#OCCUPYMARINES Are Preparing To Occupy America NATIONWIDE

[Segami]

" United States Marine Corps. Sergeant Shamar Thomas in a spectacular moment defended the protesters of Occupy Wall Street while staring into the faces of thirty NYPD officers, and now countless other Marines have organized in an amazing show of solidarity. Sgt. Thomas’ gallant actions in standing up for American citizens being brutalized by the police were shown in a video which has gone viral with almost 2 million views. Marines have joined forces with #OccupyMarines in solidarity with the movement not just in New York, but nationwide:

“OccupyMARINES Are Currently Assessing The Current Situation To Ascertain What Is Currently Needed To Support OWS America. We Are Humbled At The Substantial Support OWS America Has Provided And Ask That Everyone Continue As You All Do While We Implement Organization Nationwide. As We All Know, ‘Occupy’ Groups Are Being Established Even Now And Would Like To See This Trend Continue. “


.

Their website OccupyMarines.org http://occupymarines.org / presents a post centering on continuing the Occupy movement throughout the upcoming winter. In their call for “Non-Active ‘Occupy’ Military Supporters Only” they’re organizing a dress code in order to identify their branch affiliation. Instead of ostracizing the police, the Marines are attempting to reach out to them much like Sgt. Thomas did. #OrganizeMarines states, “Security forces/police should be seen as potential recruits to our cause and message, not as adversaries. Ultimately, they are accountable to the people.”



During Sgt. Thomas’ bold speech, the police presence became suddenly solemn hanging on his every word. Perhaps the presence of Marines will awaken the Police force which has been overwhelming the protests. Presenting their group and the Occupiers as a peaceful movement, no matter what, including verbal attacks and/or propaganda brought forth from those opposing the protest they state, “Defensive strategies never win. Do not respond to verbal attacks or hostile propaganda from Nay-Sayers by using the language of the opponent. Reframe.”


cont'



http://www.politicususa.com/en/occupy-marines-nationwid...


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[Segami]

1. The OWS dynamics are about to change.

[kestrel91316]

2. Occupymarines.org, sadly, appears to be an unused website.

WTF?

[MannyGoldstein]

5. Google cache has lots of stuff, but the site is empty now

Either hijacked or being redesigned now.

Feh.

[gateley]

6. Here's the video --

After seeing nothing at the site I was afraid this was BS, but I DO remember seeing this guy. Didn't know he was a Marine, though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEHcOc0Sys&feature=yout...

[pacalo]

10. Amazingly, gateley, I saw that video go from a hundred or so viewings to almost 2 million.

During the first week I saw it & saw the low number, I was dismayed that more people hadn't seen it. Well, I saw Sgt. Thomas on "Countdown" & "The Last Word", & now, the video is now viral.

This does seem to be causing a significant stir. Sgt. Thomas' words were on the side of "right", just as the protesters are.

[gateley]

25. I was on the edge of my seat -- he was so passionate and

enraged that the people were being treated that way! Knowing that he's a marine somehow makes it even more powerful.

Thank heavens Countdown and The Last Work got wind of it - and kudos to them for airing it!

I anticipate even millions of more viewings!

[LittleGirl]

31. Rosie O'Donnell interviewed him this week as well

His parents are both veterans.

[pacalo]

63. I have to remember to watch Rosie's new show on OWN.

She's one of the best.

[KoKo]

80. I saw her on "RT" and she was really good listen...and, I was skeptical of her

but she did a really good job articulating her views. Which I share. And, it was surprising because I remember her from her TV Show. But, when I think about it her TV show was really about how the Middle Class in America was living at that time...and you could see that there were problems even back then about how average Americans were having problems just keeping up.

[pacalo]

94. I remember her being a huge advocate for the middle class, too, on her last talk show.

[themadstork]

12. He speaks to them about honor and they look utterly blindsided

So tragic.

[gateley]

26. I would LIKE to think some of them looked a bit ashamed.

I hope he made them think.

