In Their Own Words - Occupy Responds To The Bear's Posts

In a democratic society, we all have the right to freedom of speech and I exercise mine by speaking out against those things that I believe are wrong or just plain stupid and in support of the things I believe in. I view my blog not only as a place to exercise that right but also as a forum for the exchange of ideas. Unless a comment from someone is profane or merely advertising, I leave all comments submitted for all to see and to evaluate for themselves, even those comments that don't agree with me.

Below are comments I've received from various Occupy supporters and represent only some of the broader communication I have had from this protest movement. They illustrate better than my own writings, why I continue to oppose Occupy. Some have been edited in this post, for brevity but the full comment is available in the appropriate blog post. The Occupy comments are in white.

OWS keeps its new offices much
cleaner than it did our parks

"Somehow the begging of the poor brings you no sympathy but you don't seem to care that without money, no political message becomes legitimised. This is the how the system works. Any political candidate that you support got where they are because of monetary donations. I can guarantee you that the people most contributing to the movement are people within the movement itself."

The irony is that she can’t see that she supports a cause that is fighting against donations to politicians while justifying the donations made to her political cause. I also find her emphasis on money rather than principle to be equally ironic I thought it was the impact of money on the political system that was one of things being protested by Occupy.

OWS People's Library

"The only people contributing to the people's library are people who actually go to the Occupy Camps and who are interested in the movement. The same people donating books will be the people who are borrowing books. And, of course, at libraries the idea is to take books out, but also to give books back. The people's library trusts people to return the books that have been taken. If this barter system didn't work, the people's library at Occupy Wall Street wouldn't have accumulated 5,000 books. … It is hypocritical for you to criticise the movement as being "clueless" but then criticise a part of the movement whose purpose it is to educate people!"

How is it possible to have a rational discussion with someone like this or even to comment on this nonsense?

Occupy Christmas trees

"Any movement, no matter what its goals will attract fools, and nutjobs. I give you the Tea Party as a good example of that. The occupation contains much more positive than negative, and was a result of legitimate grievances being summarily dismissed by those we elect. For a small percentage to destroy 20% of a nation's economy, and still profit from continuing to do so, is bad enough. But to then characterise everyone who suffered misfortune from their acts as lazy and stupid... Well, you can imagine why it may make the rest of us a tad cranky."

I have been quite supportive of those who have suffered misfortune and not just with words. My issue is with people raping our cities and using violence and intimidation as tools to make a point. I consider those people to be no better than those they oppose and criticise. I'm cranky but I don't expect others to pay for my rants.

OWS harrassing children and parents
on their way to school

"The OCCUPIERS put children in danger? Lol, I guess you didn't read about OPD waking up everyone INCLUDING CHILDREN at 5am in the morning to throw pepper spray projectiles at everyone. You obviously have not been to an Occupy movement, just read things about them online. Fucking go to one and then you tell me if they're self-righteous and self-absorbed, asshole. "The truth is on the side of the oppressed." You're obviously not oppressed."

It's never too early to star the
indoctrination..excuse me..
education of young children

I was outraged by how OWS harassed kids on their way to school during their Day of Action, protesters trying to use children as human shields between themselves and the police and even more outraged by the Occupy LA protester who exposed himself and masturbated in front of children in Los Angeles. I was outraged that two 14 year old girls were raped in Occupy camps and some Occupy groups were asking their supporters not to report sexual assaults to the police. Apparently this post hit a little too close to home for this protester but then Occupy has always become a little sensitive whenever it’s caught with its pants down.

“Dont you want a world free from the bully corporation criminals? This is revolution, man.”

Power to the people!

I want a world free of bullies period. Full stop. That includes self-indulgent hypocrites who bully anyone in their way in the confused belief that somehow this will make the world more equitable.

“You seem to identify pretty strongly with being on a "rant": v.intr. To speak or write in an angry or violent manner; rave. n. 1. Violent or extravagant speech or writing. 2. A speech or piece of writing that incites anger or violence: 3. Chiefly British Wild or uproarious merriment. I would be very sceptical of taking such an unmitigated opinion seriously. You realise that the value of you comments are measured by the legitimacy of your words, right?”

I find it interesting that this particular protester doesn't see the ranting and raving within his own movement  but then Occupy has always been very forgiving of its own sins while quick to condemn the same sins in others.

