The City's Attack on Information: Books Dumped in the Garbage, Press Intimidated

[marmar]

from New Deal 2.0, via AlterNet:



The City's Attack on Information: Books Dumped in the Garbage, Press Intimidated

Books dumped in the garbage. Press intimidated and shut out. These are not the signs of a functioning democracy.


In recent weeks, one of Occupy Wall Street’s perhaps greatest victories became crystal clear: since the protests took off, the number of news stories talking about inequality has skyrocketed. This is perhaps one of the movement’s greatest strengths: the spreading of information about issues that were previously ignored, if felt viscerally by most Americans. Growing income inequality has been no secret, but few were talking about it on a national scale until the movement put it on the radar.

The discussion and dissemination of information is a hallmark of the movement. On any given trip down to Zuccotti Park, by far the most common activities I observed were teach-ins on various issues surrounded by smaller, informal conversations ranging from crony capitalism to bank bailouts to student debt. The way most illustrious thinkers got involved with the movement was to visit the encampment and share their wisdom. This love of information was also embodied in Occupy’s call for transparency. Protesters seek a government whose operations are open to the public and not just to lobbyists, one that is accountable and accessible to its citizens. Signs like this said it simply:

But perhaps no greater embodiment of this love of information and knowledge was the People’s Library. The first time I went to donate books it consisted of a dozen or so bins neatly arranged by category and title; the last time I was there it had grown to become one of the largest pieces of infrastructure in the park, insanely well organized and beautifully displayed.

It’s perhaps most chilling to me, then, that when I awoke to news of the evacuation it quickly became clear thatpolice simply threw all of those carefully donated and organized books in the trash. The symbolism of amilitarized police force piling thousands of incarnations of our country’s knowledge and history into dumpsters is hard to escape today. ..........(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/731136/the_city%27s_attack_on_information%3A_books_dumped_in_the_garbage%2C_press_intimidated/

[FarCenter]

1. Paper books are just working copies

[Danse]

2. Disgusting

Why not just burn the books?

[FSogol]

3. Unrec for massive exaggeration: "incarnations of our country’s knowledge and history?"

Ridiculous. Focus on the politicians and managers sending the police in. Some boxes of books being thrown away does not equal the burning of the Alexandria Library.

[marmar]

4. Unrec of your unrec for insufferable arrogance

Who's to say what the boxes of books represent to OWS?

[FSogol]

5. There are enough real issues to worry about before you ever get to missing "incarnations."

:shrug:

[kenfrequed]

24. hmm

I rec any story dealing with OWS... well almost. The idea of keeping OWS in the headlines is more important than minor quibbling complaints.

[Starry Messenger]

6. k&r

When do we get NATO protection? :sarcasm:

[sad sally]

16. Don't forget, Ft Drum is currently testing drone flights - soon to soar

over the homeland in search of ?????

[Fire Walk With Me]

21. "Taser drones."

[saras]

19. As soon as someone has the sense to ask, although the UN would be more appropriate

[EFerrari]

7. Last night I read, 5K books trashed at Occupy Chicago.

At least they aren't burning them yet.

[Uncle Joe]

8. What a waste, trashing good books there was simply no call for it.

Thanks for the thread, marmar.

[LiberalEsto]

9. Fahrenheit 451 is almost here

They're pushing the e-reader devices so they can control what you're permitted to read.

[msongs]

10. the germans burned them in big bonfires. at least they kept warm nt

[PoliticAverse]

12. The US FDA also preferred burning...

See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wilhelm_Reich

[redqueen]

11. This morning on the radio...

national, syndicated show... the mainstream, easygoing, unoffensive host says something along the lines of 'I know in other countries they keep out the press, but I didn't know we do that here. What country is this? Where are we?'

[daleanime]

13. Good...

that means we making progress!O8)

[pinboy3niner]

14. Within 5 minutes of Zucotti reopening, the People's Library was being rebuilt

Almost immediately, people began contributing books. A very small detail, but one that indicates the spirit, determination and resilience of OWS.

In the next hour, the People's Library continued to grow...

http://twitter.com/?photo_id=1#!/OccupyWallStNYC/status/136601279261708288/photo/1/large

[truth2power]

15. Thank you for posting this, marmar. I wonder about people here

who don't think this is an important issue.

Nothing to see, here. Just move along.

[girl gone mad]

17. It's always the same ones..

on every thread.

Gee, I wonder if they have an agenda. :think:

[truth2power]

23. Why yes...yes they do! n/t

[Electric Monk]

18. k&r

[defendandprotect]

20. Michael Moore says Obama/Justice Department involved in "giving logistical and

tactical advice and support" -- !!

Homeland Security also involved --

Michael Moore also points out that obviously police have all been using the

same tactics --

We need to ask Obama WHY he is doing this !!

[unionworks]

22. sad k&r n/t