[KoKo]

83. OMG...Over 2 Million Views of this Video...and, for sure, it was Incredible Watch!

Just think ....if we could get the Marines on the side against Wall Street and their Corrupt Minions....(given the Marines Credo) ..this movement could have LEGS more than the wildest dreams of those who want CHANGE!

Thanks for Video. Had read the reports of this incident but the Video makes it MORE REAL about this Marine standing against the PTB...and when they had to call in the White Shirts you knew that his impassioned pleas were result of the phone calls to Bloomberg (Mayor) asking ..."WHAT THE FUCK DO WE DO ABOUT THIS GUY? HE'S A MARINE WHO SERVED IN US MILITARY...SHIT...HELP US OUT HERE! Then the "White Shirts" came in.......

[Courtesy Flush]

21. It worked for me nt

[evilhime]

34. Was just there

The website is alive and active, and they are also on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/OccupyMARINES/2463104320...

[BlueCaliDem]

61. Nope. It's up and running. I just came from there...

Perhaps you had the wrong link? Try this one.

http://occupymarines.org /

They even have a Facebook account: https://www.facebook.com/pages/OccupyMARINES/2463104320...


*Edited to add FB link

[KoKo]

79. I just clicked it and it Worked for Me..... I'll check the video in the post, also.

K&R!

[MannyGoldstein]

3. This is brilliant, fantastic!

This is a brilliant way to turn the police to our side.

[BlueCaliDem]

60. And very credible. U.S.M.C. Sgt Shamar Thomas comes from a LONG line of

military dating back to WW II:

From the YouTube description ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEHcOc0Sys&feature=yout... )

Thomas comes from a long line of people who sacrifice for their country: Mother, Army Veteran (Iraq), Step father, Army, active duty (Afghanistan), Grand father, Air Force veteran (Vietnam), Great Grand Father Navy veteran (World War II).

[gateley]

4. Wow. nt

[RKP5637]

7. It's a great start. I've told a number people including Marines. Gave them the URL, etc. n/t

[mwrguy]

8. Occupying Campe Pendleton

would be a nice start

[pacalo]

9. OMG, I've become so cynical about the vulnerable being bullied that I thought this was going to be

about the Marines being brought home from Iraq to help law enforcement protect the poor ol' billionaires from those who "don't matter".

This is great news!!!

And it's the right thing to do.


Bless you, guys!

[truedelphi]

67. I saw the headline for this in a cynical light also.

And was glad to be so pleasantly surprised.

[Raksha]

70. U.S. Marines would never brutalize Americans to protect Wall Street billionaires.

They remember their oath to protect America from "all enemies foreign and domestic." They are very clear who those enemies are, and it's not the commies these days.

Blackwater goons are a whole other story, though.

[pacalo]

78. The NYC police gave individual oaths "to serve & protect" its citizenry, too.

[pacalo]

11. There were technical difficulties at the OccupyMarines.org site. It's back on again.

So we had some technical difficulties.

We’re also not even 2 days old yet, but we got press http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.ph... ×2164824#2164892

Thus making the DNS transfer and cdn shifting today MUCH more stressful than it needed to be. Databases, how do they work? However, we’re still #Winning.

If you still got the old stuff post’em, otherwise i’ll rummage up a cached page from google to get the posts that were already up. Please sign up again, sorry for the inconvenience, carry on

Sincerely,

- Management

http://occupymarines.org/2011/10/22/hello-world/#more-1

[Segami]

13. Thanks for the site status update. Their effort now needs to go viral.

[H2O Man]

14. Recommended.

I'm sure that I am not the only DUer who knows a number of former US Marines who are disgusted with the government, and outraged by the corporate control of America. Those I am familiar with have a wide range of socio-political beliefs, with some being OWS and others Tea Party. But they are united in their belief in the US Constitution.

Earlier in the summer, I wrote an essay here about a tense public meeting about hydro-fracking. One of the pro-gassers approached me after a couple television news stations had interviewed me, and said, "I'd watch it, if I were you." I responded noncommittally, with something like, "oh." He pointed to a group of his pals who were staring at me, then to the pro-clean water people. "They have contempt for your friends, but they hate you," he said.

