Native Americans Say "Occupy" Terminology Is Offensive

[ensho]

http://www.truth-out.org/campaign-decolonize-native-americans-say-occupy-terminology-offensive/1325089484


The Campaign to "Decolonize" Oakland: Native Americans Say "Occupy" Terminology Is Offensive


-snip-

But now there's an effort by Native American activists in Oakland to get rid of “Occupy” and replace it with “Decolonize” - as in “Decolonize Oakland.” They say the term “occupy” is offensive in light of the brutal history of occupation by early colonizers and the United States government. Native Americans in Seattle, Albuquerque, Portland and Sedona have launched similar campaigns.

The name change is proving contentious at Occupy Oakland, with some protesters accusing Native Americans of guilt tripping in the name of supporting the oppressed. But cut through the chatter, and the basic point seems to be this: Occupy doesn't want to give up the brand.

-snip-

Native Americans tribes were brutally “occupied" by Spanish and English colonizers. Later, the United States government waged war on the Native American tribes and forced them into camps or reservations. More than 90 percent of North America’s indigenous population was wiped out by “occupiers,” either through war or the spread of disease.

-snip-

As a Native American, “it’s nauseating to hear the word ‘occupy’ over and over again.'" Gali said. "We need to occupy this, we need to occupy that. It’s the modern day colonial language.”

-long snip and video-
-------------------

I'm all for changing the name to decolonize

[SpiralHawk]

1. As a grammarian with Righteous Red Corpuscles, it occupies my mind that

dangling participles SUCK

[MineralMan]

87. I'm glad that you're occupied with that, and that

the occupation of your mind has to do with the misuse of the common verb "occupy." I am particularly troubled by its use as a noun. "What is happening at the Occupy in Oakland?" "I'm going down to my Occupy now, so I won't be able to post for a while." "Which Occupy are you going to this week?"

I guess the noun form, occupation, doesn't occur to the speakers and writers.

Now, excuse me, please. I need to occupy my office chair and get back to work.

[XemaSab]

140. All of this gives me a headache in my occipital lobe

[MineralMan]

142. If you can tolerate NSAIDS, I recommend

two Exedrins. If not, a cup of coffee and a break from the keyboard should do.

[eridani]

152. Shit like that happens with low-inflected highly positional languages

Most English nouns are readily converted to verbs, and vice versa.

As in "When my front wheel got caught in some roots, I did a face-plant and tacoed the wheel too.

[xchrom]

2. 'occupy' has a certain irony to it.

And I think that's intentional.

[EFerrari]

72. That's how I always heard it, too. n/t

[TheWraith]

3. Sorry, but this is just incredibly stupid.

And it's the sort of nitpicky, pathetic bullshit that makes the left a joke, by going into hysterics any time anyone, anywhere finds something "offensive."

I find TruthOut offensive: therefore, they MUST immediately shut down!

[mistertrickster]

5. Agreed. nt

[hifiguy]

10. +1

This is anal-retentive rhetorical nit-picking at the molecular level and is just flat-out ridiculous.

[pscot]

15. Well said, sir!

[truebrit71]

16. +2

Totally agree...reminds me of the discussions held in the Arena by the Pythons in 'The Life of Brian'....picking gnat-shit out of pepper and totally missing the point...

[getdown]

26. have a little respect

your un/righteous indignation appears to be "the sort of nitpicky, pathetic bullshit" you are accusing others of.

if we don't understand or agree with the complaint, why bash it?

"decolonize" doesn't really make sense to me but gawd knows Native Americans HAVE A BONE TO PICK for a reason

[DCKit]

62. This is the wrong bone to pick.

They've already been occupied, taken over and screwn. Now, they're just looking for attention.

The current movement benefits everyone.

[getdown]

68. "Now, they're just looking for attention."

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

oh brother

"The current movement benefits everyone."

So Sit Down and STFU damn Natives!!

sez DUDCKit

[DCKit]

163. My Reagan expat, former wetback S.O. disagrees with you.

The natives of El Salvador are willing to let it go, why shouldn't we? He's got every reason to hold a grudge, and we've talked about it, at length... he doesn't. Nor does his family. He's just glad to have survived and to be here.

He's the bravest man I've ever known (so's his mom), and he was that brave at fifteen, when his choice was to come here, or be murdered for not joining either the army or the resistance. (El Salvador) The trip was horrific and, when he finally told me, all about it, I was in awe of his strength. None of us has ever had to make those choices.. you have no idea of what he went through.

For a lot of reasons, I told my sisters that I got the best of the best husbands, and I know for damn sure that I did.

I'm sorry if I seemed to be less than sympathetic, but I've got history.

He would be horrified to have media, and I'll never tell him I told you.

Tell you what though, I'm going to give him one of those hugs, no clue, and he's just going to have to wonder about it.

[getdown]

168. beautifully told

of the horrors of war ...

yes the story goes on.

your points understood.

[cherokeeprogressive]

151. Nice

[TheWraith]

102. Hmm... no.

Sorry, but I refuse to spontaneously decide that something which is objectively silly is actually a valid opinion that I just don't understand. No more than I'll agree that someone saying that the sun is a giant flaming lemon has a right not to be criticized for it. There's good and legitimate reasons to criticize the whole Occupy plan--the word "occupy" itself is emphatically not one of them, nor does ONE PERSON, or even a handful of people, holding an opinion automatically make it so. I refuse to succumb to the fallacy that democracy means everyone's views are equally valid, even if they're silly, wrong, or counterproductive.

