Forum Post: Occupy The Conversation – a gathering of activists and radical intellectuals
Posted 11 years ago on Dec. 8, 2012, 11:50 a.m. EST by struggleforfreedom80
(6584)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Wouldn’t it be really cool if the Occupy Movement somehow managed to arrange a gathering of the most renowned activists and intellectuals for a conversation with analysis and discussions on strategies and tactics on how to create a better society?
Imagine a long thoroughly conversation between Noam Chomsky, Chris Hedges, Richard Wolff, Gar Alperovitz, Naomi Klein, Michael Moore, and Occupy Wall Street activists (Justine Tunney and Patrick Bruner for example).
I really liked “Occupy Everywhere” and I would love to see more of these types of arrangements, especially with strategies and tactics as the main theme.
I think initiatives like this could be very helpful in the struggle for a more democratic and just society, because having smart and knowledgeable activists and intellectuals share their views and ideas could lead to important inputs on how to proceed in changing the society.
What do you guys think?
One problem, and this seems to deserve consideration, is that Occupy people are spread out all over the globe. The great thing about social media is that it brings people together. The difficult part is actually getting together.
GK, reading your blog. I really relate to your words and feel a shift inside as a result. Kind of like memories. Very powerful writing in my opinion. I am reflecting on the "Sacred Point in Time" that is the present moment ... I had read that non-Western Societies sometimes were not Linear ... and that they didn't live in the past or the future as much as we might. A lesson I should learn. Please keep sharing your articles...
When you say you feel "a shift inside" I feel a litttle thrill of communion, in an awareness of the possibility of reclaiming the whole spirit that resides in us.
These thoughts Are I believe capable of giving rise to a shift in perception that may seem small at first, but grow greater in power over time.
One way of seeing this is in the realization that we can reclaim our totalit . . . that we can shed our fractured selves in the remembrence of being more than what we are reduced to by mass society in the interests of profit and expiedence . . . and that in reclaiming our totality we reclaim the world. This is not an exaggeration because it is what we Believe to be possible that shapes our consiousness, and our consciousness shapes the world.
Thanks.
I'm very glad that the Occupy Movement has spread all thruout the world. I don't see any conflict between having a large growing grassroots movement all over the world, trying to organize their community for the better, and at the same time showing solidarity and staying in touch with other people in other areas. The people we "get together with" are obviously mostly the people in our own community, but there are lots of way to arrange things toghether on a more international level.
I don't see any conflict either, I was alluding to the question of logistics.
But the "getting together" part is what needs to happen in order for anything to be accomplished.
I love this idea and am writing my dissertation on this very subject (so I seem to think it is important). I absolutely volunteer to help facilitate this in any way that I can.
btw, would you care to share some of your thoughts on this subject here?
Good to hear :)
Thanks for the excellent video and this very good post, to which I would also like to add this link - http://www.nationofchange.org/blogs/lawrence-davidson/nationalism-vs-capitalism-1342887645 - for reasons which will become clear upon reading :) Never Give Up Trying To Occupy The Issues! Solidarity.
Oh, the "Occupy Everywhere" video? Glad you liked it. If you click on the names, you'll get to see many other good videos as well :)
Also see - http://occupytogether.org/ and your video link was excellent, as are your other posts here. Never Give Up! Go Occupy! Solidarity.
Thanks for the kind words. Always good to talk to you, A4C :)
Thanks and also - http://www.nationofchange.org/washington-fiddles-over-fiscal-cliff-real-battle-over-inequality-happening-heartland-1355235939 - Never Give Up Struggling For Freedom! Keep Occupying The Issues! Solidarity :)
Thanks for the link. Solidarity.
Solidarity & here's why we do what we do - http://www.nationofchange.org/why-billionaire-political-investors-will-keep-pouring-money-politics-until-they-re-stopped-135532290 .
Never Give Up Educating & Explaining! Occupy Democracy!
Richard Kim is inspiring. I would like to be involved like Richard Kim since we have US anti-intellectuals that breed antiintellectuals in the USA.
A most excellent proposal and may I suggest an ideal location, the most democratic ideal in the world and also translated Peace, Hurricane it is Salem Oregon awaiting this by predestined arrangement We the People come...
I'm watching it now.... I have a similar forum, take a look.... http://occupywallst.org/forum/whats-next-for-the-movement-a-discussion-on-strate/
ok. Thanks for the link.
There are levels of organizing, and this one would be very high level. Guest speakers would help with attendance.
