African American
In reply to the discussion: You guys have to see this thread. [View all]Number23
(24,544 posts)Good Lord, the POTENTIAL that movement had. And so much of it was wasted because people REFUSE to understand that everyone does not have the same problems and concerns. Even if we are in the same economic group!
On twitter many of the anarchists said that they specifically did not want Occupy Oakland to be something where families or mainstream political people would feel welcome. They actively resisted making spaces where marginalized groups could feel like their voices were being amplified, and instead emphasized the 99%, which doesn't acknowledge that a percentage of the 99% has been trampled down harder, and should get the first place in line to make sure their voices are heard.
Bernie was endorsed by Occupy, so...I'm going to go out on a limb here and say that many of the same attitudes that were attracted to Occupy have now shifted to Bernie. For some reason that defies all logic, they think that there is some silent majority of cool kids that are going to rise up and eclipse us, the boring and stupid people who already vote, and do some electoral miracle. It's like waiting for the Great Pumpkin, imo.
That is so disappointing. But I have to admit, it doesn't surprise me in the least. Except it does make you wonder -- why go through the fucking trouble of STARTING a social movement if you only want to listen to a very narrow demographic? And does the spectacular failure of Occupy not tell them anything???
It doesn't surprise me in the least that the only folks on DU that are even still talking about Occupy and declaring it a "success" despite the fact that everyone else in the world is wondering "what the hell happened?" are in very much the same vein as the people you mention in Occupy Oakland. Clueless (oh my GOD, so clueless) narcissists who talk down to everyone without the slightest realization that not only are they not smart/informed enough to be talking down to ANYONE, they actually don't need to be talking at all and need to be doing some deeeep, INTENSIVE listening instead.