Mary Anne Marrero
Mr. Hayes
Eng 100 – 1:10
4/19/13
Word Count: 1563
Striving to Succeed
“We are the 99 percent,” claimed by
the members of the Occupy movement, whose main approach is to fight against
economic and social disparity and to bring down corporate greed. [#8] Protesters
from around the world gather in order to develop one voice that would perhaps,
aggravate the corporate government and promote some awareness among other
people. Not long ago, the movement’s actions have been all over the place –
being regarded as a tolerable movement, while raising eyebrows to some. [#4]
By pointing out the questions about the Occupy movement, “What are the
different strategies that make up Occupy? Aside from occupying public space?”
and “What is the movement fighting for in particular?” It seems relevant to the
most of us to stop, take a look, and examine the keys that would help us
identify the underlying of the movement. Getting into the movement’s context
compels us to ask how the movement takes action whether it is worth it or not.
By
reading three different articles from three corresponding perspectives: “The
Occupiers Need to Mobilize Students and Unions to Succeed” by Laird Harrison
and Michele Nichols, discusses a range of strategies and ways that would help
the movement gain more momentum. “The Occupy Movement Aims to End Capitalist
Excesses,” by Kevin Zeese, also identifies how the movement’s takes action,
aiming to put an end on corporate rule. Norman Lear, on the other hand, shares
his own insights on the movement by encouraging the Occupiers to look for other
ways that would contribute to its success through the article, “The Occupy
Movement Is a Patriotic Protest Against Greed and Corruption.” I was able to
gather more information regarding the various strategies that are used in the
movement, analyze them, and bring them out in order for the people to know.
Generally, the first thing that would
probably come into our minds when we hear about the Occupy movement are usually
the public encampments and the street protests that have been taking place not
only within the U.S., but globally. While the Occupy movement struggles to
fight for economic equality once and for all, in my own view, there has to be
something worth doing for the movement to be successful. So with the three
perspectives, what are different strategies that make up Occupy? Besides camping
and marching on the streets? Laird Harrison, a former correspondent for TIME magazine, and Michelle Nichols, a
reporter for the international news
agency Reuters, work together in
collaboration to present to us other strategies that are being used by the
movement. [#7] According to them, the leaderless group has been trying to
come up with a range of strategies and tactics that would keep pushing the
movement forward. Occupiers think that the banks are the reason for the growing
recession that has been happening for almost decades now. So instead, the
protesters try to urge consumers to “move their money from the commercial banks
to not-for-profit credit unions.” In that way, less money would be involved and
more value would be placed among the people, regardless of race. They also
mention the sit-ins during the recent political campaigns wherein a number of
protesters interrupted the speeches by the presidential candidates, not to
mention President Barack Obama. The use of the social 
media has also been a
huge contribution to the movement, Harrison and Nichols refer to this by saying,
“the use of such technology enables the movement to mobilize and organize
efficiency without a top-down hierarchy.” This quote represents the power of
the Occupy movement to move forward to attain their main goal by interacting
and connecting with other protesters to maintain an organized movement and to
raise more awareness to people, even without following through the voice of one
leader. It is a good way to spark some conversation without the acknowledgement
of violence outdoors. Harrison and Nichols claim that the protesters of the
Occupy movement are hoping to set an example to the society by avoiding social
hierarchy and acknowledging each and everyone’s voices to be heard.
Compared to that of Harrison and Nichols’
perspective, Kevin Zeese, one of the original organizers of Occupy Washington
D.C and co-director of news website It’s
Our Economy, shares a similar view on the movement’s ways of taking action.
With the help of the social media and local organizing, Zeese believes that
Occupy’s grand strategy is to “weaken the pillars that hold the
corporate-government in place by educating, organizing, and mobilizing people
into an independent political force,” [#6] He refers to the “pillars” as
the greediness and inequality that are being portrayed by the government. He
points out that with the implementation of political discussions, it would
likely result in a diversity of rants, ideas, and opinions towards the corporate
rule. To answer the question, Zeese provides a number of ways to get Occupy
moving. According to him, the use of
participatory democracy to communities by standing up for each other’s benefit
can help mobilize the movement into building new relationships. He defines this
strategy by claiming that “occupiers should develop an aggressive organizing
plan for the city.”
He makes his point
by putting attention towards the movement’s organization. In addition, he
acknowledges the importance of street rallies, and indoor encampments to the
movement’s development. Zeese’s article does a good job in explaining why these
street protests are essential to the movement’s strategies, but he doesn’t
mention any other ways that would spark some curiosity somehow. On the other
hand, Norman Lear, a television writer and producer of sitcoms such as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, shares a slightly distinctive,
yet corresponding view to that of Zeese’s and Harrison’s. He doesn’t oppose
any ideas of the two perspectives, but he seems to be opening up based on his
own personal experience on the issue. [#1] Lear’s perspective revolves
around patriotism, while the other two seem to be putting things up for the
purpose of exploration. He encourages the Occupiers to reach their dream by
speaking out their voices, without specifying the strategies that are involved
in the movement. Aside from camping out on the streets, Lear incites the
protesters to “find another way to let your voice be heard in the New Year.