[getdown]

107. good for you

bad for those who have to deal with you

your blind spot is you think what you deem "objectively silly" isn't your subjective opinion

"I refuse to succumb to the fallacy that democracy means everyone's views are equally valid, even if they're silly, wrong, or counterproductive."

civilization means everyone's views are valid; the civilized can "succumb" to holding more than one thought at a time

it's really NOT a big deal to consider the point of view presented and think about it for at least 2 seconds

[TheWraith]

131. No, not everyone's views are valid. Period.

A paranoid schizophrenic's world view that the black helicopters are out to get them is not valid.

A fundies belief that they have the right to regulate others' lives "for their own good" is not valid.

And yeah, someone believing the world has to cater to what they alone find offensive is not valid.

[getdown]

133. here's the thing

your judgements and views aren't any more valid

"And yeah, someone believing the world has to cater to what they alone find offensive is not valid."

that statement isn't valid ... "they alone"?

anyway

Happy New Year

[Luciferous]

139. Agreed...

[krispos42]

154. I find your offense offensive!

[Crunchy Frog]

156. Getting offended is the Great American Pastime.

It seems that Native Americans are not immune.

[stlsaxman]

161. yeah- they must have picked it up from the Puritans wilst being slaughtered.

whod'a thunk?

[Crunchy Frog]

170. I think we're talking at cross purposes.

I was referring to contemporary America, whilst you seem to be talking about America in the 17th - 18th Centuries.

I understand that Native Americans were slaughtered by European colonists in past centuries. That fact has no relevance whatsoever to my previous post that you responded to.

Don't let that keep you from exercizing your dudgeon though. Many DUers enjoy this pastime as much as the rest of the country.

[stlsaxman]

171. that was my first responce of the thread-

this is my second.

you must have me confused with someone else.

[rhett o rick]

160. Why is it necessary to disparage the left over this?

Why are you hostile towards the left? On what issues do you disagree?

[mistertrickster]

4. And these few folks get to speak for all Native Americans? nt

[Zorra]

122. Good question. The answer is no. nt

[Enrique]

6. this is unexpected n/t

[99Forever]

7. ... and then...

... some other "group" decides that the term "decolonize" offends them.

Heaven forbid that we offend ANYONE in the pursuit of economic survival and justice.

The 1%ers also think we are being "mean" to them.

[rfranklin]

11. As a Kenyan, President Obama might find it offensive...

After all his father was a Mau Mau who fought the British colonialists.

[Crunchy Frog]

157. It's called "occupy", not "colonize".

[quinnox]

8. oh come on

there must be a line somewhere that the political correctness and banning of certain words comes to an end because of being too ridiculous to contemplate, and this is surely a case of that.

[ensho]

9. am I not surprised at the hostility of the posters

nt

[laruemtt]

13. +++++

[99Forever]

17. Hostility?

The people finally have a Movement that has caught fire around the world and you think it's "hostile" when someone (meaning you) tries to throw water on it over something so petty?

Really?

[laruemtt]

23. a rose by any other name

is still a rose. just use another word. it won't change the movement.

[99Forever]

41. Let's be real, ok?

Last edited Fri Dec 30, 2011, 12:22 PM - Edit history (1)

Occupy is not going "just use another word."

I'd suggest instead, that if you are going through life, looking to be "offended," you are likely to find "offense" where none was intended. Native Americans are part of The 99%, please don't try to co-opt or divide, it is totally unproductive and not in any of our best interests.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

42. Why does that not surprise you?

Didn't Native Americans occupy Alcatraz Island? Would it have been offensive to use that word to describe what they were doing at the time?

[W T F]

12. Excuse me but....Didn't Native Americans "Occupy" this country before white man ever did?

[slackmaster]

18. Yes, and they did it by displacing earlier Native Americans

But that's a slippery slope, and we wouldn't want to go there.

[getdown]

27. you mean their ancestors?

[slackmaster]

136. It would be nice if history was so clean and simple

But it's not. Native American tribes are known fought with each other over territory before the arrival of Europeans, often brutally.

http://www.thefurtrapper.com/mesa_verde.htm

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/anasazi.html

[getdown]

137. understood.

all Native Americans, right? ancestors of the peoples living, fighting, dying there. Sorry if that wasn't clear.

[slackmaster]

138. I'm pretty sure some of those ancient tribes have no living descendents, and not as a fault...

...of Europeans.

[getdown]

141. so ..................

[slackmaster]

144. So, taking over peoples' land is a shitty thing to do, but a lot of peoples have done it...

...including at least some Native American. White Europeans certainly aren't the only guilty party.

My Mennonite family was pushed off of their land in Europe by Catholics. I'd like to have it back, but I know it's not going to happen.

[RebelOne]

112. And didn't the white man occupy the native Americans' land? n/t

[lunatica]

14. Evidently Occupy is raising consciousness in more ways than one

Having dealt with many Native Americans (my mother was a Kindergarten teacher in a Child Development Center for Native Americans in the Bay Area) and we were friends with many of the parents and workers there. They have suffered, and they don't forget because what happened to them was as bad as slavery has been to Blacks. A terrible wrong done 200 years ago is still being felt because of the widespread enforced poverty and oppression that those actions created.

Just because it happened in our historical past doesn't mean the consequences of those actions aren't still being acutely felt today.

Telling Native Americans to shut up and forget the past is like telling them to shut up and ignore their present continued poverty and neglect which is a direct result of the past.

