Ok fine. I see I have to write a response to this #OOMedia shit even if I don't want to.
Here it is. First of all, I don't even care that much. I'm autonomous media and from an outside perspective it just looks like a bunch of people who stopped getting along had a power struggle and this is what came of it. However, let me touch on a couple more points because after this I'm done and don't want to hear anything else about it. I would RATHER FOCUS ON THE POLITICAL PRISONERS THAT NEED TO BE FREED!
1) The media committee was. Legitimized by the consensus process of GA. That means a group of people came together to ask permission to do shit they could be doing on their own anyway.
2) the GA approved the group and they colaborated to build a site. That site is official because it was put together by the legitimized media group.
3) SOME writers came together and wrote an article weak in the facts department and heavy in the pointing fingers at an individual within the movement. That was wrong. With the gravity of this situation and the accusations being INDIRECTLY made, more research should have been put in AND when the facts were FOUND (more than 1 confirmation of this) those facts that were in opposition of the article were denied/rejected/not published and it was pursued anyway.
Now comes the issue of accountability
Should the individuals who signed it be held accountable? Well if that were an option it might have been employed, however, because some wish to remain anonymous we have no clue who that is.
Why are people defending them rather than saying it was wrong? There has still been no apology. Everyone is attacked who think this was childish and foolish by not the individuals who are known to have written and publish it, but others in the media group. This makes me wonder if you are the anonymous ones.
Also, for all the talk of abuse. It constantly seems that the self proclaimed pacifists are the ones constantly waging rhetorical war on those they do not agree with which is both hypocritical and decidedly more dangerous to the sustainability and growth of the movement. This is people breaking up the movement on their own.
With the "transparency" and openness of Occupy, or at least what Occupy is supposed to be there are several infiltrators, undercover agents etc in our midsts. Guess what? You probably don't know who the hell they are! Stop all this constant fear mongering and fighting.
Imagine what we could be accomplishing if we weren't all biting each others heads off over articles on the Internet while vicious lies are printed all the time anyway.
Showing posts with label Real coverage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Real coverage. Show all posts
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
Obama breaks FDA ties with Monsanto - Occupy Goals pursued in Politics?
President Obama appointed former Monsanto vice president and lobbyist Michael Taylor as senior advisor to the Food and Drug Administration commissioner.
This is a classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse. President Obama should isolate the FDA from corporate influence by asking Taylor to step down immediately.
That's why I created a petition to President Obama on SignOn.org. Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-20617662-Ou1E0Cx&t=2
The petition says:
President Obama, I oppose your appointment of Michael Taylor, a former VP and lobbyist for Monsanto, the widely criticized genetically modified (GM) food multinational, as senior advisor to the commissioner at the FDA. Taylor is the same person who as a high ranking official at the FDA in the 1990s promoted allowing genetically modified organisms into the U.S. food supply without undergoing a single test to determine their safety or risks. This is a travesty.
Taylor was in charge of policy for Monsanto's now-discredited GM bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which is opposed by many medical and hospital organizations. It was Michael Taylor who pursued a policy that milk from rBGH-treated cows should not be labeled with disclosures. Michael Taylor and Monsanto do not belong in our government.
President Obama, Monsanto has been seen as a foe to family-based agriculture, the backbone of America, by introducing dangerous changes to plants and animals and by using strong-arm legal tactics against farmers for decades. Naturally occurring plant and animal species are permanently threatened by the introduction of DNA and hormonal modification, Monsanto's core businesses.
FDA scientists once regarded genetic modification of the food supply as the single most radical and potentially dangerous threat to public health in history. As early as the 1991, a body of scientific research began to form which now includes articles in over 600 journals. As a whole, these offer scientific evidence that GM foods, hormones, and related pesticides are the root cause for the increase of many serious diseases in the U.S. Since GM foods were introduced, diagnosis of multiple chronic illnesses in the U.S. has skyrocketed. These illnesses include changes in major organs and in hormonal, immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. These modifications to foods and food production may also be contributors to colon, breast, lymphatic, and prostate cancers.
Experts are discouraged that regulators and GM companies systematically overlook potential side effects of GM. Monsanto's objective to use biotechnology to change the world's food supply is the opposite policy direction your administration should pursue. Your legacy of supporting Monsanto to have free rein in U.S. food policy is a nightmare scenario that is against the interest of all Americans and world citizens.
Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-20617662-Ou1E0Cx&t=3
Thanks!
–Frederick Ravid
The text above was written by Frederick Ravid, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn's secure system, and your information has been kept private.
Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
This is a classic example of the fox guarding the henhouse. President Obama should isolate the FDA from corporate influence by asking Taylor to step down immediately.
That's why I created a petition to President Obama on SignOn.org. Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-20617662-Ou1E0Cx&t=2
The petition says:
President Obama, I oppose your appointment of Michael Taylor, a former VP and lobbyist for Monsanto, the widely criticized genetically modified (GM) food multinational, as senior advisor to the commissioner at the FDA. Taylor is the same person who as a high ranking official at the FDA in the 1990s promoted allowing genetically modified organisms into the U.S. food supply without undergoing a single test to determine their safety or risks. This is a travesty.
Taylor was in charge of policy for Monsanto's now-discredited GM bovine growth hormone (rBGH), which is opposed by many medical and hospital organizations. It was Michael Taylor who pursued a policy that milk from rBGH-treated cows should not be labeled with disclosures. Michael Taylor and Monsanto do not belong in our government.
President Obama, Monsanto has been seen as a foe to family-based agriculture, the backbone of America, by introducing dangerous changes to plants and animals and by using strong-arm legal tactics against farmers for decades. Naturally occurring plant and animal species are permanently threatened by the introduction of DNA and hormonal modification, Monsanto's core businesses.
FDA scientists once regarded genetic modification of the food supply as the single most radical and potentially dangerous threat to public health in history. As early as the 1991, a body of scientific research began to form which now includes articles in over 600 journals. As a whole, these offer scientific evidence that GM foods, hormones, and related pesticides are the root cause for the increase of many serious diseases in the U.S. Since GM foods were introduced, diagnosis of multiple chronic illnesses in the U.S. has skyrocketed. These illnesses include changes in major organs and in hormonal, immune, digestive, and reproductive systems. These modifications to foods and food production may also be contributors to colon, breast, lymphatic, and prostate cancers.
Experts are discouraged that regulators and GM companies systematically overlook potential side effects of GM. Monsanto's objective to use biotechnology to change the world's food supply is the opposite policy direction your administration should pursue. Your legacy of supporting Monsanto to have free rein in U.S. food policy is a nightmare scenario that is against the interest of all Americans and world citizens.
Will you sign the petition? Click here to add your name, and then pass it along to your friends:
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=269891&id=35461-20617662-Ou1E0Cx&t=3
Thanks!
–Frederick Ravid
The text above was written by Frederick Ravid, not by MoveOn staff, and MoveOn is not responsible for the content. This email was sent through MoveOn's secure system, and your information has been kept private.
Want to support our work? MoveOn Civic Action is entirely funded by our 5 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Chabot Student Kicked Off Campus for Passing out Flyers - Can't Be Anonymous
Many of you within Occupy Oakland may know Josh who is a student from Chabot College who has been a blessing to Occupy Oakland in many ways over the past few months, from bringing food and clothes to helping many events work and facilitating many rides, and more. Well today, January 19th, Josh was at school in Hayward, CA passing out flyers for an Occupy Oakland action on Jan. 28th.
While passing out the flyers he was approached by campus security (one named Nathan Moore) and told that he could not pass out the flyers without registering with the Office of Student Life first. Upon that time Josh protested having to register because he was already a student at the school who actually pays for classes and he feels as if the 1st Amendment is his right to pass out flyers to those who are interested. When I spoke with Josh he told me he didn't want to pay a fee to hang the flyers up, because to hang flyers that are not associated with a club on campus costs money even if you are a student. Upon doing a little more research with the Office of Student Life I found out that there is no fee to pass out flyers. The interesting part is that they need a copy of my photo ID and the material I'm passing out. I find that disturbing because Occupy is a political movement. Not everyone wants their name and face documented with the movement for fear of the police showing up at their door. At that point, I not only understand but also respect a persons desire to remain anonymous at their discretion.
