tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post8831903758063020080..comments2024-03-03T17:01:57.876-05:00Comments on Montreal Simon: Occupy Canada and the Silence of the LambsSimonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-61224972122559110292011-11-21T19:06:22.219-05:002011-11-21T19:06:22.219-05:00Hi Elli...yes I agree with you. It's time to s...Hi Elli...yes I agree with you. It's time to stop fixating on the physical occupation of campsites, and move on to occupy the world of ideas, and the instruments of power. As I said in my post, it's just the beginning of the beginning, and if we are clever and creative we can go a long way...Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-82441248422746289432011-11-21T19:03:30.537-05:002011-11-21T19:03:30.537-05:00hi CK...good comment. But I'm not as pessimist...hi CK...good comment. But I'm not as pessimistic as you are. I realize that the movement is still a little fuzzy, but it is a global movement, which is important, and if we can get it to connect with the unions and the progressive parties I think we can turn it into a mighty movement for change.<br />Also, don't underestimate the word "LOVE" as an instrument of that change.<br />Many young people connect with that and when the Cons mock that it makes them really angry. <br />Maybe I am too optimistic, but the thought of spending the next four years in a state of helpless rage is too depressing to even contemplate.<br />And as for David Fennario...<br />My friends<br /><br />"Anger is better than fear<br /><br />Solidarity is better than despair<br /><br />So let us be angry and hopeful in solidarity<br /><br />Against our oppressors<br /><br />And together we can change the world."<br /><br />That's fine too. And probably closer to how I feel.<br />But the way I see it, whatever inspires progressives to unite and defeat the Cons, has got to be good... :)Simonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15309809679331128837noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-1092293459955481952011-11-21T05:31:16.797-05:002011-11-21T05:31:16.797-05:00Very interesting article. I agree with author that...Very interesting article. I agree with author that occupation is nothing more than just symbol of this movement. I believe it is more important now to work on structure of the movement, that it can start to demand particular things on government.Elli Davishttp://ellidavis.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23253782.post-78454344602783971492011-11-20T23:06:43.334-05:002011-11-20T23:06:43.334-05:00It is going to be an uphill battle, to say the lea...It is going to be an uphill battle, to say the least! Looks like the dean of the Cathedral is not willing to practice Christian charity here.<br /><br />But for the occupy movement, overall, it will be an uphill battle,and I do have my reservations. <br /><br />For openers, Spain just threw their socialist government out and voted in a center right party who promises austerity measures. Despite the fact that austerity has proven to fail in other Eurozone countries around them, the Spaniards believe this Rajoy and his austerity measures will lead them to the promised land.<br /><br />Here in Canada, where we are now, officially, further to the right than the US is (Americans are slowly wising up)are still in a world of complacent arrogance. It will be hard to shake them. <br /><br />I remember once upon a time on CJAD's GAng of 4 show, Kimmee Fraser once whined (egged on by her other Harpercon cheerleaders)about how universities were too left winged and how professors were too left winged and graded their students with this bias--that if a student dared to present right winged arguments in a term paper or dissertation, it had to be perfect--right down to spelling, grammar, those 'i's dotted and those 't's crossed, and those arguments better be air tight and backed up heavily. Yes, poor Kimmee was whining that her son had to 'pretend' he was a lefty in order to survive Concordia. Bull, given that Trude the prude Mason and Babs Kay teach there, but anyway...<br /><br />Remember the argument above. That is exactly how I feel about the occupy movement or any progressive movement or anytime a progressive argues something. It must be airtight, picture-pefect, gaff free, all 'i's dotted and 't's crossed, or we'll continued to be discredited, scoffed at, and/or ignored. <br /><br />You mentioned missing Jack Layton. I think many do, but while his last message to Canadians of <br /><br />"“My friends, love is better than anger.<br /><br />Hope is better than fear.<br /><br />Optimism is better than despair.<br /><br />So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic.<br /><br />And we’ll change the world.”<br /><br />is definitely, not the order of the day. Many of us are angry, and if we're not, we should be. Messages of love don't resonate anymore. And this message won't work to counteract thugs like Stevie Harper.<br /><br />David Fennario, a Montreal playwrite, and die hard socialist who once ran under the Quebec Solidaire banner (he's most famous for the play "Balconville") believes Layton's last words are a recipe for disaster.<br /><br />Read Fennario's article here: http://canadiandimension.com/articles/4112/<br /><br />He is correct 100%ckhttp://sistersagesmusings.canoreply@blogger.com