Whites committed genocide on the Native Americans and now they want it to be ignored because they feel so righteous about themselves.

edited to add more

[ensho]

19. kick

nt

[hifiguy]

21. No one is telling them to shut up and forget about the past

and no one should. What the posters are objecting to is their singling out of a common English word being used by the 99% movement, putting their own tortured definition on it, and then attacking a movement that is standing up for everyone not in the 1%, including Native Americans.

[getdown]

29. well they have a point

"As a Native American, “it’s nauseating to hear the word ‘occupy’ over and over again.'" Gali said. "We need to occupy this, we need to occupy that. It’s the modern day colonial language.” "

Real question is why "progressives" can't handle it.

[hifiguy]

36. If people are so freaking dense that they cannot realize

that the Occupy movement is the antithesis of "colonialism" (whatever that may mean in this context) I just give up. This kind of rhetorical hair-splitting only makes the left look childish and petty.

If this country has been "colonized" by anyone, it has been done by the 1%

[getdown]

50. respectfully disagree

it is refusal to respect the concerns of Native Americans (by at least considering them) that "makes the left look childish and petty."

If this is the left.

[Confusious]

109. I've considered it, and find it stupid

If they have something less stupid, I'll take that under consideration also.

My great-grandmother was sioux.

[getdown]

111. it sounds uninformed

if they don't know about how occupy has been used before ...

the anti-"PC" forces here seem stupid

[Confusious]

119. No, the anti-PC seem right on

Indian movements have used the "occupy" word in their demonstrations before.

It's just a means to get attention.

[getdown]

120. No, the anti-PC seem

stupid always

It's just a means to get attention and ignore the concerns of others.

[Confusious]

134. IF all you can do is parrot my words back at me

in a different form, I can see why you need PC.

It's easier then thinking.

[getdown]

135. um

what?

[Luminous Animal]

44. Apparently Gali does not know about the occupations of Alcatraz & Wounded Knee

by Native American activists. Occupation was indeed the word used to describe the actions then and now.

[getdown]

49. you have a point

!!!

[riderinthestorm]

56. "Occupation" was also used for the protests at Mt Rushmore and the BIA headquarters in 1971

AIM has used the term "occupy" for many of their actions. Gali is trying to manufacture outrage imho. I would never diminish the horror the Native Americans have suffered but this tiff over the term "occupy" doesn't have a lot of validity when it's been a byword of AIM protests for decades.

[hifiguy]

58. You win the thread

point, set and match.

[getdown]

70. well put.

[MADem]

126. Colonial language? Nonsense. Colonists colonized, conquered, vanquished.

They exterminated. They pushed people off their land and onto reservations.

They didn't do something as "mild" as "occupy." "Occupy" suggests a temporary situation, that could change with circumstances.

Progressives "can't handle it" because it makes no frigging sense. It just does not pass the smell test.

If this was such an offensive word, where was this Gali person back in September when "OCCUPY" was on everyone's lips? Why wasn't she at the barricades then, making her point known? Why wasn't she standing up at the General Assemblies and griping in THAT forum?

And why aren't other native peoples rallying to her side? Instead, they're pronouncing their 'solidarity' with OWS movements from one end of the country to the other.

I suspect this is more about attention seeking than an actual affront. YMMV, and that's fine with me.

[getdown]

130. good points

fine with me too. worth considering, eh?

[rhett o rick]

159. What do you mean by: "progressives can't handle it." Handle what?

Occupy does not mean colonize. The Occupy movement has nothing to do with colonization. Decolonizaton means to remove a colony. How would that apply to Wall Street. The movement went there to Occupy the space there to bring attention to the inequities of our political and economic system. Not the same as colonization.

I find it divisive when posters attack "liberals" or "progressives". If you dont like progressives, please explain on what issues you disagree.

[getdown]

162. it was a reference

to the many posts in this thread deeming this "stupid" etc with no consideration or thoughtful comment like yours

[lunatica]

43. It's obvious you don't get it

And people like you ARE telling them to shut up. You just did it again.

[getdown]

51. yup

[hifiguy]

52. No I am not.

I am applying the same standards that I always apply - twisting the definition of a word from its common and accepted dictionary meaning is inappropriate whether it's the Repukes, who do it constantly or anyone else. It's Orwellian bullshit. See posts 33, 37 and 45.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

54. No, we're saying that if using this word was offensive

to Native Americans everywhere we would have heard about it long ago. If I were to walk up to a liberal Native American and ask him if he found OWS offensive he'd look at me like I was nuts.

You're creating a controversy where there is none and then trying to claim white liberals are to insensitive to "get it".

[hifiguy]

55. Bull's eye, UL. nt

[lunatica]

76. You just made my case

thanks, but digging your hole just makes it deeper. Have you walked up to a liberal Native American and asked him or her how they feel about the word 'occupy'? I know quite a few. They don't dismiss this like you'd like to think they do. Certainly not the political activists among them.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

80. You saying "political activists you know" makes my case.

I've worked with Native Americans in construction, and believe it or not, they're not all conspiracy obsessed leftists.

[Zorra]

147. "Certainly not the political activists among them. " Really?

You mean like AIM?

The American Indian Movement Declares its Solidarity with Occupy Minnesota

[Luminous Animal]

149. AIM understands the power of re-occupying. Gali should revisit her history

and the wisdom of her elders.

[loyalsister]

24. + 1

One could argue that North America was and is currently "occupied." A bumper sticker I saw sums it up perfectly.

"U.S. out of North America!!"