Knowing that this was very popular on twitter soon after Josh called me, I went to speak with the Director of campus Security at Chabot College, Keith W. Stiver and he said that Josh was told that he could not come back to the campus because of the dispute that he was having with the officers and the fact that he was refusing to go register with the Office of Student Life. I should take the time to say that Josh was standing outside the campus radio station (where he works) and was just passing out the flyers, he wasn't yelling but he was passing them out to people. Mr. Stiver says he welcomes any questions or comments and left me his contact information : 510-723-6663 or you can email him at kstiver@chabotcollege.edu Anyway after being escorted off of campus Josh was then made aware of the fact that he would be contacted by Dean Gerald Shimada (which in my experience he has been a very reasonable man in the past) and he would be arrested by Hayward Police if he returns before that phone call. This is excessive, and didn't happen to me when I was suspended for almost having a more serious event on campus in the past.
Now, while I am not a fan of the way this situation was handled at all, and I do not agree that a student should have to leave a copy of their photo ID to pass out flyers when faculty does not have to. If it is going to be approved to pass out the flyers just tell me the appropriate time and place, this is something Mr. Stiver discussed with me. My thought on this was this is true, because the Supreme Court did give authority to authorize time and place for free speech, but I don't remember any stipulations about recording my identity to access that right. How is it that I can even afford to protest this as a student who is very close to graduating and cant afford to be kicked off of campus or suspended while trying to access my Constitutionally protected rights? This seems really similar to the systematic oppression that Occupy Oakland has been experiencing like the stay away orders from Frank Ogawa Plaza, in front of City Hall where they cannot access their own elected representatives. I'm not blaming the law enforcement here, I am blaming the system that has hired them to protect abusive processes on college campuses.
Do we need tents? I've never put up a tent even though I've spent countless hours every day at Occupy. So I'm not the one to ask that, but every time that conversation comes up there are some who will and some who won't agree with it. So I'm not going to answer that question, I'm going to let my viewers answer that for themselves. However, when asked the question should we reevaluate and protest this process my answer is yes. Hell yes even. Sorry, but my inner activist can't help but declare that I feel like this is some bullshit, and as a people we need to rise up against systematic oppression. However, I also embrace diversity of tactics. There are many ways to protest and reach a goal, and putting tents up in Hayward could solidify more of a working relationship between the Oakland Police Department and Hayward Police Department, which Occupy really does not want to happen. With Berkeley Police Department declaring no more mutual aid to Oakland, and Richmond Police Department seemingly following suit (a little slower but they are on their way) we don't need to make the Oakland Police Department be solidified in any of their now deemed wasteful and abusive practices. I just ask for this to be thought of for whomever is planning actions for Chabot because I know that they are coming and I don't oppose them.
While passing out the flyers he was approached by campus security (one named Nathan Moore) and told that he could not pass out the flyers without registering with the Office of Student Life first. Upon that time Josh protested having to register because he was already a student at the school who actually pays for classes and he feels as if the 1st Amendment is his right to pass out flyers to those who are interested. When I spoke with Josh he told me he didn't want to pay a fee to hang the flyers up, because to hang flyers that are not associated with a club on campus costs money even if you are a student. Upon doing a little more research with the Office of Student Life I found out that there is no fee to pass out flyers. The interesting part is that they need a copy of my photo ID and the material I'm passing out. I find that disturbing because Occupy is a political movement. Not everyone wants their name and face documented with the movement for fear of the police showing up at their door. At that point, I not only understand but also respect a persons desire to remain anonymous at their discretion.
Knowing that this was very popular on twitter soon after Josh called me, I went to speak with the Director of campus Security at Chabot College, Keith W. Stiver and he said that Josh was told that he could not come back to the campus because of the dispute that he was having with the officers and the fact that he was refusing to go register with the Office of Student Life. I should take the time to say that Josh was standing outside the campus radio station (where he works) and was just passing out the flyers, he wasn't yelling but he was passing them out to people. Mr. Stiver says he welcomes any questions or comments and left me his contact information : 510-723-6663 or you can email him at kstiver@chabotcollege.edu Anyway after being escorted off of campus Josh was then made aware of the fact that he would be contacted by Dean Gerald Shimada (which in my experience he has been a very reasonable man in the past) and he would be arrested by Hayward Police if he returns before that phone call. This is excessive, and didn't happen to me when I was suspended for almost having a more serious event on campus in the past.