Work with others who share your passion for equal opportunity and equal justice
for all.” Although he acknowledges some of the aims of the Occupy movement, he
briefly describes how people are experiencing the movements because of its
underlying causes. [#2] Even though
I do agree that people should work together to “channel outrage in productive
action,” I think that his viewpoint could help encourage the Occupy protesters to
attain their goal, but not for the purpose of exploring the movement. To sum it
all up, Harrison and Nichols addresses the question more informatively because
they provide different ways that weren’t very much familiar to the most of us.
He makes his point
by putting attention towards the movement’s organization. In addition, he
acknowledges the importance of street rallies, and indoor encampments to the
movement’s development. Zeese’s article does a good job in explaining why these
street protests are essential to the movement’s strategies, but he doesn’t
mention any other ways that would spark some curiosity somehow. On the other
hand, Norman Lear, a television writer and producer of sitcoms such as All in the Family and The Jeffersons, shares a slightly distinctive,
yet corresponding view to that of Zeese’s and Harrison’s. He doesn’t oppose
any ideas of the two perspectives, but he seems to be opening up based on his
own personal experience on the issue. [#1] Lear’s perspective revolves
around patriotism, while the other two seem to be putting things up for the
purpose of exploration. He encourages the Occupiers to reach their dream by
speaking out their voices, without specifying the strategies that are involved
in the movement. Aside from camping out on the streets, Lear incites the
protesters to “find another way to let your voice be heard in the New Year.
Work with others who share your passion for equal opportunity and equal justice
for all.” Although he acknowledges some of the aims of the Occupy movement, he
briefly describes how people are experiencing the movements because of its
underlying causes. [#2] Even though
I do agree that people should work together to “channel outrage in productive
action,” I think that his viewpoint could help encourage the Occupy protesters to
attain their goal, but not for the purpose of exploring the movement. To sum it
all up, Harrison and Nichols addresses the question more informatively because
they provide different ways that weren’t very much familiar to the most of us.
For the second question, “what is the
movement fighting for in particular?” Harrison and
Nichols responds to this by pointing out that, “protesters are hoping to influence American society and change a system they deem corruption and driven by greed and injustice.” By raising some awareness among other fellow Americans, the Occupiers believe that they would likely end their struggle under the corporate rule. Zeese addresses this question by saying, “we seek to replace the rule of money with the rule of people,” As an occupier, he establishes the connection between money and the people, emphasizing the overbearing power of the rich people over the people of the middle-class. According to Lear, “the occupy movement is a sign that people are fed up demagogues and are taking a deeply patriotic stand against special interests[…]” Once again, he acknowledges the role of patriotism in the struggle for these Occupiers to meet the end goal.
Nichols responds to this by pointing out that, “protesters are hoping to influence American society and change a system they deem corruption and driven by greed and injustice.” By raising some awareness among other fellow Americans, the Occupiers believe that they would likely end their struggle under the corporate rule. Zeese addresses this question by saying, “we seek to replace the rule of money with the rule of people,” As an occupier, he establishes the connection between money and the people, emphasizing the overbearing power of the rich people over the people of the middle-class. According to Lear, “the occupy movement is a sign that people are fed up demagogues and are taking a deeply patriotic stand against special interests[…]” Once again, he acknowledges the role of patriotism in the struggle for these Occupiers to meet the end goal.
I agree with Harrison and Nichols that in
order for Occupy to succeed, they should look for more effective ways such as the
political sit-ins and alternative banking systems. Protesting on the streets
and 
camping out on public places are common ways of taking action, but since
Occupy is a movement that would perhaps require some form of coercion, more energy
is needed. Occupy may or may not have been successful, but the effort of
fighting for economic equality has somehow pushed the movement into great
heights. It’s not about the main objective that would keep a movement going,
but the endeavor to influence one another in knowing what is right is.
camping out on public places are common ways of taking action, but since
Occupy is a movement that would perhaps require some form of coercion, more energy
is needed. Occupy may or may not have been successful, but the effort of
fighting for economic equality has somehow pushed the movement into great
heights. It’s not about the main objective that would keep a movement going,
but the endeavor to influence one another in knowing what is right is.
Works
Cited:
Harrison, Laird, and Michelle Nichols.
"The Occupiers Need to Mobilize Students and Unions to Succeed." The
Occupy Movement. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press 2013. At
Issue. Rpt. from "Occupy 2012: Movement Struggles To Evolve, Maintain Momentum."
HuffingtonPost.com. 2012. Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23
Mar. 2013.
Zeese, Kevin. "The Occupy Movement Aims
to End Capitalist Excesses." The Occupy
Movement. Ed. Stefan
Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from
"Occupy is Not Just About
Occupying." October2011.org 10 Dec. 2011. Opposing
Viewpoints In Context.
Web. 23 Mar. 2013.
Lear,
Norman. "The Occupy Movement Is a Patriotic Protest Against Greed and
Corruption." The Occupy Movement.
Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press, 2013. At Issue. Rpt. from
"Norman Lear on Fighting the Good Fight." http://articles.latimes.com.
Opposing Viewpoints In Context. Web. 23 Mar. 2013.
