General Discussion

JackRiddler

(24,979 posts)

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

Fri Dec 30, 2011, 11:47 AM

Dec 2011

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.

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Native Americans Say "Occupy" Terminology Is Offensive [View all] ensho Dec 2011 OP

As a grammarian with Righteous Red Corpuscles, it occupies my mind that SpiralHawk Dec 2011 #1

I'm glad that you're occupied with that, and that MineralMan Dec 2011 #87

All of this gives me a headache in my occipital lobe XemaSab Dec 2011 #140

If you can tolerate NSAIDS, I recommend MineralMan Dec 2011 #142

Shit like that happens with low-inflected highly positional languages eridani Dec 2011 #152

'occupy' has a certain irony to it. xchrom Dec 2011 #2

That's how I always heard it, too. n/t EFerrari Dec 2011 #72

Sorry, but this is just incredibly stupid. TheWraith Dec 2011 #3

Agreed. nt mistertrickster Dec 2011 #5

+1 hifiguy Dec 2011 #10

Well said, sir! pscot Dec 2011 #15

+2 truebrit71 Dec 2011 #16

have a little respect getdown Dec 2011 #26

This is the wrong bone to pick. DCKit Dec 2011 #62

"Now, they're just looking for attention." getdown Dec 2011 #68

My Reagan expat, former wetback S.O. disagrees with you. DCKit Jan 2012 #163

beautifully told getdown Jan 2012 #168

Nice cherokeeprogressive Dec 2011 #151

Hmm... no. TheWraith Dec 2011 #102

good for you getdown Dec 2011 #107

No, not everyone's views are valid. Period. TheWraith Dec 2011 #131

here's the thing getdown Dec 2011 #133

Agreed... Luciferous Dec 2011 #139

I find your offense offensive! krispos42 Dec 2011 #154

Getting offended is the Great American Pastime. Crunchy Frog Dec 2011 #156

yeah- they must have picked it up from the Puritans wilst being slaughtered. stlsaxman Dec 2011 #161

I think we're talking at cross purposes. Crunchy Frog Jan 2012 #170

that was my first responce of the thread- stlsaxman Jan 2012 #171

Why is it necessary to disparage the left over this? rhett o rick Dec 2011 #160

And these few folks get to speak for all Native Americans? nt mistertrickster Dec 2011 #4

Good question. The answer is no. nt Zorra Dec 2011 #122

this is unexpected n/t Enrique Dec 2011 #6

... and then... 99Forever Dec 2011 #7

As a Kenyan, President Obama might find it offensive... rfranklin Dec 2011 #11

It's called "occupy", not "colonize". Crunchy Frog Dec 2011 #157

oh come on quinnox Dec 2011 #8

am I not surprised at the hostility of the posters ensho Dec 2011 #9

+++++ laruemtt Dec 2011 #13

Hostility? 99Forever Dec 2011 #17

a rose by any other name laruemtt Dec 2011 #23

Let's be real, ok? 99Forever Dec 2011 #41

Why does that not surprise you? UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #42

Excuse me but....Didn't Native Americans "Occupy" this country before white man ever did? W T F Dec 2011 #12

Yes, and they did it by displacing earlier Native Americans slackmaster Dec 2011 #18

you mean their ancestors? getdown Dec 2011 #27

It would be nice if history was so clean and simple slackmaster Dec 2011 #136

understood. getdown Dec 2011 #137

I'm pretty sure some of those ancient tribes have no living descendents, and not as a fault... slackmaster Dec 2011 #138

so .................. getdown Dec 2011 #141

So, taking over peoples' land is a shitty thing to do, but a lot of peoples have done it... slackmaster Dec 2011 #144

And didn't the white man occupy the native Americans' land? n/t RebelOne Dec 2011 #112

