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Post by derekg on Oct 10, 2011 21:24:12 GMT -5
I do hate to be a buzz kill, but can we change..
"We are the 99%. We stand united for the principles of democracy that we hold so dear, so that we, the majority, can be heard."
To
"We are the 99%. We stand united for the principles of democracy that we hold so dear, so that every voice can be heard."
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Post by gryphon on Oct 10, 2011 21:29:27 GMT -5
This is very well written!
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Post by actually on Oct 10, 2011 21:45:33 GMT -5
derekg - fine by me. gryphon - thank you. If anyone else has any suggestions, post them here and I will check in the morning and make adjustments and post a final version.
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Post by andrewmargalit on Oct 10, 2011 23:53:52 GMT -5
This might be slightly O/T, but I was just on WUSC with our very own Delaney Mills to plug our Occupation. In keeping with Sunday's decision to refrain from speaking for the assembly, we spoke primarily about the when and where of Saturday's action and our own reasons for involvement.
Pretty fun! I think I've heard that we've someone else going on WUSC tomorrow, too.
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Post by andrewmargalit on Oct 11, 2011 11:24:56 GMT -5
actually, I much preferred the language of your first draft, so far as the words 'resistance' and 'violence' are concerned. Here are some additional thoughts: Occupy Columbia would like to invite you to participate with us and not against us. We are school teachers, we are students, we are the elderly, we are children, we are shopkeepers, we are police officers, and we are nearly every person you see in the grocery store or walking down the streets. We are your friends and we are strangers. We are all races and we are all creeds. We are the middle class and we are the homeless. We are the 99%. We stand united for the principles of democracy that we hold so dear, so that we, the majority, can be heard. To my mind, nominating any majority is an act of homogenization. When we homogenize, we loose our difference, and our difference is of inestimable value. Which principles of democracy do we stand for? Which form of democracy have we practiced? So far, we have not practiced majoritarian democracy, and I, personally, hope that we will not going forward. That form and its principles don't inspire me and I don't stand for them. What we have practiced, however, is harmonic (consensus) democracy -- a primary principle of which is the preservation of minority power in the decision making process. Harmonic democracy, well practiced, enables everyone - not just those in the majority - to be heard. Therefore, in instead of: "We stand united for the principles of democracy that we hold so dear, so that we, the majority, can be heard."I propose: "We are committed to democracy in its truest form, that everyone may be heard."Occupy Columbia is a leaderless grassroots movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. This is good, but I feel like it misses the point. Even if the 1% were completely on the level and exercised their power judiciously, should it not be asked how they have any power to exercise to begin with? Therefore, instead of: "Occupy Columbia is a leaderless grassroots movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%."I propose (and this is going back to the resistance thing): "Occupy Columbia is a leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that we, the 99%, no longer accept domination by the 1%."Occupy Columbia’s intent is to stand in solidarity with the countless others that are also doing so across America. We stand together to eliminate economic injustice in all forms, for the hundreds standing with us and for the thousand others who could not make it. I feel like specifying 'economic injustice' sort of limits our potential. Let us remember, many other injustices have enabled (and continue to enable) our domination by the 1%. Therefore, I propose that we strike 'economic' from this sentence and say to our community that we oppose injustice in all forms. (These proposed changes submitted amicably!)