A childhood friend responded, approximately, "Well, I'm a former US Marine, and his best friend. And I have a truck-load of guns." (He insists upon driving me to these meetings since this took place.)

[Raksha]

57. I'm sure all of us have at least a few Marine vets as friends.

Since like you I'm of "a certain age," mine are mostly Vietnam vets. While they may not be quite as far left in their political views I am, none are even close to being teabaggers. All of them are disgusted with the corporate control of America. They haven't forgotten that their oath of service requires them to protect America and its people from "all enemies foreign and domestic." Unlike the teabaggers, they are VERY CLEAR on the identity of said domestic enemies. They are sympathic to #OWS and will be thrilled to hear about OccupyMARINES. Some will very likely join it.

[abelenkpe]

15. K&R nt

[flamingdem]

16. Wow. The Vietnam protests were certainly NOTHING like OWS

The military was the enemy in those days though individual resisters were welcome of course.

This is a stunning turn of events in our country

[jwirr]

36. As one who was there - much of that was our fault. We had not yet

learned not to blame the soldier for what his superiors did. Today we know that it is leaders who want the war not the kid who gets to fight it. Much better this way.

[flamingdem]

45. I agree it was an error

and I wonder why. Maybe because the soldiers attacked the demonstrators as unamerican? Things were different back then..

[Raksha]

72. Not all of them did. VVAW were some of the first anti-war demonstrators I remember.

Re "Maybe because the soldiers attacked the demonstrators as unamerican?"

The support of the Vietnam vets was important. It helped us to believe in the legitimacy of our cause when we were being denounced practically everywhere as un-American. Besides, many of us had loved ones on active duty. No way could we have seen the troops as the enemy. The leaders of course are another story.

[flamingdem]

95. .

[robinlynne]

42. you forget that the VIetnam protests worked, after the soldiers coming home from Vietnam joined us!

[flamingdem]

44. When was that? In the 70s or earlier?

Seems like it must have been towards the end. Was there an incident in particular?

[jwirr]

49. I remember watching protesters meeting soldiers as they came home.

Jeering and such. I also remember talking to returning soldiers who were very upset about being blamed for the war when they were drafted. I do not remember anyone throwing things at them but the rumor was out there. No idea if it was true or not. This was in the 70s.

I see all of you disagree with me - okay are you saying that no one ever asked why they did not refuse the draft and just go to Canada? I heard that all the time.

[robinlynne]

51. I remember soldiers at the microhones speaking at the protests.

[jwirr]

56. So do I but that does not mean that I am wrong about what happened

to many others who did not speak.

[robinlynne]

100. I never saw what you saw. (people treating soldiers poorly.)

[socialist_n_TN]

52. That might have happened where you were, but

that didn't happen down south. The grunts were our buddies. At least 3 of my BEST friends at that time were Vietnam vets. When we were with those guys, we worried less about getting jumped by the necks and frats.

[jwirr]

58. And I understand that. Look my sil's ex-husband came home and was

treated like dirt - died of agent orange several years later still thinking we all blamed him. Another friend hid out on his grandfather's farm because he was likewise treated. These two men had it really bad up here in the midwest. It could be that the south has a lot of military bases and understood better than people did up here. Who knows.

[socialist_n_TN]

82. Well, they were sympatico to us and there weren't

many of us period vet and non vet, so I guess that might have had something to do with it too. There was one guy who hung out with us some who wasn't totally into the antiwar movement and I'm sure he had some problems at times. But not from my circle. We just kind of ignored him as much as possible. He'd also lost a leg in Vietnam (it cost him his life eventually-he suicided a few months later), so he was pretty screwed up about it all. If he denounced the war, then his physical loss was for nothing. Even as young as I was, I could see where he was coming from.

IOW, I'd imagine it depended on how the returnee felt about the war and the dirty hippies. Did they harbor resentment? Or did they empathize with them?

[jwirr]

98. Yes, I think that is what it came down to. What really counts though is

today and it is better for all.

[Jackpine Radical]

81. I got out of the Army in Jan '69 & got involved with the antiwar

movement pretty quickly after getting back to Madison.