[think]

30. Agreed. Please be respectful:

“
I know of no other instance in history where a great nation has so shamefully violated its oath. Our country must forever bear the disgrace and suffer the retribution of its wrongdoing. Our children’s children will tell the sad story in hushed tones, and wonder how their fathers dared so to trample on justice and trifle with God.
”
— Henry Benjamin Whipple, chairman of Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), on the taking of the Black Hills; statements made in official BIA report, 1876


source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pine_Ridge_Indian_Reservation

[laruemtt]

34. thank you.

God forbid we have any respect for the people this country exterminated.

[Confusious]

110. There's a difference between respect

and giving into every inane request.

Maybe we should have never gone to the moon because the Indians didn't want us to?

Maybe we should ask permission of the American Indians every time we want to do something, Just to make sure we're not being "disrespectful?"

[JackRiddler]

39. The poster you display shows a great crime was committed...

It shows how US-Americans stole the land from its prior occupants.

What's missing in this context is the word "occupy." What does it have to do with the verb occupy, which means, take up a piece of space?

[think]

69. I guess nothing unless it's considered in the larger context that

The treaty is still in dispute by the Sioux nation and the land is not theirs currently:

Conflicts between the Sioux Nation and the United States Government

Today, the Black Hills land claim case is still an ongoing issue. Native American lawyer Wanda L. Howey-Fox statements in April 2009 explain the modern issues regarding the Black Hills. She states, “There is no selling to be done because the court determined it was an improper taking and all the court can give as far as remedy is money.” In the present day, the government has recognized that the seizure of land in 1877 was illegal but is still unwilling to return the Black Hills.[48]
Additionally, Lawyer Howey-Fox has currently brought a lawsuit demanding the release of $900 million in Sioux trust funds. As of now, the case is still pending.[48]

source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Hills_Land_Claim

To be clear I'm showing reasons as to why we should be respectful in response to the "Occupy" flare up and not as a pretext to get OWS to change it's name. I don't think they should be forced to change the name as it would be difficult to do but I do feel any response should be reflective and respectful of others opinions when possible.

[JackRiddler]

100. I agree with you.

"I don't think they should be forced to change the name as it would be difficult to do but I do feel any response should be reflective and respectful of others opinions when possible."

[hfojvt]

53. "Whites committed genocide on the Native Americans"

I want it to be ignored because I think that statement is bullsh*t.

Thornton, for example, quotes Mooney saying

"In 1910, James Mooney summed up the causes and their relative importance as follows:

The chief causes of decrease, in order of importance, may be classed as small-pox and other epidemics; tuberculosis; sexual diseases; whiskey and attendant dissipation; removals, starvation, and subjection to unaccustomed conditions; low vitality due to depression under misfortune; wars." p. 44 American Indian: Holocaust and survival, a population history since 1492.

His chart on page xvii shows a native population of 5 million in 1492 which fell to 3 million by 1600 - before Jamestown and Plymouth were even "occupied" and fell to 1.5 million by 1700. So by that reckoning, 70% of the population was already gone before significant settlement of North America had taken place.

It's one thing to remember the past, it's another thing to remember some sort of biased version where your ancestors were helpless victims.

[lunatica]

78. Your post is truly offensive

[UnrepentantLiberal]

85. Agreed. There are Freepers among us.

[getdown]

95. it's amazingly uninformed too

[getdown]

94. and it's another thing

to rewrite history

which you are trying to do. you think the statement is bullshit, even though it is part of American history? ignore it then. ignore facts.

good luck with that.


"it's another thing to remember some sort of biased version where your ancestors were helpless victims."

who is biased here? sheesh

[BklnDem75]

113. You mean that's not a biased version?

Should we wait for the Nazi version explaining all the deaths in Germany during WWII?

Removal... that's pretty broad. Were they alive when they were 'removed?'

[eShirl]

167. missing a few hundred years of History, are you?

don't forget the 19th century...

[RC]

97. Another Kick

So many white people disagree with the OP. They have no clue. Listen the aboriginals, speak with them. You may find an ally in them for the cause. They are an oppressed people such as the rest of are becoming.

[Trillo]

20. I have mixed feelings about this.

It's curious to observe the various factions in our society, particularly those who are allowed "to look back" on what are apparently traumatic events, and those other factions who are supposed "to forgive" and just "get over it".

[laruemtt]

25. +99

[B Calm]

22. Ridiculously stupid!

[WingDinger]

28. Rethugs are offended, and suggest squatters. Whadaya say?

[pipi_k]

31. I smell hypocrisy

in some of the replies above...


If this took the form of Native Americans (or any other group, really) having a problem with a word being used to describe a RW movement, the pendulum would be swinging in the other direction here.

Everybody would be FOR the outraged group's right to be outraged and incensed.

"DAMN those scum-sucking Teabaggers!!! Who the hell do they think they ARE, anyway???" This is pretty much the tone of what we'd be seeing.

OK, so the Native Americans are pissed. OK, so some people think it's a trivial issue. Fine.

But the vitriol (and justification for it) against their feelings is just nauseating.


PS...and much like some people had/have a problem with the word "Homeland" in "Homeland Security", giving them unpleasant mental associations with Nazi Germany's "Fatherland", the very first thing to come to my mind upon hearing the word "occupy" is the German occupation of Europe. I can't help it.

There has to be a better word/phrase for it...

[JackRiddler]

65. The first thing to come to my mind upon hearing the word "occupy" is...

the French wildcat strikes which took over the factories in 1968, and were called "occupations."

And in the context of this thread: The occupations of Alcatraz and Wounded Knee.

You are right if you think some people are being insensitive to indigenous American concerns.

