Guest MINDSETTER™ Mary Ann Sorrentino: Occupy Reality
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
On Thursday, November 17, 2011, the two month anniversary of Occupy Wall Street, the movement that started Occupy demonstrations worldwide entered a new phase as hundreds of frustrated Americans gathered nationwide as authorities sought to quash their movement. In New York City, home of the founding “Occupy Wall Street,” huge crowds retook Zuccotti Park, removed police barriers and marched peacefully across the Brooklyn Bridge.
Their goal?
To serve worldwide notice that the 99% Occupy represents has no intention of going away, quieting down, or being dismissed without their grievances being addressed.
So far, this movement has had impressive support from global sympathizers in London, Rome, Auckland, Sydney, Hong Kong, Taipei, Tokyo, São Paulo, Paris, Madrid, Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig and, according to Wikipedia and other web sites, approximately 750 cities in 82 countries plus 600 communities in the USA. See the full UK Guardian spreadsheet here.
Those who wish to educate themselves need only go to the web site at http://occupywallst.org/ . When they do, they may be surprised to see a sharply revolutionary tone, cogent arguments articulately presented, minute-by-minute coverage of the movement around the world, video commentary and, all told, an impressive picture of a movement that is not to be taken lightly.
As I write this, I am watching live coverage of the marchers in New York City walking across the Brooklyn Bridge on their way to make good on a threat to disrupt the city by peaceful means. A reporter is wondering how Mayor Bloomberg will protect the city and whether or not there will be mass arrests of worse. As you read this, some of those questions will have been answered, for better or worse.
What ought to be clear is that this movement isn’t getting any less inspiring to many. The momentum is on Occupy’s side since there are more people being decimated by the rich and powerful in this country who thumb their noses at the 99% than there are Americans content with the apathy and indifference of the 1% destroying our security, our economic survival and our ability to share in the bounty of America they love to tout.
As the federal “Supercommittee” seems baffled by the logical necessity to tax the rich as well as cut benefits to the working classes and Republicans continue to personify corporations while dehumanizing real citizens, Americans will continue to take to the streets in ever growing numbers. Their global neighbors in similar straits will join them.
Just a few days ago bona-fide US millionaires begged Washington blockheads to increase taxes on those earning $1 million a year or more. Republicans refused. Has America gone mad?
Those who believe the Occupy movement will dry up and blow away are misguided and naïve. When the violence begins, as it likely will as tempers flair, America will enter a new era of chaos. On Thursday, just before noon, CNN ran video of a female protester in New York being pulled by her hair by arresting officers as protesters screamed, “Shame, shame!”
We can pray to be spared violence but those who ignore what is happening with Occupy had best get used to the exploding rage of a growing majority.
Editor’s Note: This piece originally ran on Salon.com on Nov. 17.
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Comments:
john paycheck
3:18pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
there are 60,000 unemployed people in ri and 20,000 college students
and you have 100 people involved in occuppy prov? am i supposed to be impressed?
as for nyc, there are several million people living within a half hour drive. you have a few thousand that participate of which many are chronically homeless.
sadly, they are right about a few things but the focus is misplaced and execution is down right poor.... would you hire one of these people??? they are making some noise but they are accomplishing nothing.....
Michael Trenn
7:30pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
These Occupunks are the end product of a great deal of bad parenting. They think that it's "all about them". They have been handed everything they ever wanted, and were told they were perfect at every step of the way. Now that they have to step up and become productive adults, they can't do it, because they don't know how. These are not demonstrations; they are tantrums. Shame on you, Ms. Sorrentino, for backing them. You aren't exactly an anti-establishment type yourself. If memory serves, is not your husband a retired Traffic Court Judge, from the time that the Court was mired in scandal? A fat pension backing you up,trust funds backing up the Occupunks. More similarity than I first thought.
Michael Trenn
7:33pm on Wednesday, November 23, 2011
And, by the way, tempers don't "flair." They "flare." I make typos occasionally, but then again, I'm not a "mindsetter."
joe bernstein
12:06am on Thursday, November 24, 2011
I thought Mary Ann Sorrentino was lousy on the radio and reading her garbage reinforces that impression.
peter hewett
4:39pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
Within these "occupy" gatherings, violence equates to anarchy and it is promoted by anarchists. When the violence breaks out, as it certainly will (and has), the innocent "protestors" have or should have left the occupied location. They are not innocent if they persist in hanging around once the violence begins. They become wittingly or stupidly and naively participants by their presence and presumed support for the violence.
Pete Hewett
Bristol
E.J. Dunn
5:24pm on Friday, November 25, 2011
The New York Post reported that "Mayor Bloomberg finally decided to wipe Zuccotti Park clean after learning about a rancid outbreak of scabies, lice and lung ailments among Occupy Wall Street protesters."
Zuccotti Park, Occupyers notwithstanding, is private property.
A "tent city" has nothing to do with free speech.
This "movement" has gotten way disproportionate media coverage. But the absence of an agenda beyond "99 percent, blah, blah, blah" is beyond tiresome.
As some wag put it, "They should occupy Seinfeld. That's about nothing, too."