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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThe Occupy Wall Street Bible Is Out, and It's Good
By JULIE MA
Editorial Intern
Its probably no accident that the minimalist brown cover of Occupying Wall Street, the new title from OR Books about the now world-famous Manhattan movement, resembles the posters that, for a few months in 2011, came to define Zuccotti Parks skyline. The title and subtitle"The Inside Story of an Action that Changed America"are written in black scrawl, adding extra authenticity to the stylization. Its not just a book youre holding, a reader soon realizes, its also a mini-protest sign.
Fair warning up front: A little rectangular box on the back cover reads, "All profits from this book will be donated to Occupy Wall Street." If youre certain you disagree with OWS and dont want to support their cause, then this book is probably not for you. But if youre at all interested in how the now-global movement began, theres probably no better resource than this.
Though Occupyings author is a collective of roughly 60 unnamed people calling themselves "Writers for the 99%," the book is not a disjointed assortment of individual essays. Rather, and perhaps surprisingly, it acts as a concise historical account that sheds light on the varied and interesting minutia of OWS, covering everything from the guidelines of the General Assembly to the infamous Brooklyn Bridge protest to the drama created by class and racial tensions within the movement. So thorough is Occupying that even the thousands of people who lived in Zuccottis tent city themselves last year could probably learn something about the inner workings of the mass they once helped compose, or reinvigorate the fire that brought them there in the first place.
The authors admit at the beginning of Occupying that they could not cover every story that went on in and around Zuccotti during OWSthe days of the protest were too filled with action, and the protesters too numerous. They also warn that in no way should their book be considered an "official statement" from OWS, saying that "claims to formal representation of a horizontal movement such as OWS [are] both inappropriate and impossible." Caveats aside, however, Occupying offers a vivid and worthy start to the eventual OWS canon.
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http://www.good.is/post/the-occupy-wall-street-bible-is-out-and-it-s-good/
rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)to the corruption of politics and the gross inequality that exists in this country.
byronius
(7,394 posts)Magoo48
(4,707 posts)rhett o rick
(55,981 posts)malaise
(268,962 posts)in decades.
Bravo OWs!! You Rock!
piratefish08
(3,133 posts)mikebl
(111 posts)hootinholler
(26,449 posts)It's like the author thinks OWS is done.
jonthebru
(1,034 posts)I'll order it for that reason as well as others.
progress2k12nbynd
(221 posts)I am not one of those that think Occupy was a waste of time, effort, resources etc. but I was hoping that it that it would result in political seats changing. I've witnessed changes (millions moved over to credit unions) but not changes that are noticed beyond that specific day. Our occupy in Iowa disappeared as soon as it got cold. Heck they're still pepper spraying people all over the U.S. like nothing ever happened; I was hoping there would be a sustained outrage after UC Davis that would put that shit to bed for good.
I am a hopeful enough (and probably naive enough) person to think that a completely new 535, regardless of their credentials, would be better than the current 535. But if we could get some people in that are running specifically on behalf of Occupy, that would be even better!
UnrepentantLiberal
(11,700 posts)I'll be ordering one.
mick063
(2,424 posts)I'm employed
I pay taxes at a higher rate than Romney.
I enlisted and served my country.
I bathe at least once a day.
I raised a daughter that does very well in school and has never shamed me.
I support the the OWS platform in almost it's entirety.
Obviously, the counter arguments to OWS don't apply to me.
All I read in response is take a bath, get a job, pay my taxes, and serve my country as a counter argument.
What does the anti-OWS folks have to say to me?
I meet all of "their" criteria for being "credible" enough to express my anti-plutocracy views.
Uncle Joe
(58,355 posts)Thanks for the thread, n2doc.
fascisthunter
(29,381 posts)Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Last edited Mon Feb 20, 2012, 11:48 PM - Edit history (1)
What hyperbole --
"The Inside Story of an Action that Changed America"
They didn't change anything!! Nothing! Zip! Zero! Nada!
You want to see what change is?
Go to Wisconsin where they held parades with tractors to keep the local middle class citizens from being thrown out of their jobs!!
Go to Wisconsin and see how they defended the teacher's rights to belong to a union!
All those knuckleheads in NYC did was take over some private park.
Whoop-dee-fucking-do.
Occulus
(20,599 posts)and I think you've finally and for all time been proven wrong regarding OWS. Your credibility is shot and there's nothing you can do about it.
Now go away. Nobody wants to hear your dismissive and objectively incorrect opinions on this subject any longer.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Notice how nobody ever contradicts what I say at DU??
Ever notice how nobody uses any facts to disagree with lil' ol' me??
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)If it wasn't for the Occupy movement, the President would not be taking the message the way he is.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Now own it, prove it!!!
joshcryer
(62,270 posts)Not a populist note was sung.
Kaleko
(4,986 posts)to be so utterly, completely, irredeemably on the wrong side of history.
Interesting rant. Oh, and thanks for the kick to a thread I'd like more eyeballs on anyway.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)Someone occupied a park, a private park mind you, in New York City and now everything is aligned with the stars.
What crapola is that??
Kaleko
(4,986 posts)You got my number, alright.
mick063
(2,424 posts)@ Major Hogwash:
OWS has had a great deal of impact on politics. Time will tell how much impact on culture. Such things take a bit longer.
A DU reader would find many examples by simply browsing these pages. Either you are in denial or you haven't been reading them.
Feel free to diminish the movement. It shall continue on with or without you.
Spitting in to the wind is a rather inconsequential exercise.
Major Hogwash
(17,656 posts)I've got more spit coming your way, believe me.
mick063
(2,424 posts)Depends on how hard the wind is blowing.
I'll be sure to keep a safe distance away just in case.
Glaisne
(515 posts)Is there interest in having a discussion thread for the book?