You may be right in thinking some people here would agree if the critique was leveled against a right-wing group that was using the same word. That's not relevant, however.

This question boils down to semantics and definitions.

No word better describes what the anti-Wall Street movement actually does and exhorts people to do than "occupy." It's not just the word for military occupations, it also signifies the holding of any space. It is the word for squatting or camping out. Occupying space.

[getdown]

32. yes the term is weighted by history. maybe one reason the originators of OWS chose it.

[JackRiddler]

33. Now imagine what a draw it would have had as "Decolonize Wall Street."

With almost everyone saying: Huh?

Every house has occupants. The verb occupy has no necessary association with the meaning of a military occupation, any more than right-handed must mean right-wing. As a generic verb, its connotative baggage is actually miniminal compared to "decolonize," which carries a boatload of implications. I'm occupying my chair as I write. It need mean no more than that.

The name of the Occupy movement is one of the biggest reasons for its power to date. In combination with "Wall Street" it clearly specifies the action (round the clock protest) and the target (the financial tyranny). For a chance at a different world, you must first stop the criminal business as usual. It's hard to imagine three more evocative or effective words in the political context of 2011-2012, and the proof has been in the results.

Occupy is a verb, an imperative, an exhortation to do exactly what is said: Go there and stay there, because petition-protest-lobby-write a letter to Congress-whine on the Internet-give money to a machine candidate... isn't working for the 99 percent. The criminals responsible for the greatest fraud of all time are still running free and everyone else is suffering from their continued crime as they are further rewarded. So go to where their companies do business and stay there, until there are millions of you, to stop it.

[hifiguy]

38. Thanks, Jack, for a reasoned explanation.

People who ignore the common definition of words to try to make a point that is, at best, ephemeral and irrelevant, are a gigantic pain in the ass.

[deutsey]

164. I agree

[The Straight Story]

35. Well, if someone is offended by something we have to change the words (nt)

[think]

47. It's not that one has to change the words as much as how one responds to such a request

It is completely understandable that Occupy Wall Street did not mean to offend Native Americans and have created a strong "brand" in conjunction with the term "occupy" so it won't be changed.

Still the response can be respectful and perhaps there could be an effort to even look to find mutual positions that are beneficial to both groups. Hopefully a little diplomacy won't hurt things.

[The Straight Story]

60. I get offended when people want to change merry christmas to happy holidays

Heck, even here on DU skinner, on Christmas day, posted Happy Holidays.

It hurts, makes me feel marginalized, etc

[think]

64. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy new years! May 2012 be a good one!

[getdown]

125. some folks use Happy Holidays

b/c it's inclusive of Hannukah, Christmas, New Years, the holiday season.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

71. I don't think anyone is trying to be disrespectful

to Native Americans. More like being ticked off that a few people conjured up this silly game with the intention of saying that anyone who disagrees with them is disrespectful.

[hifiguy]

79. This isn't like using the term "slavery"

which is inextricably linked with the horrors inflicted on Africans brought here against their will and African-Americans. One cannot use the word "slavery" without that immediately coming to mind. I have never associated the word "occupy" with anything other than its dictionary definitions. Words DO have meanings.

Redefinition of words for political purposes is one of the first principles in the Repuke playbook.

[Luminous Animal]

37. What about the occupations of Alactraz & Wounded Knee? Occupation was the word used

by Native American activists when they claimed the land & and it is the word used today when describing the events.

[hifiguy]

40. +1 Well said. nt.

[JackRiddler]

45. Dictionary definitions of occupy

The word's usages have been occupying my thoughts.

Question. If I "burn" a DVD, am I being disrespectful to victims of fire?

Oh, enough of my dry humor, here's a dictionary entry for "occupy" and notice especially the two variants of Number 3, because they cover both sides of this "debate."



occupy |ˈäkyəˌpī|
verb ( -pies, -pied) [ trans. ]

1 reside or have one's place of business in (a building) : the apartment she occupies in Manhattan.
• fill or take up (a space or time) : two long windows occupied almost the whole wall.
• be situated in or at (a place or position in a system or hierarchy) : on the corporate ladder, they occupy the lowest rungs.
• hold (a position or job).

2 (often be occupied with/in) fill or preoccupy (the mind or thoughts) : her mind was occupied with alarming questions.
• keep (someone) busy and active : Sarah occupied herself taking the coffee cups over to the sink | [as adj. ] ( occupied) tasks that kept her occupied for the remainder of the afternoon.

3 take control of (a place, esp. a country) by military conquest or settlement : Syria was occupied by France under a League of Nations mandate.
• enter, take control of, and stay in (a building) illegally and often forcibly, esp. as a form of protest : the workers occupied the factory.

DERIVATIVES
occupier |-ˌpīər| noun
ORIGIN Middle English : formed irregularly from Old French occuper, from Latin occupare ‘seize.’ A now obsolete vulgar sense [have sexual relations with] seems to have led to the general avoidance of the word in the 17th and most of the 18th cent.

[unionworks]

46. Will Rodgers

Was my favorite Democrat. A real down to earth, practical real-life kind of guy, with a great sense of humor. I wonder what he would say?

[JackRiddler]

48. Example of proper usage: "The Indian movement activists occupied Alcatraz."

Recent commemoration of the Alcatraz occupation:
http://mendonews.wordpress.com/2011/11/08/occupy-alcatraz-alcatraz-sunrise-ceremony/

(The funny thing is, I'm not even substituting "occupy" for a synonym. That's what the people who actually did it called it: The occupation of Alcatraz.)