Yes there were rumors of the public throwing things & spitting. I hav e heard that the spitting stories were debunked. I do think on one occasion a little old lady shot & killed a returning 1st Cav troop as he was deplaning on one of those old movable airplane staircases. They always routed returning Cav people through SeaTac after that.

Anyway, I pretty much let my hair & beard grow & didn't advertise where I had been for the previous two years.

[WinkyDink]

88. I don't find the "jeering" anecdotes credible.

[robinlynne]

50. As troops started to come home, veterans against the war grew and grew.

They spoke at the rallies. in my opinion it was the soldiers entering the anti-war movement that made the war stop. That is how I remember it. once the soldiers entered the movement in large numbers, and spoke of what was happening over there, the gov't could no longer resist the movement.
For that reason I always thought Iraq veterans against the War to be so very important. When actual soldiers protest the war it is transformative.

[jwirr]

59. That is a good point and it also helped about how people felt about

them.

[Raksha]

90. And absolutely nobody had more street cred in that area than John Kerry.

He was an American aristocrat, a Vietnam vet and a war hero...AND he spoke out on the national stage. He couldn't be written off or marginalized or ignored. That's why Nixon hated him so much (mentioned him by name in one of his rants!) and why the Swiftboat liars HAD to trash him in 2004.

[jwirr]

48. No I did not forget that but there were many who did not and they

were not so well liked. Yes it ended and I am thankful for that.

[crunch60]

91. YES, the Vietnam protests worked, and the goon

squad's, homeland security, the new world order realized this. So over time they have come up with a bunch of new rules, new permits, no microphones, no camping, no standing in front of certain buildings, wall street firms using NYPD as their private security and making up laws that suit the occasion. None of these things are written law. The police forces do not need a legal reason to arrest or detain, they will do what they want, and falsely justify their actions. I wouldn't doubt that some of the "white shirts" you see among the protester's and cop's,are really former Blackwater, now know as Xe LLC, U.S State Department's private military contractors.

The Vietnam Protests were very effective in initiating change, and that's what the Government is afraid of, so they are using unnecessary force to control OCCUPY WALL STREET..
I supported the Vietnam vets, although I was against the war. I support our brave marines, all military men and women, although I abhor the disastrous war's we are engaged in abroad, and now right here at home in the U.S.A, the war against civilians.

[Old and In the Way]

97. Not really....from what I remember, the focus of contempt was the military industrial complex.

Most of us went through the lottery...thankfully, the draft ended in the year of my eligibility...I pulled a low number and i was on the short list. It was never about the soldiers, it was always directed at the co-enablers: the government and the MIC.

[eridani]

101. Partly. However, many serious activists were first informed about Vietnam

--by dissident ex-Green Beret Donald Duncan. I knew nothing about that war until hearing him during one of his college tours in 1966. See also the documentary Sir! No, Sir! IMO, the most important contribution of civilian activists to ending the Vietnam war was their support of antiwar veterans and active duty military. See also GI coffeehouses.

http://www.allempires.com/article/index.php?q=GI_revolt

[flamingdem]

104. Good article for dates on what happened when -excerpt

The stand of the Green Berets hadn’t gone unnoticed and it was as early as 1966 when the first mass refusals by soldiers to go to war occurred. The first such case to come to public attention was the Fort Hood 3 who publicly refused to go. The Fort Hood 3 chose to publicise their case nationally, whereas many other chose a different method, the Underground Railway. This was movement set up the smuggle deserting GI’s and draft dodgers overseas, mostly Canada and Sweden.

The US military’s reaction to these early signs of revolt was to try and stamp it out by ever increasingly draconian sentencing. The Fort Hood 3 were court marshalled and received 5 year gaol sentences. A Lieutenant Henry Hal received a 2 year sentence for merely carrying placard at a demo and 2 Marines received 6-10 year sentence for organising a meeting to discuss whether it was right for black people to fight in Vietnam.

Government figure estimate 560,000 people committed draft law offences during the Vietnam War. And a total number of 1,500,000 GI’s went AWOL. Over a 100,000 people went into exile to avoid the draft.