Now, while I am not a fan of the way this situation was handled at all, and I do not agree that a student should have to leave a copy of their photo ID to pass out flyers when faculty does not have to. If it is going to be approved to pass out the flyers just tell me the appropriate time and place, this is something Mr. Stiver discussed with me. My thought on this was this is true, because the Supreme Court did give authority to authorize time and place for free speech, but I don't remember any stipulations about recording my identity to access that right. How is it that I can even afford to protest this as a student who is very close to graduating and cant afford to be kicked off of campus or suspended while trying to access my Constitutionally protected rights? This seems really similar to the systematic oppression that Occupy Oakland has been experiencing like the stay away orders from Frank Ogawa Plaza, in front of City Hall where they cannot access their own elected representatives. I'm not blaming the law enforcement here, I am blaming the system that has hired them to protect abusive processes on college campuses.
Do we need tents? I've never put up a tent even though I've spent countless hours every day at Occupy. So I'm not the one to ask that, but every time that conversation comes up there are some who will and some who won't agree with it. So I'm not going to answer that question, I'm going to let my viewers answer that for themselves. However, when asked the question should we reevaluate and protest this process my answer is yes. Hell yes even. Sorry, but my inner activist can't help but declare that I feel like this is some bullshit, and as a people we need to rise up against systematic oppression. However, I also embrace diversity of tactics. There are many ways to protest and reach a goal, and putting tents up in Hayward could solidify more of a working relationship between the Oakland Police Department and Hayward Police Department, which Occupy really does not want to happen. With Berkeley Police Department declaring no more mutual aid to Oakland, and Richmond Police Department seemingly following suit (a little slower but they are on their way) we don't need to make the Oakland Police Department be solidified in any of their now deemed wasteful and abusive practices. I just ask for this to be thought of for whomever is planning actions for Chabot because I know that they are coming and I don't oppose them.
Friday, December 23, 2011
How to Download videos from Ustream
A week or 2 ago, I remember coming to check my twitter to see Oakfosho and many others talking about the fact that some videos had disappeared from their ustream account. The time to backup files has come, and unfortunately this is the only way I know (at this time) to download your videos from ustream. Hopefully this helps.
Ok so if you don't have a ustream account and you want to download the video you are watching, in most cases I believe that you can mouse over the video and select "Download this video" when it appears at the top right hand corner of the video.
Ok so if you don't have a ustream account and you want to download the video you are watching, in most cases I believe that you can mouse over the video and select "Download this video" when it appears at the top right hand corner of the video.
If you do have an account just follow the screen shots and it will take you to download the .FLV file. That's the best I have to help unless Anonymous would like to jump in and show us how it's done!
I'm exploring replay media catchers and url sniffers for other options. Will update when I know more. Thanks for supporting the blog!
Saturday, December 3, 2011
The Voices of Occupy!!
Now before anyone gets all anxious, I'm not claiming to be the voice of Occupy, but I think that all the signs that are at an Occupy event show the voices of the people. Things that they have been saying for far too long with hardly any representation. People are tired of being quiet and/or screaming out but not being heard. Have you had any similar thoughts?
Diversity of Tactics - Surprise?! Nope!
Ok so many of you had to know that this article was bound to pop up on this blog eventually, so lets get right into it. First of all, I think there is too much focus on the diversity of tactics. I think that people need to realize that as the 99% there is not going to be just one tactic that appeases the entire group, so the first thing to know is that the movement can't afford to let this be the dividing strategy and should not allow it to be.
I am reminded about a resolution to exercise good judgement when deciding when to employ black bloc protesting, and how it did not pass in a very well attended general assembly. People that were there did understand that there were some who wanted to protest peacefully, however, there are some who may not feel the same. Instead of automatically jumping to the conclusion that they are wrong, I think to myself about how I know how it feels to be angry enough to want to break some things or to set something on fire. Then I wonder if anything happened to those individuals who broke windows and set things on fire to motivate them to want to make that type of statement. Once reaching this thought, another possibility could have been that the people that did these things weren't even black bloc protesters, that they could have been some teenagers (or pretty immature adults) acting out in a sea of people. the very last thought that enters my head, is are these individuals strategically doing these things to bring negative attention to the movement?