Evidently Occupy is raising consciousness in more ways than one lunatica Dec 2011 #14

kick ensho Dec 2011 #19

No one is telling them to shut up and forget about the past hifiguy Dec 2011 #21

well they have a point getdown Dec 2011 #29

If people are so freaking dense that they cannot realize hifiguy Dec 2011 #36

respectfully disagree getdown Dec 2011 #50

I've considered it, and find it stupid Confusious Dec 2011 #109

it sounds uninformed getdown Dec 2011 #111

No, the anti-PC seem right on Confusious Dec 2011 #119

No, the anti-PC seem getdown Dec 2011 #120

IF all you can do is parrot my words back at me Confusious Dec 2011 #134

um getdown Dec 2011 #135

Apparently Gali does not know about the occupations of Alcatraz & Wounded Knee Luminous Animal Dec 2011 #44

you have a point getdown Dec 2011 #49

"Occupation" was also used for the protests at Mt Rushmore and the BIA headquarters in 1971 riderinthestorm Dec 2011 #56

You win the thread hifiguy Dec 2011 #58

well put. getdown Dec 2011 #70

Colonial language? Nonsense. Colonists colonized, conquered, vanquished. MADem Dec 2011 #126

good points getdown Dec 2011 #130

What do you mean by: "progressives can't handle it." Handle what? rhett o rick Dec 2011 #159

it was a reference getdown Dec 2011 #162

It's obvious you don't get it lunatica Dec 2011 #43

yup getdown Dec 2011 #51

No I am not. hifiguy Dec 2011 #52

No, we're saying that if using this word was offensive UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #54

Bull's eye, UL. nt hifiguy Dec 2011 #55

You just made my case lunatica Dec 2011 #76

You saying "political activists you know" makes my case. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #80

"Certainly not the political activists among them. " Really? Zorra Dec 2011 #147

AIM understands the power of re-occupying. Gali should revisit her history Luminous Animal Dec 2011 #149

+ 1 loyalsister Dec 2011 #24

Agreed. Please be respectful: think Dec 2011 #30

thank you. laruemtt Dec 2011 #34

There's a difference between respect Confusious Dec 2011 #110

The poster you display shows a great crime was committed... JackRiddler Dec 2011 #39

I guess nothing unless it's considered in the larger context that think Dec 2011 #69

I agree with you. JackRiddler Dec 2011 #100

"Whites committed genocide on the Native Americans" hfojvt Dec 2011 #53

Your post is truly offensive lunatica Dec 2011 #78

Agreed. There are Freepers among us. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #85

it's amazingly uninformed too getdown Dec 2011 #95

and it's another thing getdown Dec 2011 #94

You mean that's not a biased version? BklnDem75 Dec 2011 #113

missing a few hundred years of History, are you? eShirl Jan 2012 #167

Another Kick RC Dec 2011 #97

I have mixed feelings about this. Trillo Dec 2011 #20

+99 laruemtt Dec 2011 #25

Ridiculously stupid! B Calm Dec 2011 #22

Rethugs are offended, and suggest squatters. Whadaya say? WingDinger Dec 2011 #28

I smell hypocrisy pipi_k Dec 2011 #31

The first thing to come to my mind upon hearing the word "occupy" is... JackRiddler Dec 2011 #65

yes the term is weighted by history. maybe one reason the originators of OWS chose it. getdown Dec 2011 #32

Now imagine what a draw it would have had as "Decolonize Wall Street." JackRiddler Dec 2011 #33

Thanks, Jack, for a reasoned explanation. hifiguy Dec 2011 #38

I agree deutsey Jan 2012 #164

Well, if someone is offended by something we have to change the words (nt) The Straight Story Dec 2011 #35

It's not that one has to change the words as much as how one responds to such a request think Dec 2011 #47

I get offended when people want to change merry christmas to happy holidays The Straight Story Dec 2011 #60

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and happy new years! May 2012 be a good one! think Dec 2011 #64

some folks use Happy Holidays getdown Dec 2011 #125

I don't think anyone is trying to be disrespectful UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #71

This isn't like using the term "slavery" hifiguy Dec 2011 #79

What about the occupations of Alactraz & Wounded Knee? Occupation was the word used Luminous Animal Dec 2011 #37

