I’m sitting here doing my best to not make use of an apt and pithy movie quote on the subject of opinions… it’s hard. So instead, I’ll sit on it (har har), and share some opinions of interest:

Otherwise occupied: What price revolution?
http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/otherwise-occupied-what-price-revolution/Content?oid=2715801

This piece is pretty well rounded, and overall supportive of the movement while decrying the startling violence that has accompanied peaceful protesting, and reporting on said protesting.

Where I stand on the Occupy movement
http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2011/12/_where_i_stand_on_the_occupy_m.html

While mainly supportive, Mr. Ebert shows his age by querying as to why it is taken so far as actual occupation. I don’t blame him in the slightest – the older we get, the more conservative and careful we become by dint of survival mechanism (if indeed we are secure enough for such a luxury). I do concede that if, IF occupation were the only way to be active in the movement that it would indeed be discriminatory to families and children… but it’s not. Anyone who goes to just about any camp, whether it be full or part time, is just as valid as the next person there. It is emphatically a populist movement, and all you have to do to be a part of it is to declare yourself as such – spread the word, make a few calls, donate some food – it all counts. I do also agree that people should emphatically remember to exercise their right and privilege to vote. I consider it a duty, and one that I am proud to do.

An Open Message to Police, TSA & Military: Take a Stand, the Time is Now
http://freakoutnation.com/2011/12/06/a-strong-message-to-police-tsa-military-take-a-stand-the-time-is-now/

This one is fairly obvious – it is a plea to those in positions of authority (police, armed forces, etc) to remember that they are also a part of the 99%, and to remember what defending their country really means. This resonates strongly with me – as a veteran, it breaks my heart to see children joining up with the TSA who actually believe that their job protects America. No sweet child, your job is to intimidate and scare Americans, to violate them, so that they’re too frightened to ask questions and call their government to accountability. You especially are helping American Exceptionalism, a vile concept that operates best in a vacuum. And if you start charging people more to come visit with a guaranteed hand-job for their troubles, is it no wonder that people don’t want to come to that prison once known as the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave? Home of the Cowed it is now, but the Occupy movement proves it doesn’t have to be that way.

Finally, I wanted to end on a little piece out of Los Angeles:

My Occupy LA Arrest, by Patrick Meighan
http://myoccupylaarrest.blogspot.com/2011/12/my-occupy-la-arrest-by-patrick-meighan.html

I appreciate that Mr. Meighan clarifies his relative treatment to explain that he didn’t feel he was especially picked on, and that he empathises with the police. They are, after all, doing the job they think they’re supposed to be doing (if not the job they should be doing in reality). And I also appreciate that he takes a moment to point out who the real crooks are… I do look forward to the day we see them appropriate prosecuted. It won’t fix the problems in America and the world at large, but it might serve as a deterrent.

Have a good Friday!

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