[Chipper Chat]

17. I just dare Eric Cantor to fuck with the Marines.

Spplllaaaatttttt!

[femrap]

18. And now that our gov't wants

to cut Medicare Care to the Armed Forces....Well, that should fuel the anger.

That video was awesome! Hope the website gets up and running.

[cyberpj]

19. SEMPER FI Indeed !

More than a motto: a way of life

Semper Fidelis distinguishes the Marine Corps bond from any other. It goes beyond teamwork – it is a brotherhood and lasts for life.

Latin for "always faithful," Semper Fidelis became the Marine Corps motto in 1883. It guides Marines to remain faithful to the mission at hand, to each other, to the Corps and to country, no matter what.

Becoming a Marine is a transformation that cannot be undone, and Semper Fi reminds us of that. Once made, a Marine will forever live by the ethics and values of the Corps.

There is no such thing as an ex-Marine.

http://www.marines.com/main/index/making_marines/cultur...

[fascisthunter]

20. the Movement just became Permanent

[socialist_n_TN]

22. OK, now let's put together some real soldier "soviets"

or councils if you prefer. THEN we might have something that could actually fight the capitalists and their hired toadies of XE.

[liberalmike27]

33. So, What's the Plan?

I keep hearing as long as they are non-violent, they'll work, eventually. Washington, the seats of power are ignoring the marches, pretty much. The media is giving a begrudging circus coverage, with the exception of a few on MSNBC, and Keith.

When it drones on, they continue to be ignored, what's the next move? Are we going to try to get people who are worried about losing their jobs to stay home from work, and go on national strike? Because I see that is not likely to happen. If we had a 3 percent unemployment rate, this whole thing wouldn't be happening anyway.

And who are your allies? We can all yell and scream, and call our representatives, who get a large chunk of money from Wall Street, and Big Pharm, the MIC, the CIC (criminal industrial complex), and other corporations, but when it comes down to it, who are our chosen allies in Washington? Do you really believe republican politicians are going to get on-board, when taking corporations out of the mix, will end up losing them a lot of seats.

This movement is going to have to come to terms with campaigns being the larger problem above Wall Street, on that "Problems" flow-chart, and stick that at the top of the list--then they need to move to choose allies. It's fine to direct a bunch of anger into the ether. It just doesn't do anything.

And I hate to say this, but when it all fails, when they continue to ignore you, ignore the people who stay home with worker strikes, then what do we do? Where does it go? How do you make the rich uncomfortable enough to push their democratic and republican employees in governments to fix our broken system of buying politicians for corporate fascism? I want to be optimistic, but the road-blocks are immense and numerous.

[socialist_n_TN]

35. The "plan" mike is what's worked in the past

And no we're (the general public) is NOT ready for what works. Yet.

The only plan that will work is what's worked in the past. Bottom up unrest, a ruling class that can't rule, a working class that won't be ruled, a political class that is hamstrung to do anything effective about the unrest, and the bourgeoisie that loses faith in the political class to be ABLE to represent their interests. This leads to mass demonstrations (check), then strikes, wildcat and called, leading to an indefinite general strike. Stike committees are formed that turn into worker's councils and a TRUE representative democracy (small "d") with immediately recallable delegates. The soldiers (NOT the officer corps, but the EMs) form councils of their own and have veto power over their top down orders. These soldier councils would also have to be prepared to defend the activists from XE thugs. Along with organized worker defense militias. This leads to a dual power set up that eventually makes the other government irrelevant.

A six week general strike with a concurrent "repayment" strike on all bank loans would probably be enough to bring the system to it's knees. But it would have to be militant. Even people that WANT to scab are prevented from doing so. Everybody is ready to get arrested and asks for a jury trial, overloading the "judicial" system. Everybody RE: the repayment strike, files for Chapter 7 bankruptcy, thus overloading THAT system.

Finally the end game is all power to the citizen/worker/soldier councils and you begin to build a economic democracy that works for the 99% instead of the 1%.

Of course, all of this would have to be concurrent with a worldwide uprising, at least in most of the developed countries of the world. THEN you work towards economic coordination with ALL similiar systems that spring up across the globe.