+1 Well said. nt. hifiguy Dec 2011 #40

Dictionary definitions of occupy JackRiddler Dec 2011 #45

Will Rodgers unionworks Dec 2011 #46

Example of proper usage: "The Indian movement activists occupied Alcatraz." JackRiddler Dec 2011 #48

Post removed Post removed Dec 2011 #59

I don't agree with your response at all. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #73

so do getdown Dec 2011 #75

There definitely are Freepers posting to DU UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #88

ugh getdown Dec 2011 #91

The word "occupy" does not have one simple definition. Noun, verb and adjective. Glassunion Dec 2011 #57

But nobody generally talks about the "occupation of North America" hfojvt Dec 2011 #63

Mic check! Here in Arizona, Native Elders indigenous to this land sometimes speak/pray at Occupy Zorra Dec 2011 #61

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Dec 2011 #66

It was fiction... Not an instruction book. Glassunion Dec 2011 #74

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Dec 2011 #121

What you said, was very close to the phrasing in the book 1984. Glassunion Dec 2011 #129

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Dec 2011 #132

How dumb Weisbergkevin Dec 2011 #67

That's interesting. I wonder if there will be a response to MineralMan Dec 2011 #77

Oh I don't know. Anything is possible. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #84

Indigenous Elders & Supporters Occupy ALEC Member Salt River Project Headquarters Zorra Dec 2011 #81

Petty. It's the name of the movement and she can get over it. Lil Missy Dec 2011 #82

And I say to them what I say to the Confederates: YOU LOST. aquart Dec 2011 #83

Another Freeper post. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #86

That's not fair. MADem Dec 2011 #96

But this poster isn't making that argument. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #103

I think you're pulling the string overmuch, here. MADem Dec 2011 #108

say it to their face getdown Dec 2011 #89

Wow... Spazito Dec 2011 #90

Someone should go through this thread and alert UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #98

This message was self-deleted by its author Obamanaut Dec 2011 #143

maybe a LITTLE OVER THE TOP quinnox Dec 2011 #93

Dude.... Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #114

Comparing Native Americans to the Confederates? Terra Alta Dec 2011 #145

I never heard "occupy" used in that context, ever. MADem Dec 2011 #92

Count me among the cynics. Hatchling Dec 2011 #128

Huh, here's a link to a Native American Occupy Protest at the United Nations. Yes, a NA OCCUPY event riderinthestorm Dec 2011 #99

Oooooooops! Now isn't THAT a bit AWKWARD! MADem Dec 2011 #118

And this is why nothing ever changes with left activism. There's never a united front presented. n/ TransitJohn Dec 2011 #101

the united front agrees to agree and disagree getdown Dec 2011 #115

The American Indian Movement Declares its Solidarity with Occupy Minnesota Zorra Dec 2011 #104

Up until reading this thread, it never occurred to me that... Spazito Dec 2011 #105

good point getdown Dec 2011 #117

It looks like the OWS movement's use of the term is understood by more Native Americans than not. MADem Dec 2011 #124

Yes, it seems the position taken in the article may well be a minority position... Spazito Dec 2011 #127

Occupy Denver endorses Colorado American Indian Movement's indigenous proposal Zorra Dec 2011 #106

Please make this an OP? :) Fire Walk With Me Dec 2011 #116

I think you just killed the anti-occupy movement. UnrepentantLiberal Dec 2011 #123

I'm half Native American Terra Alta Dec 2011 #146

What idiotic crap. Odin2005 Dec 2011 #148

Funny, I encountered some guys in Arizona who say the term "Native American" is offensive Sen. Walter Sobchak Dec 2011 #150

"Decolonize" makes no sense to me in the context of OWS. dkf Dec 2011 #153

I don't agree with this position. Crunchy Frog Dec 2011 #155

This is the wrong fight Dragonbreathp9d Dec 2011 #158

The word "occupy" is used in the same spirit Shankapotomus Jan 2012 #165

The chosen language of such a large and important movement as Occupy... Mr_Jefferson_24 Jan 2012 #166

Changing all the signs on airplane bathrooms idiotgardener Jan 2012 #169

De-colonize and Occupy. (nt) (nr) T S Justly Jan 2012 #172