.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

73. I don't agree with your response at all.

That sounds like something a Freeper would say.

[getdown]

75. so do

a lot of the replies here

makes a very weird impression

[UnrepentantLiberal]

88. There definitely are Freepers posting to DU

and they're going to town in this thread.

[getdown]

91. ugh

[Glassunion]

57. The word "occupy" does not have one simple definition. Noun, verb and adjective.

I occupy(fill time) my evenings reading DU. On a laptop that barely occupies(takes up) 1/3 of the desk. My cat likes to bother me a lot so I give him toys to occupy(engage) his mind while I read. As I sit in my home that my wife and I have occupied(to reside in) for 3 years now, I ponder what my day will be like at my occupation(job) tomorrow. I work in the IT field as a chief technician, an occupation(position) that I have had for more than 15 years now.

None of these has the meaning that the Native American's are upset by.

I do however live in a country that was occupied(take possession) by colonists.

To me the word in the movement means the following: to take up space and to take up time. This is to disrupt the normal and to shed light via taking up that space and peoples time so that the cause can occupy the minds of those trying to be reached. The movement does not seem to me to be trying to take possession of anything.

But alas this post has occupied enough of my time, so I shall move on to other things.

[hfojvt]

63. But nobody generally talks about the "occupation of North America"

And it was not so much colonists as it was the descendants of colonists, some of whom are now part Native American.

[Zorra]

61. Mic check! Here in Arizona, Native Elders indigenous to this land sometimes speak/pray at Occupy

gatherings in support of the movement.

None, to my knowledge, have expressed any displeasure over the word occupy.

The Occupy Movement has collective leadership, and seeks to replace the entire political, social, and economic culture with a wider sense of human community. A system far more similar to ancestral North American indigenous tribal societies than the insane unnatural greed oriented, nature destroying system forced upon this land by European invaders.

We occupied this land before the Europeans came.

This is the time for us to begin fully occupying it again, as part of a collective of all peoples, so many of whom are dedicated to actually returning to a system of respect, balance, and harmony with our mother.

Isn't this what so many of us have been hoping and praying for, for centuries, that people would someday come to realize that this system is completely insane, and will inevitably destroy all life on this planet, and that a way of respect for all life and mother earth would return to this land?

Please. How will being contentious over "Occupy" help bring this about? Why unnecessarily jeopardize progress and distract from focus upon the goals?

Relabeling this important, vibrant movement would be counter productive. The 1% has already been relentlessly trying to relabel the Occupy Movement as the 99% movement.

Corporations and political groups that do bad things very often relabel themselves so as to become less recognizable as the entity that did those bad things because of the reputation they earned for doing bad things.

Plainly speaking, I am not convinced that this idea of relabeling Occupy originated from a source with sincere intentions.

mitakuye oyasin

[Glassunion]

74. It was fiction... Not an instruction book.

"I said earlier that the decadence of our language is probably curable. Those who deny this would argue, if they produced an argument at all, that language merely reflects existing social conditions, and that we cannot influence its development by any direct tinkering with words or constructions."

"It's a beautiful thing, the destruction of words."

It's so ungood.

[Glassunion]

129. What you said, was very close to the phrasing in the book 1984.

I was not accusing you of anything.

You however did point out something that I agreed with and supplemented with quotes from Orwell. It seems that our society at times is using Orwell as a guide to build a dystopia filled with self/societal censorship under the flag of political correctness. I was accusing society of the ills you pointed out.

Sorry if I came off as accusing you of anything. Not my intent at all. I wholeheartedly agree with you.

[Weisbergkevin]

67. How dumb

So if I support the occupation of something then it means I support all occupations? Smart.

[MineralMan]

77. That's interesting. I wonder if there will be a response to

this. Somehow, I doubt the name will be changed.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

84. Oh I don't know. Anything is possible.

"All day, all week, inhabit Wall Street." Kind of catchy.

[Zorra]

81. Indigenous Elders & Supporters Occupy ALEC Member Salt River Project Headquarters

http://www.indigenousaction.org/indigenous-elders-supporters-occupy-alec-member-salt-river-project-headquarters/

[Lil Missy]

82. Petty. It's the name of the movement and she can get over it.

[aquart]

83. And I say to them what I say to the Confederates: YOU LOST.

Sucks, but it happened and we aren't having a do-over.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

86. Another Freeper post.

[MADem]

96. That's not fair.

It is true that the winner gets to make the rules, to the victor go the spoils--and it's not "Freeper-ish" to acknowledge that fact.

It's naive to pretend otherwise.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

103. But this poster isn't making that argument.

He's saying "tough luck Indians, we won. Deal with it." The South attacked the Union. Native Americans were massacred and run off their land.

[MADem]

108. I think you're pulling the string overmuch, here.

The point is that the winners/conquerors/victors get the spoils, IRRESPECTIVE of who initiated the conflict.

I don't believe the poster is going so far back as to make a comparison between Native Americans and Confederates in terms of "who started it."

He's not saying "Isn't it wonderful!" either. He's just stating a basic truth--winners get to make the rules, even if the losers don't like it--no matter who started the fight.

[getdown]

89. say it to their face

keyboard king

[Spazito]

90. Wow...

just...wow.

[UnrepentantLiberal]

98. Someone should go through this thread and alert

for TOS violations.

[quinnox]

93. maybe a LITTLE OVER THE TOP

Jesus

[Fire Walk With Me]

114. Dude....

Dude.