One thing to remember is that the reason the capitalists fight SO hard against any sort of socialist economic system it because it is inherently fairer to the majority of the world's population SO THEY CANNOT LET ANY ALTERNATIVE SURVIVE.

[liberalmike27]

38. Saw an expert in credit through the ages

The other day On Chris Hayes' weekend show on MSNBC. He said in ancient times, the Egypt rich, as a regular matter of course, found it necessary to forgive all of the debt the poor owed to them, to keep society from shutting down. It was a regular societal thing they did, as they realized it always came to that eventually.

I think the rich, especially republicans in congress, and a lot of, or most of the democrats, have yet to understand that we won't function well as we are, and need improvements. Of course they've put a lot of impediments in our way, to stop us from using protests in the way we did then.

But I think you pretty much said the protests will eventually become violent, while others say once they become violent, we fail. Now I don't agree that we fail if they become violent--in fact, I think at some point it's bound to happen. I actually think there are many, if not most people out there, who understand that if a guy is pushed around for long enough, unjustly, and pointlessly, they'll eventually explode. It's bound to happen. And we've got a rift of movies designed on this premise.

But the current state of the protests, as well-meaning as they are, is like the child put in the play-pen, in the other room, to quiet their noise, isolated, removed from relevance, ignored until they become quiet, until they are tired of screaming, lose interest, and fall asleep again.

I keep hearing how they are quaking in their boots, the rich, the politicians. But I see no action, I see a republican campaign still actually pushing to increase the taxes on the poor, middle, upper-middle, upper-upper middle, and lower them massively on the super-duper-richest people on the planet. They aren't scared. They are sitting up at night, sipping cognac, and laughing at the futility of the protests, I'll assure you.

They aren't going to be afraid, until there is something threatening the one thing they value more than their money.

[socialist_n_TN]

54. You won't find me as one who think they are scared......

Yet. They are apprehensive I believe because SOMEBODY other than the fringe (we Marxists) have made the connection between economics, politics and power. That's the one thing they've ALWAYS tried to keep hidden. But no, they aren't scared yet.

When they see a REAL possibility that they might lose the ENTIRE system of privilige that they've built up over the decades, THEN they might actually become scared. Like in the 30s.

I've kept my distance from the OWS movement because they don't even have the balls to NAME the system much less the courage to actually talk about real change. Which means a change in system. Until they DO gain the courage to call a spade a shovel, I'll support them for what they HAVE done and await a REAL programme.

[Raksha]

75. It wasn't just in Egypt. In ancient Israel the Jubilee year worked the same way.

That law is still on the books--in other words, it's in the Torah. Every 50 years all debts were to be forgiven so everyone could start off with a clean slate. That 50th year was the Jubilee year. I'm not familiar with the details of how it worked out in practice, but I've always thought it was strange that such a compassionate and practical idea was allowed to become obsolete.

[dotymed]

23. I worry about having an organized military presence at OWS.

Even though this is probably necessary due to the violence the LEO's have perpetuated. I will check out their site.

IMO, we also need to start having citizen held "Constitutional Conventions" to draft our grievances and hopefully some proposed changes (demands) to our entire system. Since politicians are mainly beholden to large contributors and our freedoms have become almost meaningless.

Whatever happens, OWS cannot be co-opted by any organization. It is a peoples movement and it must remain so.

[socialist_n_TN]

24. Considering the political climate, I have no problems

with a defensive militia for protection against overreaction by police or proto fascists. ESPECIALLY the latter. In a LOT of places when the shit hits the fan, the police will be useless for protecting the protesters from the modern day equivalent of the "Brown Shirts". The longer this goes on, the more a militia will be necessary. This could be the start of that type of militia.

[dotymed]

62. I completely understand this. One of their mission statements

says that at no time will they meet violence with violence. So, for now, there does not seem to be a plan for them to be any type of militia.
The thing that worries me most is on their "masthead";

OccupyMARINES Marines support the movement. We will support demonstrators with organization, direction, supply and logistics, and leadership.

