Kingwood. It was the 26th consecutive week. In other words, we completed the half way mark of our planned 52 consecutive weeks of occupying a large well-travelled intersection in Kingwood, Texas (West Lake Houston Blvd & Kingwood Drive). We have been at this location every Saturday between 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM for 26 weeks. We make sure to leave the location as clean as or cleaner than when we got there.

This week all the usual suspects were back from their many activities that caused many absences (e.g., Texas Democratic Convention, Netroots Nation 2012, and a Democracy Conference for Students). Professor Davis and Valerie, two of our stalwarts, held down the fort with Stephanie, and a few others. Valerie recorded the clips from last week’s video. The temperature was a bit toasty but the camaraderie got us through.

Today a young lady (Cathy) with her toddler in toe parked and walked over to talk to us. She found many of our signs objectionable. She specifically was taken aback by our sign “The War On Women”. We discussed that issue as well as the Affordable Care Act with her but she seemed unconvinced initially. I invited her to a Coffee Party meeting given its trans-partisan nature (I am sure she would not have taken kindly to an invite to our wonderful group, the Kingwood Area Democrats (KAD)). Well, maybe if KAD member Marc Croes had used his charm she would have joined KADJ. Stephanie spent a substantial amount of time after our occupy speaking to Cathy. That is what it is all about.

MORE

[Lionessa]

1. Not impressed. It may be sustainable, but it isn't effective.

Groups relating to anti-war/peace movements stand on corners every weekend, all day for years, ... not effective.

[sabrina 1]

5. Yes, it is effective. It is a tiny part of a world wide movement and even one person

standing there is a connection to all the others, some much larger yes. What is NOT effective is to do nothing.

What are you doing? You are free to start your own group. The Chicago OWS eg, started with three young women, who rather than criticize their town because no one had started anything yet, went out and started it themselves. It quickly grew to hundreds, then thousands and is very strong and part of the larger Global Movement. Like all social justice movements, they will not be marching in the thousands each day, that doesn't mean they are not effective and thriving and ready to join the national groups when needed.

Each group, and there are hundreds across this country alone, is a snowflake in a gathering storm.

[Lionessa]

7. Your explanation is grand, but incorrect.

If a few dozen folks standing on corners would have ever made a difference, the many times anti-war and peace protesters over the past 12 years or so would've made a diff, they haven't, and they sprung up from very, VERY large protests nationally and internationally regarding USA instigation of ME wars.

It's naive to not see this. Occupy, pretty much on every level, in virtually every place, has ended up fizzling out, though we all owe a huge debt of gratitude for their wrenching the MSM to finally focus on income inequality and such.

[sabrina 1]

8. You are making the mistake of assuming a Social Justice Movement as world wide as

OWS has 'fizzled out' because the MSM has stopped covering it. That actually is a good thing, because their coverage was biased naturally, but OWS is very much alive and very active and will only grow unless the main issues that created the movement, all over the world in the first place, are resolved, and there is no sign of that happening.

No movement has ever been on the streets every day of the year in the millions. They will do that when necessary, but there is other work to be done, which they are doing, work that should have been done by Congress, but wasn't, such as stopping foreclosures, starting their own banks, occupying the courts and winning most of their cases, to name just a few of the actions they are engaged in.

They have done more to keep people in their homes in a few months, than our Government has done in years.

As for the people standing on the corner, they are not alone, unlike during the anti-war movement when there was no central movement to connect to when necessary.

As I said, doing nothing is a problem, those people are doing something and are to be applauded for it.

[Lionessa]

9. I said it has become ineffective, not dead.

And you're wrong, many of the anti-war/peace activists did exactly (actually not exactly the same because they were at the corners every weekend day all day) the same as these folks for YEARS, to no avail.

Having a movement be "alive" isn't the same as it being effective. Worldwide societies are rolling over; Ireland, Greece, with more upcoming. Even Hollande, a liberal ray of hope, is mostly cowing to austerity demands that foment more inequality. I was hopeful, but alas, it ain't working.

[sabrina 1]

10. I know what you said and I said you are incorrect.

Your unrealistic expectation that OWS could stop the Global Cartels from destroying Europe in just a few months, is amazing. Where did they ever claim to have the power to do that? The purpose of the movement was to bring about an awareness of what was going on. They have accomplished that but they sure never thought they would have solved everything by now.

What they have done is participate in the elections that are swinging European governments back to the left. France and Greece eg. Are you seriously saying that ordinary people should have overturned hundreds of governments installed by the most powerful Global Corporate interests in the history of the world?

I think you never understood this movement. But those Global Corporate interests certainly view it as the threat that it is if allowed to grow. That is evident in the coordinated and brutal attacks on unarmed citizens across the globe by their Corporate Army of Robo Cops, now armed with military weapons and fully prepared to use them on the people.

And yes, it is a threat when the people show signs of waking up. But I have met no one who ever thought that this movement would fix everything in a few months. This is going to take years and years. I'm sorry you expected miracles, most of us did not even expect what has already been accomplished, considering the huge forces we expected to be up against.

