Forum Post: Idea for increased visibility

I have an idea that might increase the visibility of the movement: Get the message out that sympathizers unable or unwilling to join the urban protests should erect tents in front of their residences to signify solidarity with the movement’s basic message: corporate greed (and government collusion) is noticed, not appreciated, and must change. This, if you can get it to happen, would at least produce new images for the press, who will likely soon grow tired (along with their readerships and audiences) of photos and video of tent cities and the usual likely suspects holding signs, however clever they may be.

Imagine a news crew driving down a suburban street in Anytown, USA, filming lawn after lawn, street after street, neighborhood after neighborhood dotted with illuminated tents. I think that would be a compelling image, one that a broader and larger base of people could identify with and one that possibly less-confrontational people would be willing to be part of. It would be quiet (powerful in its contrast to the urban protests), dignified (like most Americans), and unmistakable. The message would be a loud one to the ones we’re trying to reach and possibly resonate more because the messengers would ideally be greater in number, be spread over a larger area, and appear less radical than chanting marchers on police-lined city streets.

And people wouldn’t even have to sleep in the tents if it was too cold or wet or if they just didn’t want to; they could just leave it illuminated at night so that it was visible to neighbors, the press, business owners, officeholders, and the nation. People without camping gear could make and fly some kind of flag with a tent on it (maybe a slogan, like “Occupiers: We’re in Tents” or something cleverer) or draw a sign and put it in a lit window (which could work for non-homeowners).

I think this would need to happen very soon, too, before something happens with some fringy occupier at one of the encampments that brings disrepute or even shame on the whole movement.

Anyway, that’s the basic idea. I’ve thought a bit about how best to execute this plan (risks benefits, etc.). If you’re interested, you can e-mail me back and I’ll share my ideas with you. In any event, good luck with the movement. I hope it brings about some positive change.