[Terra Alta]

145. Comparing Native Americans to the Confederates?

Really?

[MADem]

92. I never heard "occupy" used in that context, ever.

Maybe I need to get out more?

I've heard "overrun" and "pushed off their land" and "exterminated" and "displaced" and "forced onto reservations"....but I've never heard "occupied." Not once, ever. Conquerors don't "occupy." They TAKE. They OWN. To the victor belongs the spoils, and all that. Doesn't mean it is right, or fair, but it is what it is.

The only time "occupy" works is when the locals rise up and push the "occupiers" off the land. Like, say "The Nazis occupied Paris." They aren't occupying it anymore, as we all well know. If the Germans had won WW2 and were flying a swastika from the Tour Eiffel, they wouldn't be called occupiers--they'd be called conquerors.

I am going to say something cynical--I have no first-hand knowledge of any of this brouhaha, but the VERY first thought that came to my mind is which fatcat bank wrote the check to pay this guy to make this tempest in this teapot?

If you see this angry Native American strutting into the Bank of America with a check, and strutting out quite happily with a bag o' cash, well....

I am going to say something else very cynical--so many OWS enthusiasts got bullshit pissed-off (to the "how DARE you" level) at anyone who dared to talk about the movement in terms of "branding"--as in "Get out of those tents and take the OWS brand to the next level." I saw more than a little excoriation on that topic over at DU2 (it's not a brand, it is an organic movement, etc. and so forth)...but the fact of the matter is, the "Occupy" word IS a "brand name"--it's the "coke not cola" identifier of the movement. Even the little Truthout article quoted in the OP uses that 'awful' word. It is a one-word term that defines what's going on re: the anti-Wall Street movement.

If the word really didn't matter, everyone would say "Yeah, sure, fine, whatever--call it Sidewalk Cement for all I care!" That's not happening, though--people are getting very proprietary about the "Occupy" brand, because they've invested a lot of their personal time and energy in creating it.

I think "recolonize" is an idiotic word, frankly. It does not trip easily off the tongue, it sure as hell wouldn't resonate in London or Berlin, it is just one more thing to take the group further away from its stated goals of fighting against usurious bankers, for social justice, on behalf of a safety net for all, etc.

The more you get a group of people pissing and moaning about stupid shit, the less time they'll spend doing anything that matters.

Maybe that's the goal behind this latest "affront."

JMO.

[Hatchling]

128. Count me among the cynics.

I'm pretty down with using PC language, but this is carrying it to an extreme that makes no sense. Any more than those who get upset with using the term "wage slavery" because slavery was such a horrendous part of black history.

And the fact that AmerIndians have used the term Occupy themselves for similar movements denotes a certain hypocrisy to me.

This is a set up to disparage the Occupy movement.

[riderinthestorm]

99. Huh, here's a link to a Native American Occupy Protest at the United Nations. Yes, a NA OCCUPY event

Guess they didn't get the word from Ms Gali that the word "occupy" is now out...


United Native Americans: Occupy the United Nations Jan. 27, 2012

Occupy The United Nations

INDIGENOUS DAY OF RESISTANCE
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS RALLY & FORUM
January 27, 2012
Indigenous Unity March at 10:30 AM
Meet at the Human Rights Commission 25 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA
March to the United Nations Plaza
Indigenous Rights Forum & Rally 11:00 AM
An Indigenous led Movement to Decolonize and Occupy the United Nations to demand repatriations for the theft of Tribal Lands, gold & other natural resources; and address issues of Civil Rights Violations, Hate Crimes, Broken Treaties, and the Human Rights inherent to ALL Indigenous People.
For More Information
Contact: United Native Americans,Inc.
United Native Americans,[e-mail]
[phone]

[MADem]

118. Oooooooops! Now isn't THAT a bit AWKWARD!

I guess the righteously indignant are going to have to re-calibrate.

Or is "Occupy" the new N word--it's "OK" only if some people use it?

This whole brouhaha is nonsensical to me. On the one hand, one single, solitary person, purporting to speak for all Native Americans, gets their nose out of joint over a commonly-used word with multiple definitions, and way too many people eschew any rational analysis of the complaint and jump to accomodate this snit by an INDIVIDUAL, who is clearly NOT speaking for the greater group from Sea to Shining Sea. Anyone who dares take exception to the overreaching assertions by the one complaining individual is shouted down, accused of being a Freeper/Right Winger/Name Your Favorite Evil Character, and treated with undeserved contempt and scorn.

On the other hand, other Native Americans have used the word actively and successfully in a number of circumstances to do the very thing that the OWS group has been doing since last September...and why, I must ask, didn't this "offended" Native not gripe about this MONTHS ago? Why now? Is there a "News Cycle" issue at play, here? Or something else?

Of course, when you can get a couple of groups of people fighting like ninnies over absolutely nothing, they aren't demonstrating in front of that bank, now, are they?

So you really have to ask the question: CUI BONO, here? It ain't the OWS movement. It ain't the Native Americans. The ones laughing all the way to the bank are the people who have done a good job keeping people down all these years.

To the victor goes the spoils!

[TransitJohn]

101. And this is why nothing ever changes with left activism. There's never a united front presented. n/

eom

[getdown]

115. the united front agrees to agree and disagree

nazi's agree to agree

[Zorra]

104. The American Indian Movement Declares its Solidarity with Occupy Minnesota

[Spazito]

105. Up until reading this thread, it never occurred to me that...

"occupy" would be offensive in any way. After reading this, I can understand the point of view being taken but, in essence, I see "occupy", as it is being used in protest of the 1%, is something that both could take ownership of and share in a common cause. The 1%, historically and currently, are the ones who have caused the atrocities committed on Native America's indigenous population and are committing the same atrocities on the indigenous populations in other countries, imo, as well as being the focus of the 'occupy movement' of today.