IMO, this sounds like a possibility of co-opting the movement by providing "organization, direction and leadership." I don't want political parties co-opting this peoples movement and I certainly don't want the military to do so either.

I wish they had proclaimed support and solidarity. I fear that if they gain too much power in OWS, then it will no longer be a civilian movement of the people. I welcome them, just prefer the "bottom up" leadership that has, so far, been prevalent.

The OWS movement is so important and historically, any movement that is this popular attracts many people, organizations, etc., that want to lead it in their direction.

I do not believe that the marine who originally stood up for the demonstrators had any motivation other than as a person who was dismayed with the abuse he was witnessing and I welcome and appreciate that. I do think that we should guard OWS from becoming co-opted from the people.

[socialist_n_TN]

86. Well it really depends on what kind of "leadership" they're

offering. If it's leadership in their area of expertise, say military and self defense organization, I'd be all for it. And of course as contributing members of the OWS community, they should have a say in all of the matters OF said community. However outside of their particular area of expertise (and I think supply and logistics would be another area that they could be invaluable), they should have no more of a say than any other group.

[Raksha]

74. That's how I see it too.

Re "The longer this goes on, the more a militia will be necessary. This could be the start of that type of militia."

Hopefully, though, just the identifiable presence of our militia at demonstrations would be enough to prevent police brutality in 9 cases out of 10, or even 10 cases out of 10. They wouldn't even have to be armed. The knowledge that the members of our militia are veterans of the U.S. armed forces and on the side of #OWS should be enough to make anyone planning a major act of intimidation like Chicago 1968 or RNC 2008 think twice about it.

[socialist_n_TN]

84. Oh of course Raksha. I was actually thinking just as much

of the proto fascists as I was the cops. However, those guys are cowards anyway. If they think somebody might fight back, they're just going to melt away. The cops will be somewhat different, but the presence of even an unarmed, but organized self defense cadre MIGHT keep a police riot from occuring. Or it might not. But it's better to have the presence than not. Just for the CHANCE that it MIGHT keep the police from rioting.

[ohheckyeah]

43. I'd like to know a little more about who is behind the

website before I jump on the bandwagon and especially before I contribute money.

[styersc]

92. OWS is an eclectic gathering where all come to offer their skills.

Our brothers and sisters with a military background want to throw in and offer their serivces. Welcome to the just revolution friends!!!!!!

[WillyT]

27. HUGE K & R !!! - Thank You !!!

[vssmith]

28. I just cannot believe the police

They are getting fucked just as bad as the rest of us--layoffs, benefit cuts, etc. I would think they would be in complete sympathy with the protestors.

[liberalmike27]

39. It is True

That when the police realize this, and allow protestors to go anywhere they want, to hoard around members who work on Wall Street, in the big banks, when they realize they have no protection and that the law-enforcement bulwarks surrounding them have been felled, that maybe, just maybe then progress will be made. They will have to feel the breath of the rabble directly, and literally on their skinny, Harvard, necks.

[Amonester]

53. What about their Union 'Leaders' and why aren't THEY onboard?

Are THEY just sitting there watching TV while the .01% steals their members' pension?

WTF are they THINKING?

[socialist_n_TN]

55. They're part of the "labor aristocracy" and as such

have as big of a stake in the system as the bosses do. They only get militant when the general membership FORCES them to. Then they'll "compromise" away any advantage they have at the first opportunity. The labor aristocracy needs to be watched like a hawk watches a mouse.

In Wisconsin the labor aristocracy teamed up with one of the bourgeoisie political parties to channel the beginnings of a militant union movement into electoral politics. And what happened there? NOTHING HAS CHANGED. They're still in control of the state government and all those Koch inspired antiunion laws are still in effect. THAT'S what you get when you let the aristocracy control what the working class does.

[RKP5637]

29. K&R !!! n/t

[UnrepentantLiberal]

30. Go Marines!

[NCcoast]

32. I love that sound, the sound of heads exploding, it sounds like...

Victory!

[BelgianMadCow]

37. The entire sergeant rank of the portuguese army went pro-protest

And since portugal is like " next" on the list, pretty significant. If the plutocrats lose the military, they're done for!