So far so good, now on the next phase.

[Lionessa]

11. Well we'll see, there's no evidence to really support your claim.

Whereas the analogy of the anti-war/peace movement has proofed it's pudding and what it proved was that it was ineffective.

I sincerely hope your right. But as with Obama, I expect my hope will be dashed and the ugly status quo will continue through my lifetime.

[sabrina 1]

13. Circumstances will determine the need for the movement to grow or not.

OWS was constructed very differently from the Anti-war movement. And the PTBs are determined to crush this movement because it was far more effective and did put a voice to what a majority of people were already thinking. That was a huge threat to the status quo. But unless things change, like all other movements, it will not go away.

[Lionessa]

14. I am humored by your naive hopefulness. Hats off if you turn out to be correct.

I seriously doubt that will be the case anytime soon.

[U4ikLefty]

16. ...and why are you on this forum?

[Lionessa]

19. Opining, just like everyone else. You?

[U4ikLefty]

20. Much like Trump opines about Obama's birthplace.

[Lionessa]

21. I guess everyone has their opinions, but neither Trump nor Obama are being discussed here.

Here a small group, spending less than a day a week, are being heralded as effective. There is ample proof those small recurring groups that spend ALL weekend protesting every weekend for years were ineffective, which is a valid comparison for the probability that the one mentioned here will also be entirely ineffective.

If you don't like that data, put your head in the sand.

If you just like to try to paint others with your hatred, carry on, I guess, you only cause reflection upon yourself.

[U4ikLefty]

23. I guess everyone likes to smear a movement with no real experience

...oh wait that's just you!!!

Since you mention the word data you must have some HARD facts to back it up. Otherwise your pulling "data" from your ass.

Define "effective"....in what, according to whom? Define "small recurring groups"...how big, with what frequency? Probability...of what? C'mon you are just spouting talking points & pretending to be calm & objective.

It dishonesty like yours that is sad. Why not put some effort to help Social Justice instead of typing slams on a keyboard?

[Lionessa]

24. Bless your heart.

[egbertowillies]

2. Just trying to raise awareness

The real work is one on one which we do as well. It beats doing nothing.

[freshwest]

3. +1,000

[Speck Tater]

4. Occupy has become nothing more than...

A) A different name for camping out.
B) A public gathering for watching the world fall apart at the seams.
C) A way to feel involved without actually doing anything useful.
D) All of the above.

[sabrina 1]

12. Yawn, sure, that is why they are just left alone

by that huge army of robo cops all over the world wherever they are.

Thanks for the old rightwing talking points, but they are already very familiar to us.

We heard them, almost exactly the same ones way back in Sept of last year with the prediction that they would all 'be gone by the end of the weekend' because 'those hippies, (what's with the rightwing obsession with hippies btw), would not be able to 'camp out' longer than that as they would all need to get back to their 'comfortable suburban homes in their daddies and mommies expensive McMansions. etc. etc. etc.

We are always grateful to hear Fox News talking points here, since most of us refuse to be subjected to that torture. Credit to you for having the fortitude to do so, though.

[U4ikLefty]

17. Another drive-by poster who doesn't know shit about Occupy.

Now sit comfortably on your couch & do nothing.

[Loki]

6. Welcome to DU egberto

I lived in Kingwood for 12 years and was a member of KAD. I appreciate the efforts of you and everyone in the area trying to raise awareness one person at a time.. Have since moved back to Missouri but have many friends still there. Keep the faith and turn Texas blue.

[limpyhobbler]

15. Very cool.

People in your town know your group is there and that you are are not afraid to speak your minds.

That's cool.

[U4ikLefty]

18. Good work egbertowillies.

Keeping your face out there & doing outreach is important.

Many folks think Occupy is a flash in the pan & will go away soon. The longer you are there the more respect you garner from the populace in general.

When I come home from an Occupy L.A. gathering & read posts from another Occupy I get a good feeling inside. Especially with all the bullshit drama that goes on at some of OLA's get-togethers...sorry to rant, but a good day of learning at OLA ended VERY badly (I will go no further).

Peace & Solidarity
U4ikLefty

[Kteachums]

22. Keep on keeping on!

Occupy will not go away because there are Americans out there waiting in the trenches for an opportunity to stand up in some way for their country and their rights. For several months now, I have been over here in WV wishing that some of you would head this way. I watched patiently as my fellow teachers were fighting the war in Wisconsin. It is a shame that money won there. We cannot give up. A few of us out there speaking are better than no one. I am ill with cancer but, I sit here and think about the women of my generation. We grew up with rights. Now, the government and the Republicans want to take us back 40 years. The new voices of the young in America have to rise up to fight for a future that may not exist if their voices are not heard. We need to take to the streets in support of healthcare. We need to make sure others understand what is happening. Many are nieve and do not follow politics. These are the ones we must reach before the lies distort the land. Kudos to you all and keep on keeping on!