I bring all of the questions out of my head and put them on my blog because I don't know the answer to them first off, but also I would like some people who have probably never been down to an Occupy encampment or event to consider another possibility aside from the ones that the major corporate media networks give you. Consider the possibility that what you are seeing and/or hearing is not always accurate, or that it may have a particular spin on it. I mean after all, it doesn't make sense to spread awareness to the people about a movement that wants to shut down the same corporations that run and/or sponsor the news stations. Lastly, think about the fact that each alternative reason provided in the above paragraph is equally possible.
The next situation I think of was on Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day in SF. We were in front of the apple store and there was an incident with this gentleman (Buy Nothing Day Occupy SF) where he was very upset that the Occupy SF Movement had decided to Occupy and shut down the Apple Store in the financial district. Now, after a bunch of bad noise, someone finally got down to what his problem was, and it wasn't that he didn't support Occupy, he just didn't agree with the tactics. Now while I think it is great that he knew enough about Occupy to have developed that opinion, I often times hear people complain about the direction in which the Occupy movement is heading AFTER turning down invitations to visit a general assembly and make their voices be heard. I try to be patient with people, but it's difficult when trying to convince people to do something that helps them. How do you convince people to come to GA and have their voice heard? To participate in the process? This problem is already occurring as we see it in our current political system, at some point people need to get up out of their homes and come visit their community!
After all the talk about how he followed the movement, he still broke past and went into the Apple Store to buy some things. Which raises another interesting point. While everyone is complaining about corporate greed, we walk the streets like zombies to come put ourselves into debt. It was crazy to see how people could just tune out the protesters; but in this society we really are well adjusted to injustice and we do things like allow people to die from a heart attack on the floor of a store and step over him to continue shopping. Man Dies in Target while shopping - other shoppers ignore him How much are we programmed to do things that go against what or who we desire to be? At what point and time did we start believing that money is love and that militarizing the police is more important than educating our youth? At what point do more Americans get outraged at the injustice that is going on every day? At what point is enough truly enough?
I know that I have written this a little late, but as the 99% we don't have a whole bunch of money so it's not too late to start making that money work for you just a little more. Stop supporting big businesses and corporate greed when you could be more self sufficient and support your community. I know it takes a little more effort, but when you're willing to camp out to make sure you get an ipad 2 for a little cheaper for you daughter, I'm sure you can at least visit an Occupy General Assembly to see if maybe, just maybe this can be a way to provide a better world for those same family members. I'm saying all of this and not focusing all the way on the diversity of tactics because as a very diverse 99% I think it's foolish to not expect that there would be some clash about how people want to get things done. The frustrating part is that most people that really need to be at the GA would rather wait until they bump into an Occupy Day of Action and complain rather than be a part of the planning process to ensure their viewpoint is reflected as well.
Long story short: stop yelling at your tv, at the protests, and your politicians (well maybe keep it up with them). Come down to a GA near you and get involved. Make sure that issues that need to be paid attention to are being paid attention to. Voice your opinion and write a resolution to maybe plan your own action at the GA. Be a part of the solution and let's go ahead and have ourselves a revolution!
I am reminded about a resolution to exercise good judgement when deciding when to employ black bloc protesting, and how it did not pass in a very well attended general assembly. People that were there did understand that there were some who wanted to protest peacefully, however, there are some who may not feel the same. Instead of automatically jumping to the conclusion that they are wrong, I think to myself about how I know how it feels to be angry enough to want to break some things or to set something on fire. Then I wonder if anything happened to those individuals who broke windows and set things on fire to motivate them to want to make that type of statement. Once reaching this thought, another possibility could have been that the people that did these things weren't even black bloc protesters, that they could have been some teenagers (or pretty immature adults) acting out in a sea of people. the very last thought that enters my head, is are these individuals strategically doing these things to bring negative attention to the movement?
I bring all of the questions out of my head and put them on my blog because I don't know the answer to them first off, but also I would like some people who have probably never been down to an Occupy encampment or event to consider another possibility aside from the ones that the major corporate media networks give you. Consider the possibility that what you are seeing and/or hearing is not always accurate, or that it may have a particular spin on it. I mean after all, it doesn't make sense to spread awareness to the people about a movement that wants to shut down the same corporations that run and/or sponsor the news stations. Lastly, think about the fact that each alternative reason provided in the above paragraph is equally possible.
