Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Occupy Dallas!!!


I had the day off today so I decided to do what any fun-loving 30 year-old does away from work, attend a political activist event. I'm glad I went. Not because it shed new light on a significant issue nor to push my own agenda or to witness someone cuffed and drug away. I'm glad I went because it was genuinely enjoyable and I'm a sucker for impromptu sign-making.

I went with an open mind hoping to learn, specifically, the common goal and how occupying a public park in downtown Dallas is the means to an end. I quickly found several people eager to talk to me on camera. There were many issues that the occupiers were concerned about. They were concerned with the lack of wealth among most of society, legalization of drugs, corporate greed, the U.S. political system, minimum wage, and First Amendment rights, among others.

The two most prevalent themes I found were shirtless guys with tats and unsolicited assertions that the peaceful gatherers were not "dirty hippies". I don't have a problem with tats or hippies but the fact is the minute you set foot in a public park sans shirt and with a guitar you are tacitly.....a hippie. To be clear: in park with guitar-not a hippie; in park shirtless- not a hippie; in park with guitar and without shirt-hippie.

I was hunkered down for a couple of hours and everyone welcomed me to hang around with my camera while they had internal discussions ranging from the rules about having an insurance policy when gathering in a public space to what to do if arrested. A discussion was had between a journalist/activist from a little-known, local media outlet and an activist about the problem with having a warrant out for one's arrest. It was decided that the individuals with warrants should avoid being arrested.
The camp setup at the park was about what one would expect. They had a couple central base areas, lots of tents, and a generator. One of the campers said he was in favor of finding a way for the generator to be powered by a bicycle instead of gas but he hadn't put it all together yet. There were blankets and linens drying on a park wall after being washed in the fountain and a significant amount of bagged garbage sitting near a garbage can. It was fairly clean other than that. There were also plenty of drums (both bongo and snare) which is a key indicator of a big league political activist event. Nothing says "I have a problem that needs to be dealt with!" better than a unison chant accompanied by a shiny Ludwig Supra-Phonic. Hand-clapping is for B-squad amateurs and union picketing; big boy movements require drums.


The signs I saw read, "Stop Police Brutality!", "Trickle down feels a lot like being pissed on", and, "Tax Bill O'Reilly out of Existence!". This furthered my belief that the "movement" was unorganized and lacked a central theme and focus. At one point an activist broke into a group conversation we were having stating, "I have a quick announcement. There's a major event happening at City Hall right now so we're marching". To which another activist replied, "What's the event?". The eager one said back, "Uh, we don't know".
I think this movement is like so many before it. There will always be a group of young people with no direction or purpose who are in search of both. Media pundits have been saying that this movement must have started many months ago and was planned to interfere with and undermine the conservative political agenda. That may be true. However, if that is the case these kids were unaware of its beginning or roots.

I got the feeling during all of my conversations that these individuals had somebody espouse a handful of beliefs to them and they have run with it ever since without thinking the ideas through. It didn't feel as though they had their own personal arguments over their beliefs to validate them. These people want to be a part of something important, in contrast with their usual activities and livelihoods which few of those to whom I spoke would deem important. I don't happen to think that an "important life" can be defined easily, but it's worth noting that none of these individuals fit the mold.

If you are wondering if this protest/movement was exactly what you have pictured in your mind, it was. Thank you Dallas! Fight the power and keep your shirt on!

View today's video below:



7 comments:

  1. Terrific post. It's scary that so many people are incapable of or unwilling to think for themselves yet are so willing to dedicate such a great deal of their time and effort toward a senseless, shrouded group of ideas.

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  2. Unknown poster Leslie.....fear not. it's less scary when you understand that their ideas are largely confined to public parks but more scary if the ideas make their way higher. Both "Occupy" and "Tea Party" movements have been classified as "fringe" groups by the media. Which do you think more Americans identify with?

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  3. Really, if we're considering the opportunity cost here, these people had nothing to do anyway... except wait by the mailbox for their government check. They have nothing to lose plus they get free pizza there.

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  4. Leslie,

    Your perception is keen and probably correct, aggregately. I happened to run into more employed people than unemployed but your theory remains legitimate nonetheless. The main message I received would concur with your perceptions of the crowd. These were probably not people that were going to sit in the driver's seat of our #1 economy either way. Individualism was scarce and the decades-old idea of a Utopia was on the tip of each tongue but lacked the historical evidence and/or proven realities to put the fairy-dust proof in the magic-carpet pudding. .....sucks that great lifestyles only come from great effort.

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  5. Hu-
    I enjoyed the post. However, it is apparent that you are a closeted beatnik who overcompensates for it by climbing the corporate ladder, and coming down on these folks for letting their nonconformist ideas shine. A classic case of hippiephobia.

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  6. Can a beatnik scoff at played-out ideals if it means a more limited turtle-neck color palette?

    Beatniks are hereby called to explain brother-sister relationships within middle class America. Are you upset about your struggle in corporate America?

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  7. I am confused as to why you aren't posting things in your blog, as opposed to attacking your readers in the comments. Beatniks have a long history of free love; not restricted to your Puritan values. If you call that "incest", good for you. Those who have those relationships call it "love". Who are you to judge them? It is not my thing, personally, but it doesn't hurt me, so why would I worry about it. Making fun of the way someone dresses, or the way someone loves is an easy way to change the subject.

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