I believe I am open minded…I’m not going to dismiss something simply by viewing it. So I went to Occupy Palm Beach twice, and yesterday was my second and last day…Both days there were some serious recreation of the oppressive wheel. Several times I had to get Sophia (from The Color Purple) because during the dialogue no one respected the person who had the floor. Especially if it was a POC or woman speaking.
My personal notes from the night:
It was raining heavy. we were outside in the North west corner of Banyan Blvd. and Flager Dr.
- Me: I brought up am objection to protesting the Green market on 10/29/11 because it’s called the “Green Market” local businesses supplying food for local people. It may be counter productive to the cause.
- Them: laughter.”Who cares, There is going to be a lot of people there.”
- Me: I asked what other groups have agreed to be a part of the march. Hopefully it’s not just our friends going to be there.
- Them: Blank stares.
- Me: What time is the march and does it accommodate the bus routes downtown?
- Them: Some more blank stares. Someone said “This is not going to be perfect.”
A few minutes later in an effort to understand the scruples of the Occupy Palm Beach movement I made a direct statement.
- Me: If poor and immigrant populations of Palm Beach are invited avoid just telling people to write down if they want to be a part of working groups. The heads of those working groups should identify themselves and have dialogue because people may not be willing and/or able to write the information down.
- Them: “I don’t want to identify myself that is a safety issue.” (laughter) “Telling them to write it down is better than doing nothing.”
- Me: That is exactly what you are doing for certain communities…Nothing. Why did you take the responsibility if you don’t want to identify yourself in the GA?
- Chad: Do you mean some people will be illiterate? Do you know what illiterate mean?
- Me: No Master, please enlighten me.
Then some cat name Ryan walked over to me during the discussion wanting to start a side conversation.
- Ryan: “With all do respect everybody is putting their heart into it.”
- Me: I want to respect the floor so maybe we can have a discussion about how your heart needs to change after the floor closes.
The next part of the discussion was about only allowing people with “interesting” things to say to speak during the GA. So I asked who determines what is interesting? Don’t you think with that language you are limiting it to your preference? I got the popular blank stare. Following, the group agreed to add a “soapbox” section.
- Me: So When you “soapbox” what are the guidelines?
- John: This is a purely democratic process we don’t need rules or guidelines.
- Me: Oh okay, just let anyone speak at anytime and we can see who will be doing most of the speaking and for how long. You all let me know how the chaos works out.
Put a fork in me I am done. I am not going to be limited by the frustration. The movement down here seems to be purely for the experience. I’m going to approach this with the teaching of Christ. That is I will try to change the individual with heart to heart conversations because mind to mind is not working.