The next situation I think of was on Black Friday/Buy Nothing Day in SF. We were in front of the apple store and there was an incident with this gentleman (Buy Nothing Day Occupy SF) where he was very upset that the Occupy SF Movement had decided to Occupy and shut down the Apple Store in the financial district. Now, after a bunch of bad noise, someone finally got down to what his problem was, and it wasn't that he didn't support Occupy, he just didn't agree with the tactics. Now while I think it is great that he knew enough about Occupy to have developed that opinion, I often times hear people complain about the direction in which the Occupy movement is heading AFTER turning down invitations to visit a general assembly and make their voices be heard. I try to be patient with people, but it's difficult when trying to convince people to do something that helps them. How do you convince people to come to GA and have their voice heard? To participate in the process? This problem is already occurring as we see it in our current political system, at some point people need to get up out of their homes and come visit their community!
After all the talk about how he followed the movement, he still broke past and went into the Apple Store to buy some things. Which raises another interesting point. While everyone is complaining about corporate greed, we walk the streets like zombies to come put ourselves into debt. It was crazy to see how people could just tune out the protesters; but in this society we really are well adjusted to injustice and we do things like allow people to die from a heart attack on the floor of a store and step over him to continue shopping. Man Dies in Target while shopping - other shoppers ignore him How much are we programmed to do things that go against what or who we desire to be? At what point and time did we start believing that money is love and that militarizing the police is more important than educating our youth? At what point do more Americans get outraged at the injustice that is going on every day? At what point is enough truly enough?
I know that I have written this a little late, but as the 99% we don't have a whole bunch of money so it's not too late to start making that money work for you just a little more. Stop supporting big businesses and corporate greed when you could be more self sufficient and support your community. I know it takes a little more effort, but when you're willing to camp out to make sure you get an ipad 2 for a little cheaper for you daughter, I'm sure you can at least visit an Occupy General Assembly to see if maybe, just maybe this can be a way to provide a better world for those same family members. I'm saying all of this and not focusing all the way on the diversity of tactics because as a very diverse 99% I think it's foolish to not expect that there would be some clash about how people want to get things done. The frustrating part is that most people that really need to be at the GA would rather wait until they bump into an Occupy Day of Action and complain rather than be a part of the planning process to ensure their viewpoint is reflected as well.
Long story short: stop yelling at your tv, at the protests, and your politicians (well maybe keep it up with them). Come down to a GA near you and get involved. Make sure that issues that need to be paid attention to are being paid attention to. Voice your opinion and write a resolution to maybe plan your own action at the GA. Be a part of the solution and let's go ahead and have ourselves a revolution!
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Friday, November 25, 2011
OPD Starts "The Thanksgiving Potty Police-Riot of 2011"
Since when has it been acceptable to do this to people. I haven't been "waiting" for this to happen to people I know, but Rasta and Marsha have been nothing but nice to me ever since I started following the Occupy Oakland movement. I remember meeting their son and everything. Now I didn't see any provocation that should have lead to an arrest and grabbing Rastas hair like that! I give major props to Marsha for standing (or laying) by her husbands side and doing her best to protect him! I can't believe that this is an appropriate response on Thanksgiving when people are trying to celebrate. I think it's humane to offer some bathrooms to people, so I'm not understanding why violence was the proper way to handle this.
Furthermore, What was his crime? Why was he being arrested? Why doesn't the "establishment" just allow bathrooms? I have to get down there today and see the aftermath of this madness and support the Black Friday movement with Occupy. I hope this doesn't happen to me, but it seems like people who are doing nothing wrong tend to get caught up in the violence a bit. Too sad a reality to live in. I hope to change that someday.
UPDATE: RASTA HAS AN ARRAIGNMENT COMING UP ON MONDAY 11/28/11 AT 2PM IN DEPARTMENT 112 AT THE WILEY MANUEL COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND ON 7TH AND WASHINGTON. PLEASE COME SUPPORT!!!