The OWS buffet is now serving

"We don't support vandalism or destruction of property, and help fix whatever we can. Some have even donated tools and materials, skills and experience, to help this endeavor."
I must have missed the announcement from Occupy Oakland to help in repairing the damage done done to small businesses and others during their Strike Day. I must also have missed the announcement from Occupy London to help remove the graffiti from St. Paul's Cathedral where they were camping and the announcement from OWS to reimburse the small business that suffered $3000 damage to their facilities after allowing protesters access. I guess they had more important things to do with the $500,000 they raised from donations. The fact is that I haven't heard of any examples of any Occupy group going out and helping to repair the damage they've caused but my understanding of  helping "to fix whatever we can" is obviously different than Occupy's.

Living up to the Occupy standard that
complaining is better than having a clue

“Protesting is not about policy ideas, it is about seeing what is wrong and getting angry about it. Occupiers see that government policy is producing massive wealth for corporations while slowly leaving more and more of the 99% behind.”

This was one of the most honest comments I received. Protesting is not about ideas, it exists simply to complain. Inn other words, 'we're just doing this to bitch about our lot in life'. I'm not sure his colleagues will be as supportive of his comment as I am. They like to think they're doing more than just venting,.

“The urge for freedom, fairness and democracy is never neat and clean. If you want tidy, your best bet is a totalitarian government.”

It would appear that this particular Occupy supporter believes that democracy is either a squalid business or a justification for living in squalor as opposed to totalitarian regimes where everything is neat and tidy. I never know whether to laugh or cry when I read a comment like this, it is so poorly informed and thought through.

It looks like squalor to me but then
maybe it's not

"Money is wasted in many more places than this 'squalor.' What a joke, the government can take and waste billions but when the people cause a few million dollars damage trying to create awareness it's so much more wrong! How dare we the people do this to our cities?! HOW DARE WE?!"

We agree. The government should not squander billions but the fact that they do does not somehow justify the expense of Occupy self-indulgent hissy-fit. How dare you cause millions of dollars in unnecessary expense to the people you claim to represent, How dare you trivialise millions of dollars of our money as nothing. You aren't paying the damage Occupy has caused, the 99% are and your self-absorption is no better than those of the people you protest with the same "We do what we want and others can pay for it!" attitude. This kind of self-serving rationalisation is nothing by hypocrisy. 

The New Jerusalem

“Protest.. "yes maybe?" Wow! Really? "MAYBE??" That is some really insane "free thinking" there Thinker. No maybe with me and many thousands of others baby! Not here anyway, this is America, not Russia guys, so let's talk apples to apples.. Last time we checked America was still the land of the free. Don't bore me with costs! (The cost of things is why many protest) Blame the politicians who pay police $1000.00 a day to beat their neighbours silly. Hmmmm 24,000 a month.. Nice work if you can get it.. Seems like the owner of this blog may be like the many other people who rally against OWS. (People looking to save their own asses)and people, sadly.. who've been sporting years of ill gotten gains and/or ridiculous and outrageous and in many cases,(Un-earned Bonus payments) People, pissed at OWS protesters because they see their world of high-end bonuses, pay and dividends crumbling before their eyes.. Crumbling, just like the thousands of people (Victims in America and the world, of predator loans and a Big Business run US government etc,) Funny how all of you against the occupy movements, never minded screwing these people (Some homeless and or unemployed) over the past 20 years. Funny.. yeah.. These guys protesting are out of control. Occupy Wall Street is not going anywhere - get used to it! The 1% pushed to long and too hard. Karma - it sure is a bitch.”

I wouldn't know where toeven begin to respond to this.


These are just some comments from a few of the people in the Occupy protest but after reading tweets and engaging in online conversations for the past few weeks, it has become obvious to me that this disorganized rabble has put its failed cause ahead of the very 99% it claims to represent. They think they have a right to damage our cities and that they have the answers when it is clear they don't even know the right questions

The ability to rationalise crime, vandalism and millions in costs to the 99% they claim to support is nothing less hypocritical at best and simply a self-serving lie. I have yet to hear any Occupy leader stand up and take responsibility on behalf of the great movement for the damage it has done. I have yet to hear anyone in Occupy step forward and say, "there has to be a better way to make our point than this."

Occupy is no different than what it protests. It accuses the 1% of being in it for themselves and guess what, that pretty much defines what Occupy is all about too. I don't speak for anyone but me but quite frankly, I'm tired of it.

 © 2011 Maggie's Bear

all rights reserved

The content of this article is the sole property of Maggie's Bear but a link to it may be shared by those who think it may be of interest to others