COLUMN: Occupy movement is fine, but more passion needed in protests (Skull full o' mush alert)

The UO Oklahoma Daily ^ | July 7, 2012 | Ty Johnson, letters and music sophomore.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Last year saw the rise of protest movements around the world. In particular, Occupy Wall Street hit closest to home, and similar movements erupted across the nation. People of all ages flocked to makeshift camps to lend aid and numbers to different areas of America in need of social liberation.

At first, the movement’s intentions were unclear, but as time went on, they took a stand against big business and corruption of Wall Street and of the government’s pocketbooks. Police responded like clockwork, making arrests and partaking in undeniable brutality across the nation. Nevertheless, Occupy stood strong.

As the bitter sting of winter arrived, many of those living in tents were forced to return home or find other means of shelter, causing camps around America to dwindle and even fall apart. When spring arrived, those numbers remained miniscule, and the movement — both in action and media coverage — became a mere afterthought.

Meanwhile, young people in Egypt continue to cause change across the country. Whether their means are violent is irrelevant — the masses found problems with how things were, and they sought change.

The Canadian government recently attempted to raise student fees for college goers in Quebec. Fees are raised in America on a constant basis; that’s not a big deal, right?

Wrong.

Thousands of students flooded the streets of Quebec, even stripping to their underwear in protest of those raised costs. The result? Student fees were returned to normal.

Tens of thousands of Chinese citizens took to the streets Sunday in Hong Kong for a pro-democracy protest. Hong Kong is the only area in China where protest is allowed, and these protestors took full advantage of the law, shutting down city blocks on a colossal scale.

Across the globe, protests like these are being organized and demonstrated. Young people are realizing that things are wrong, and that they can be changed. But where is Occupy?

The remaining locations and members of the Occupy movement continue to carry out small protests and constantly update Facebook accounts with motivational pictures and speeches, but it seems the spirit of the movement has been laid to rest.

Compared to the other movements around the world, Occupy Wall Street seems to have gotten no more done than irritating businessmen on their way to work.

Now, don’t take this the wrong way. I’d love nothing more than to stick it to the man. Fees just went up again here at OU, and boy would I love to take to the streets in protest if it meant changing that.

But where are the numbers? Where are the angry masses? Occupy Wall Street has become nothing more than a perfect model of American young people: lazy.

In the 1960s, college students everywhere took over the nation, demanding change and reform, so it’s not that our country is incapable of such protest — we’re scared. Americans are too content with their day-to-day lives and don’t want to waste time charging down a street with a handmade sign. They are afraid to be arrested or looked down upon by their fellow man. When the Occupy movement came to Norman, even I was too afraid to join, believing that it would cause me to miss a class or lose much-needed sleep.

The problem is that until we become restless, nothing will get accomplished. If the Occupy movement hopes to get anything done, the masses of America need to take to the streets.

We sit at home and believe someone else will take care of things while our government of rich old men sits in tailored suits arguing for the sake of arguing. It’s time to realize there is no “someone else.”

If we want change, we need to demand it.

I encourage you, America, to open your eyes and see all the wrong doings of the American government. Write letters to our Oklahoman officials. Let them know what your true opinion of our state and country is rather than letting them decide for us.

If you believe in something, fight for it.

Take up your signs and take to the streets. If we want something to be done, we have to do it ourselves. It’s time to turn America upside down.

[2ndDivisionVet]

Those kids in the 1960's were under the threat of being drafted for Vietnam, Ty. As soon as President Nixon eliminated that threat the "peace movement" fizzled out. I realize you weren't alive then and only know what your professors and earlier teachers have taught you, but we have the Internet now, so research isn't nearly as hard as it was 40 years ago.

[dynachrome]

“letters and music sophomore”

He better learn how to say “you want fries with that?” Wonder how much in student loans he has?

[sten]

MORE PASSION !!!

GRUNT A LITTLE !!

SQUEEZE !!!

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

***As the bitter sting of winter arrived, many of those living in tents were forced to return home or find other means of shelter,***

AKA Sunshine patriots and summer soldiers.

[ADemocratNoMore]

> I LIKE ART! Click my name. See my web page

Very nice - not only do you like it but you do a mighty fine job of creating it. A suggestion on the camera distortion of your pictures, most image processing programs have tools to that allow you to correct this problem. Photoshop uses the Transform - Distort or Perspective tool, GIMP uses a Perspective tool, I'm sure most others have something similar. I've been imaging artwork for several years now and most all my pictures, (unless shot under controlled conditions) need this form of correction to some degree.

[max americana]

That’s his major alright. Probably the new name for “professional panhandler”.

[bill1952]

>Whether their means are violent is irrelevant — the masses found problems with how things were, and they sought change.

They had better remember that as they are being led to the gallows...

[Conservative Vermont Vet]

<>People of all ages flocked to makeshift camps to lend aid and numbers to different areas of America in need of social liberation.

Ah yes, "Social Liberation."

Seems to me we've seen that horror show before and it's like "Deja vu all over again...." as evidenced by the 1934 Chicago Tribune cartoon excoriating the "New Deal."

Note who is standing off to the (Lower Right) side with a big smile on his face, saying: "How Red yea Sunrise is Getting!"

Can anyone say "Useful Idiots?"

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Thanks! I’ll look into that!