I don’t want to simply repeat what everyone else has been saying about Occupy San Diego, though my experience there was very similar to the others’ who have posted. For me, Occupy San Diego seems to have lost a part of its meaning. Many of the individuals who have gathered in protest are unsure of what they are protesting. Such protesters are simply hungry and possibly looking for safety in numbers as far as a place to sleep goes. This type of protester is much like the individuals some of us at SDAC encountered during Community Immersion in the San Diego Riverbed, who were chronically homeless, often by choice or due to untreated mental illness, and who simply needed donated food. This was the part of Occupy San Diego that appeared to have very little to do with Conflict Theory, though perhaps some of the protesters who were there to fight for what they believe in are protesting the lack of resources for people like the homeless in the Riverbed and at Occupy San Diego. Those who are there to fight peacefully for a cause are exhibiting the characteristics of Conflict Theory with their signs, informational seminars, and chants, but the movement's message appears to be weakening. I am not sure it is accomplishing anything anymore, spreading awareness, or fighting for a specific cause. In interviewing several protesters, they were unclear about what was going on. The police officers, at this point, claimed that the movement was just a “nuisance” and is simply taking up resources, and thus time and money from the city that could be better spent elsewhere, such as on the very causes the "real" protesters are vying for. After my visit, I am now wondering if perhaps they are right.
-Jamie St. John
I am inclined to agree with the cops. I do not want to sound like public demonstrations do not work or are ineffective but, I really do not see the occupy movement producing any type of change. I realize that it was a spinoff of the protest that occurred in the Arab countries, which produced some change through violence, but what is it really going to accomplish when there is no real reason or benefit for those in charge to change. While the numerical majority may understand and agree with those that are out there in San Diego and the various cities around the nation, the true majority (rich powerful people) are not moved by it at all from what I have seen. The Arab countries used some violence to get their point across and incite change……..
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ReplyDeleteI agree with Jamie! Many of them are homeless who have gathered in protest possibly looking for food or a place to sleep. I felt like they are wasting their time protesting, I feel that it wont be an effective movement because it is not well organized.
ReplyDeleteI did find it interesting that at least homeless people are looking for change, compared to those who always complaining about everything but are not active in trying to produce any type of change.