OCCUPY WALL STREET

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by Miss Tick

No, apparently they are also for poet laureates as well. Robert Hass, former poet laureate of the United States, tells about his experience at Berkley.
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/11/21-5



But you know we could post article after article, we could fill this thread with pictures, videos and stories about peaceful protestors being attacked, shot with less lethal weapons, clubbed, gassed, pepper sprayed and otherwise brutalized but to what end? The most important question of all is what can we do about it. How can we stop this? How can we make our elected officials protect our right to speak out and to engage in non violent protests? What can we do to stop them from silencing our voices? And why have we heard nothing at all from our president?

Here are quotes from the president and the secretary of state that are filled with concern for the peaceful protestors in Egypt. What about United States citizens? In the words of Obama the U.S. will stand up for human rights everywhere. Everywhere apparently but here at home in the place where he is president.

It's kind of scary to realize that these two people are considered to be liberals. They are two politicians that we would expect would defend human rights. And they do. Just not ours.

President Obama:
"I want to be very clear in calling upon the Egyptian authorities to refrain from any violence against peaceful protestors.
The people of Egypt have rights that are universal. That includes the right to peaceful assembly and association, the right to free speech, and the ability to determine their own destiny. These are human rights. And the United States will stand up for them everywhere."

Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton:
"We are deeply concerned about the use of violence by Egyptian police and security forces against protesters, and we call on the Egyptian government to do everything in its power to restrain the security forces."

Here at home not a word. They are as silent as they wish us to be.

Yes, the Obama administration's silence about police violence against protestors here at home really irks me. It clearly shows who side he is on. I am sad that I supported him in 2008.

Something that concerns me about all the press and uproar about police brutality is that having all the focus be on that takes the focus off of the reason people are protesting in the first place, with respect to national media coverage. However, I doubt the national media cares much to cover the reasons for the protests. In fact, their favorite way to deal with that is to say it's unfocused and there is no real message. Which is bullshit of course.

[Ebon]

Originally Posted by atomiczombie

Yes, the Obama administration's silence about police violence against protestors here at home really irks me. It clearly shows who side he is on. I am sad that I supported him in 2008.

Something that concerns me about all the press and uproar about police brutality is that having all the focus be on that takes the focus off of the reason people are protesting in the first place, with respect to national media coverage. However, I doubt the national media cares much to cover the reasons for the protests. In fact, their favorite way to deal with that is to say it's unfocused and there is no real message. Which is bullshit of course.

Did you expect anything different? The media is corporate owned. They aren't going to support OWS. They aren't going to allow them to wake up the sleeping masses.

[UofMfan]

So,apparently it is OK to camp at UC Davies for March Madness and have pizza delivered to you by the women's basketball team, and they even set up a Foosball table for your entertainment, but it is not OK to camp for OWS. Interesting.

[AtLast]

Well, I don't want to see Newt Ginrich as president- yesterday when asked about OWS he said he thinks all the protesters should get a job- then added, "First they should take a bath and then get a job." Frankly, since I began voting back in the early 70's there has never been a viable candidate that totally aligned with my political convictions. Not one. And Al Gore would have won in 2000 if not for Ralph Nader, it was so close. And I couldn't get behind Nader even though I was registered Green back then.

I have heard Obama speak in support of the issues OWS is bringing to the surface, many times. And to be honest, I am much more upset with Governors not speaking up and out about the police within their state- they are the ones that have more direct power what is going on in their state. What the hell can Obama do on a state level with police? I am quite upset with Gov Brown here in CA.

[atomiczombie]

Originally Posted by AtLast

Well, I don't want to see Newt Ginrich as president- yesterday when asked about OWS he said he thinks all the protesters should get a job- then added, "First they should take a bath and then get a job." Frankly, since I began voting back in the early 70's there has never been a viable candidate that totally aligned with my political convictions. Not one. And Al Gore would have won in 2000 if not for Ralph Nader, it was so close. And I couldn't get behind Nader even though I was registered Green back then.

I have heard Obama speak in support of the issues OWS is bringing to the surface, many times. And to be honest, I am much more upset with Governors not speaking up and out about the police within their state- they are the ones that have more direct power what is going on in their state. What the hell can Obama do on a state level with police? I am quite upset with Gov Brown here in CA.

Al Gore would have won if the conservative Supreme Court would have upheld the constitution and allowed the recount to happen. Ralph Nader had nothing to do with that.

As for what Obama can do about violence by state police against peaceful protestors? Well, he can speak out for one thing. He hasn't said one damn word about it.