Pick a date, about 6 months into the future, and start making it happen. Pretty much like running a campaign. Get a small core group of people together and dont worry about making mistakes, its going to happen and its healthy.
Better have a bundle of money to pay them they don't do presentations for free.
Planning such an event thoroughly would be important.
I strongly suggest trying to contact Alternative Radio's David Barsamian. http://www.alternativeradio.org/ He is the one who could bring them all together.
This is just a plug for what I think is key for making progress with the way things are: http://occupywallst.org/forum/beat-them-at-their-own-game-the-99er-conglomerate/
Also, just my opinion (and I'm sure greater minds agree), the Venus Project is our best bet for long-term prosperity: http://www.thevenusproject.com/
Yeah, David Barsamian. I've read a lot of his interviews with Chomksy. Thanks for the input and the link.
The VP has some good values, and might be able to contribute somewhat.
I've been listening to AR's podcasts for months, never miss a show. The material is so "Occupy", Barsamian should be a household name. Every week it's a solid hour of pure motivation.
If you like what I've posted at the link in my last reply, please reply there so it gains popularity. It needs feedback as it could be the solution we desperately need.
Any of the Programs on AR you'd especially recommend?
I'll take a look at your post in the near future. Thanks again.
I just get the one podcast released each week. I've heard each one at least twice, and can't wait for the next one. I recommend all of them!
Thanks for that! Struggleforfreedom80 - let me know if you want me to contact David or if you'd like me to facilitate in any other way.
I'm thinking about writing him a message. Don't know when I'm going to send it at this point. You should do what feels right for you. If you wnat to contact him now, then go for it :)
Ok, I will send him a message as well and let him know that we were discussing this on a forum, etc...so he understands that it is from your idea, etc....
Ok :)
I am just throwing out ideas. What I was thinking was that we could ask the above individuals if they would be available/willing to meet in person for this type of discussion. If they cannot, perhaps they would be interested in sharing their responses to specific questions related to the theme you have above and these can be posted in order to keep this conversation going. What sort of vision do you have? (my apologies if I am over-eager here, I think this is a great idea and I am just throwing out possibilities).
My vision? Well, it could have lots of forms I guess. It could be something like this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZc1YBpw0Qg
or something like this for example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8JJo1RrgVc&list=PL19A6F6A10DCFB253&index=16
I have seen both of those videos before and I quite like the forum with Julian Assange as it seems more personal.
Don't worry about it. Glad you agree and I appreciate your inputs.
Also, I was thinking that a focus might also be a discussion on how these thinkers envision strategies and tactics for the movement in its effort to both dismantle oppression and create a better social existence.
Sure. Appreciate your inputs, thanks.
If you click on the names there are some videos that might give you some answers to what you brought up here.
I have seen most of their videos, personally I'd love to see them specifically focus on and discuss/debate those topics.
So should we get the ball rolling? Perhaps connect with some of the individuals listed above? What do you think? Anyone have a way of connecting with anyone above- perhaps see if they are willing, interested, and available?
Sure. I'm sure there are some e-mails out there which they could be reached on. Also trying to contact someone who are capable to set/help set up such an arrangement and get it streamed/broadcasted is probably a good idea.
I would like to share my thoughts, although they are still developing, and much more valuable insights would be had by others who have been doing this longer. I wonder if we could try to facilitate an on-line forum with some or all of above individuals to get things started - thoughts?
yeah, maybe so. Could you elaborate a little?
Change society? As in eliminating the rapacious paper chasing war on our minds which monopoly attempts to brainwash and control, instead of allowing society to freely be whatever variety is natural? If everybody had creative freedom to their personal culture we would be so much more than this.
Would change be that balance between nature and technology, that technology doesn't interfere in what is already made to work? Nature doesn't have a front and never faces you, yet we have created a world with signs and advertisement which constantly points to us, continuously cultivating that ego.
Change society as in creating a sustainable, participatory democracy based on solidarity and community and workplace democracy.
FIRST, test potential "renowneds" with this: http://occupywallst.org/forum/higher-education-panders-to-intellectual-savagery/
So what are you saying?
"Renowneds" keep these compelling histories out of sight http://showrealhist.com/yTRIAL.html They are conpersons first! "The big con infests America!"
Any time I hear the words "radical intellectuals" I want to vomit.
Why's that? Do you know the meaning of radical? And if you do - can't you see how it might relate? Or is it that you don't like being radical? Or being intellectual?