I was thinking to myself after writing this blog and I still don't understand why people deserved this type of response when it was a free Thanksgiving dinner being provided and people were just trying to use bathrooms. cracking down on free holiday meals?! Seriously?! Where is the spirit that is supposed to accompany these holidays? Is this the true spirit in America put right before our eyes? It's ironic to me that this act of violence would occur on Indigenous People's Day, when people were peacefully breaking bread. What exactly are we to be thankful for? The consistent abuse to the same minority people that have been the very backbone of this country? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm an American and I love my country but things have been allowed to go too far for too long. So, I'm sitting here head still spinning from watching this video and wondering to my self YET AGAIN what the hell were the police thinking? Furthermore, why aren't more people pissed off enough at this response to come do something about it? Why are we as a people so well adjusted to injustice?
An interesting point was brought up to me in conversation at the occupy SF movement last night. The fact that most people don't want to admit that they have been (and continue to be) a part of the problem. I know that it's a hard thing to do, but overcoming denial is the 1st step to any solution. We have to be patient with people (and trust that's a hard thing for me to do, I understand you impatient people out there) but awareness and the direct democratic process that is being pursued takes time. Like decades maybe. So get used to the Occupy Movement. It's not going anywhere any time soon, because it's inherent in every aspect of our lives. Once we ALL see that, the change will come. Until we all start to open our eyes and really get involved to make the change, we are going to keep seeing things like this no matter how upset it makes you feel while watching.
Before the Occupy Movement I would always say things like "I'm not going to do this or that because no one else would do the same for me." I don't tend to feel that way as of lately. The sense of community makes me want to stand up even more so than I did before. It doesn't have to be every man and woman out for themselves, and it shouldn't be. Everyone who sees this video should support the Occupy Movement in some way. If the people who stand up for your rights are imprisoned and beat to the point of exhaustion or maybe even death, who will help you when all of your rights have been taken away? If we continue to let things like this happen to others, it will not be long before it happens to us. So fight when you see injustice, stand up for what you know is right. Don't let the tv lie to you, come check things out for yourself. Come support the people who are fighting for you.
UPDATE: RASTA HAS AN ARRAIGNMENT COMING UP ON MONDAY 11/28/11 AT 2PM IN DEPARTMENT 112 AT THE WILEY MANUEL COURTHOUSE IN DOWNTOWN OAKLAND ON 7TH AND WASHINGTON. PLEASE COME SUPPORT!!!
I was thinking to myself after writing this blog and I still don't understand why people deserved this type of response when it was a free Thanksgiving dinner being provided and people were just trying to use bathrooms. cracking down on free holiday meals?! Seriously?! Where is the spirit that is supposed to accompany these holidays? Is this the true spirit in America put right before our eyes? It's ironic to me that this act of violence would occur on Indigenous People's Day, when people were peacefully breaking bread. What exactly are we to be thankful for? The consistent abuse to the same minority people that have been the very backbone of this country? I mean, don't get me wrong, I'm an American and I love my country but things have been allowed to go too far for too long. So, I'm sitting here head still spinning from watching this video and wondering to my self YET AGAIN what the hell were the police thinking? Furthermore, why aren't more people pissed off enough at this response to come do something about it? Why are we as a people so well adjusted to injustice?
An interesting point was brought up to me in conversation at the occupy SF movement last night. The fact that most people don't want to admit that they have been (and continue to be) a part of the problem. I know that it's a hard thing to do, but overcoming denial is the 1st step to any solution. We have to be patient with people (and trust that's a hard thing for me to do, I understand you impatient people out there) but awareness and the direct democratic process that is being pursued takes time. Like decades maybe. So get used to the Occupy Movement. It's not going anywhere any time soon, because it's inherent in every aspect of our lives. Once we ALL see that, the change will come. Until we all start to open our eyes and really get involved to make the change, we are going to keep seeing things like this no matter how upset it makes you feel while watching.
Before the Occupy Movement I would always say things like "I'm not going to do this or that because no one else would do the same for me." I don't tend to feel that way as of lately. The sense of community makes me want to stand up even more so than I did before. It doesn't have to be every man and woman out for themselves, and it shouldn't be. Everyone who sees this video should support the Occupy Movement in some way. If the people who stand up for your rights are imprisoned and beat to the point of exhaustion or maybe even death, who will help you when all of your rights have been taken away? If we continue to let things like this happen to others, it will not be long before it happens to us. So fight when you see injustice, stand up for what you know is right. Don't let the tv lie to you, come check things out for yourself. Come support the people who are fighting for you.
Sunday, November 20, 2011
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