I honestly can't see changing the 'brand' can be done now, the brand is global as well as in the U.S. and changing it to "decolonize" makes little sense to me.

[getdown]

117. good point

[MADem]

124. It looks like the OWS movement's use of the term is understood by more Native Americans than not.

They are able to place the word in its appropriate context.

It would seem that one rather concrete individual, who has taken "offense" yet inexplicably sat on this "offense" since last September, is the one who put the teapot on the boil vis a vis this matter.

This person does not speak for other Native Americans, as is apparent by the many native peoples supporting the Occupy movement across the nation, yet is sure getting a nice chunk of the news cycle, despite that.

I think this individual ought to do a little coordination and get a consensus before claiming to identify an "affront" to an entire community. I also think the people who were so quick to jump and point fingers at people who said "WTF?" should step back, as well.

This is attention-seeking behavior, not supported by the individual's greater community.

[Spazito]

127. Yes, it seems the position taken in the article may well be a minority position...

maybe even a minority of one but, even if that is true, it is a perspective I would not have known about before reading it here. The discussion in this thread has been, overall, very educational for me so, for that alone, I appreciate this OP even if it is not a widely held perspective among Native Americans.

I was glad to see the posts showing where other Native Americans are joining with "Occupy" and supporting the overarching message the 'occupy movement' brings.

[Zorra]

106. Occupy Denver endorses Colorado American Indian Movement's indigenous proposal

Many Occupy Denver members "did participate with us in our protest of the Columbus Hate Speech Parade," Morris reports, "and many of them came to the Four Winds American Indian Center to share a meal with us" on Saturday. And after an hour of discussion and debate, he says, the Occupy Denver General Assembly unanimously endorsed the Colorado AIM-initiated indigenous proposal.

As indigenous peoples, we welcome the awakening of those who are relatively new to our homeland. We are thankful, and rejoice, for the emergence of a movement that is mindful of its place in the environment, that seeks economic and social justice, that strives for an end to oppression in all its forms, that demands an adequate standard of food, employment, shelter and health care for all, and that calls for envisioning a new, respectful and honorable society. We have been waiting for 519 years for such a movement, ever since that fateful day in October, 1492 when a different worldview arrived - one of greed, hierarchy, destruction and genocide.
----
We call on Occupy Denver to adopt, as a starting point, the following:
---
Finally, we also remind Occupy Denver that indigenous histories, political, cultural, environmental,medical, spiritual and economic traditions provide rich examples for frameworks that can offer concrete models of alternatives to the current crises facing the United States. We request that Occupy Denver actively utilize and integrate indigenous perspectives, teachers, and voices in its deliberations and decision-making processes.

Submitted 8 October 2011

American Indian Movement of Colorado

http://blogs.westword.com/latestword/2011/10/occupy_denver_american_indian_movement.php

[Fire Walk With Me]

116. Please make this an OP? :)

[UnrepentantLiberal]

123. I think you just killed the anti-occupy movement.

Yes, please repost that. I love the idea of Native Americans being a part of the occupy movement.

[Terra Alta]

146. I'm half Native American

The term "Occupy" in relation to the movement does not bother me -- although I can see why some Native Americans would object to the term. It's a very sensitive issue for some people.

[Odin2005]

148. What idiotic crap.

[Sen. Walter Sobchak]

150. Funny, I encountered some guys in Arizona who say the term "Native American" is offensive

along with aboriginal as it implies primitivism.

[dkf]

153. "Decolonize" makes no sense to me in the context of OWS.

I think sensitivity to offensive language is a good thing but

[Crunchy Frog]

155. I don't agree with this position.

"Decolonize" has no real meaning to the wider public and doesn't really make sense in the given context. "Occupy" is the word by which the movement is now identified, and the word can have a number of different connotations, not all of which involve hostile or military occupations. Also, the Native Americans don't own the term; most of Europe was occupied for various amounts of time during the last century.

If some Native Americans want to start their own movement and call it by the term of their choice, I have no objection. I do hope the occupy movement does not give in to this pressure.

[Dragonbreathp9d]

158. This is the wrong fight

Occupy is ironic and symbolic, and is working towards helping everyone especially those in reservations as most are extremely impoverished. As a part Cherokee with a strong historic bloodline I understand where they are coming from- but these lands are already completely occupied and not by protesters trying to make the world a better place. Sometimes it feels like no matter what someone does someone will take offense. IMO this is completely misplaced

[Shankapotomus]

165. The word "occupy" is used in the same spirit

as when the Lakota chased the U.S. Army and settlers out of the Black Hills and occupied Fort Larmerie. It's about chasing the bad people doing wrong out and re-occupying a space with people with better motives. And that includes Native Americans and many of the causes they (we all) stand for.

[Mr_Jefferson_24]

166. The chosen language of such a large and important movement as Occupy...

...certainly does matter, and this complaint is not without validity. However, I think it comes too late. The movement is now global and the name, well chosen or not, will very likely stick. It's unfortunate that this discussion wasn't taken up in the earliest days of Occupy (if it was taken up I missed it).

[idiotgardener]

169. Changing all the signs on airplane bathrooms

and portapotties is gonna cost a fortune!

[T S Justly]

172. De-colonize and Occupy. (nt) (nr)