[disndat]

40. To have a U.S. Marine

stand up to Wall St. is very powerful indeed. Those Wall St. scums like Halliburton and military suppliers made money, lots of it, while the Marines and soldiers paid with their blood and limbs.

[robinlynne]

41. WOW!

[yoyossarian]

46. Hard to say if this will be good or bad in the long run...

If we could clone Shamar Thomas thousands of times, I'd be more confident. I trust HIM...

[colsohlibgal]

47. The More The Merrier

It's looking more and more like this has major legs and is only going to grow...... and now we have Marines who have our back. Time to take the US (and much of the world) back from the current corporate stranglehold.

It's time more and more wise up, tea party folks need to realize they are right to be steaming mad, just dead wrong about who to be mad at. Don't be fooled by particularly insidious ads like those folksy "Harry And Louise" ones....the Koch brothers and their ilk know which buttons to push and sadly so many who need help were sucked in by those type of ads.

Some people are hopelessly brainwashed as proved by the raucous cheering recently, by stone cold wingnut audiences, about people executed and people left to otherwise die...but I cannot believe that's more than an annoying slim minority.

I listen to the extremely smart Thom Hartmann a lot and he thinks this will end up in real systemic change in 2-3 years, may he be right in his assessment.

[Grateful for Hope]

76. Good post

[AntiFascist]

64. K&R n/t

[varelse]

65. K&R

[snot]

66. Awesome!!!

[nxylas]

68. But...weren't the military supposed to overthrow that uppity n****r and install a Teahadist junta?

At least that was the Freeper fantasy.

[socialist_n_TN]

85. As I read it, this isn't the active military

Just veterans. As I said in a post upthread, when we get some soldier councils organized with active duty troops on our side (or at least neutral enough so they won't shoot AT us if push comes to shove), then we'll have something. This is a start to that though, IMO.

What the Freepers don't realize is that the EM contingent of the military is actually working class. And poor. Unless they're being paid for it, why would they be on the side of Wall Street?

[Raksha]

69. K & R

[NYC_SKP]

71. VIDEO:

HERE:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmEHcOc0Sys

K/R

[Uncle Joe]

73. Semper Fi, Marines.

Thanks for the thread, Segami.

[DinahMoeHum]

77. The ghost of Smedley D. Butler must surely be out there. . .

...as the man himself was among the "Bonus Marchers" in 1932.

[MasonJar]

87. I have signed up for the Move On meeting in conjunction with Occupy

Wall Street for Wednesday here in Louisville. It is just a small organizational meeting. I'll keep DU posted. If any Louisvillians wish to go contact Move On. It is in a library meeting room and a small venue.

[woo me with science]

89. THANK YOU, MARINES! nt

[anamandujano]

93. OMG! Look what I found!

In the course of my weekend slumming at gossip sites I stumbled across this,
http://www.femalefirst.co.uk/board/viewtopic.php?f=40&t...


I came running over here to see if it were true.

Presently trying to pick jaw up from floor.

The site goes up and down but I saw it and got a screenshot.

[swilton]

96. This is not just a Marine Thing

Veterans for Peace were one of the main organizers of October 2011 movement which is occupying DC and supporting occupations elsewhere. The DC occupation started October 6.

Wall Street and globalized capitalism run amok would not be where it is today without the Pentagon.

[varelse]

99. First To Donate

OccupyMARINES Thank You For Your Contribution, You Must Know You Are The First To Donate To Us.

We Want To Inform All Donators That Money Under The PayPal Account Will Not Be Touched Until The 501(c)(3) Is Established To Reward You With A Tax Exemption Certificate

We Again Thank You For Your Support

Semper Fi

OccupyMARINES

Should You Have Any Questions Please Ask, Should You Require A REfund Of Your Donation, We Will Honorably Return Your Full Donation Amount. God Speed.


Thank you for the link

[unkachuck]

102. K&R....The Few, the Proud, the OccupyMARINES....n/t

[KoKo]

103. ....1

[Kurovski]

105. Kick. (nt)