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Post by actually on Oct 11, 2011 12:57:38 GMT -5
I did the best with accommodating everyone's suggestions the best I could. Keep in mind that this is not a statement of everything we stand for, but just a letter to the powers that be to let them know what we are doing (generally) and that we don't want any trouble. We can certainly come up with a larger statement down the road. The Dallas folks have done a great job issuing a letter a few days after their protest began, and we might want to do the same. Here is a link to the Dallas letter as an example: www.occupydallas.org/occupydallas-public-letter-city-officials Here is the one that is going out today to law enforcement and Mayor Benjamin: To Whom it Concerns: This letter is written on behalf of Occupy Columbia. Starting on October 15th 2011, Occupy Columbia will occupy the South Carolina State House grounds. Occupy Columbia would like to invite you to participate with us and not against us. We are school teachers, we are students, we are the elderly, we are children, we are shopkeepers, we are police officers, and we are nearly every person you see in the grocery store or walking down the street. We are your friends, and we are strangers. We are all races, and we are all creeds. We are the middle-class, and we are the poor. We stand united for the principles of democracy that we hold so dear, so that every voice can be heard. We are the 99%. Occupy Columbia is a leaderless grassroots movement with people of many backgrounds and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that we are the 99% who will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. Occupy Columbia’s intent is to stand in solidarity with the countless others who are also speaking out across America. We stand together to eliminate injustice in all forms, for the hundreds standing with us and for the thousands of others who cannot attend. Occupy Columbia invites all members of the community to join with us. We hope to have the support of our entire community, including law enforcement and the local government. You are all part of the 99%. The Occupy Wall Street protesters have summed up the movement well. We borrow from their statement of purpose and will share it with you: As one people, united, we acknowledge the reality: that the future of the human race requires the cooperation of its members; that our system must protect our rights, and upon corruption of that system, it is up to the individuals to protect their own rights, and those of their neighbors; that a democratic government derives its just power from the people, but corporations do not seek consent to extract wealth from the people and the Earth; and that no true democracy is attainable when the process is determined by economic power. We come to you at a time when corporations, which place profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality, run our governments. We have peaceably assembled here, as is our right, to let these facts be known.--The 99%
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Post by travis on Oct 11, 2011 17:35:43 GMT -5
I printed 1000 hand out fliers that need to start getting distributed ASAP! Let me know by posting here if you'd like some to pass around and we can arrange a way to get them to you. Also I have 200 11x17 posters that look extremely awesome. For business, campuses, churches, etc. Let me know if you could use those as well. Noah, I believe you and your friend, Barbara, volunteered for distribute materials. OC could use that help now! -Travis Read more: occupycolumbia.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=general&thread=37#ixzz1aVz8EaDq
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Post by travis on Oct 12, 2011 21:57:16 GMT -5
Would anyone like to volunteer to canvas Benedict and Allen as well as any churches they think might be sympathetic?
-Travis
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Post by islandgirlstudio on Oct 12, 2011 22:34:41 GMT -5
Yesterday and Today I contacted the following groups: Betty Plumb with The SC Arts Alliance Jackie Hicks, SCEA, The SC Educators Association thescea.org (teacher union) Palmetto State Teachers Association psta.org (teachers union) SC Association of Non Profit Organizations scanpro.org Julia Brown-VSA Arts- THE SC Arts Commision.
I have volunteered to work with the outreach /PR/ media group. Please contact me! I am a retired Art Teacher. Masters in ART from USC. Happy to help if someone will contact me! on facebook, email, islandgirlstudio@gmail.com text or call, 803-509-1604.
Thanks! Tam Hicks
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Post by islandgirlstudio on Oct 12, 2011 22:44:49 GMT -5
Travis, just let me know about the signs. I have some paint and a few mat boards I can cut. we can instruct peeps to bring cardboard to write or paint on. Markers are better than paint do to the mess. Perhaps we can ask for donations? Just a thought. Please hook me up with the right peeps for this job. Many thanks for all youre doing for occupy columbia! Tam
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Post by travis on Oct 12, 2011 23:00:51 GMT -5
Travis, just let me know about the signs. I have some paint and a few mat boards I can cut. we can instruct peeps to bring cardboard to write or paint on. Markers are better than paint do to the mess. Perhaps we can ask for donations? Just a thought. Please hook me up with the right peeps for this job. Many thanks for all youre doing for occupy columbia! Tam I'll email/call you tomorrow Tam! Appreciate it. Do whatever you're willing to do right now 'til we coordinate some more. -Travis
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Post by Scott West on Jan 3, 2012 23:19:37 GMT -5
There is a USC group forming which hopes to work with people from other campuses on a couple of big issues: *tuition freeze *wage stability *hiring stability Students, staff and faculty can be involved. We'll start with research and activism and incorporate some lobbying as well. Facebook link: Occupy USC www.facebook.com/groups/312163698796572/And some groups we're studying: Coalition Against Corporate Higher Education - www.facebook.com/groups/120748384703302/-http://cachechicago.wordpress.com/about/
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