Hard News by Russell Brown

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Hard News: About Occupy Wall Street

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  • Lilith __, in reply to Islander,

    "Blueskin" because he was heavily tattoo'd, face & body, as befitted his rank.

    I always wondered what the origin of that name was, fascinating, thank you!

    Dunedin • Since Jul 2010 • 3895 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Islander,

    my mother is our whanau beneficiary (Kaimohu is our titi-island) and we were brought up on the seasonal foods. To me, the aroma of cooking titi is the smell of winter, the smell of home

    All three posts give just a glimpse of what a rich history there is to be found amongst the peoples of this land. Thank you.
    And I just read of the journey of the dairies of Freidrich Kellner. I know of Werner Klemperer's diaries. These are the stories I seek out. The stories of "small" people, anonymous to history's limelight but illuminating in ways that bright lights arent.
    It puts me in mind of watching reality police and custom's shows which brings out my sympathies for those caught in the intractable webs and gloried over by officialdom(petty of otherwise). Which has become our bugbear of late. I dont want them to be let off, just given a metaphorical clip over the ear told not to be so silly and sent home. But they get crippling fines, and enduring criminal history (if not prison) which often they dont deserve.
    I dont blame, as such, the officials in this most cases either they do their job with a sense of humour, but for some the uniform and attendant, nee inflated community status goes to their 'head' and they develop what I can only describe as malevolent habits. I would like to get statistics and put some figures on it (or some one else do it). It is an evil all of those in positions of power need to guard against, having all the company or state might and machinery(or indeed the mind of the herd) behind doesn't make you right.
    But how to instill that in people who seek those positions out? Funnily sports people often go for such jobs (its the regularity of hours and pay that attracts I think)
    Or maybe educate bring up people with that ability intact/developed to almost sense another person, not hide behind rules that doles out heavy judgements based on codes that make little sense, or prejudices or predelictions formed either in the past or in isolation. And I dont mean prejudices in the narrowest sense of that word, we all have to navigate this life based on what we have learnt or learn. Our world is small as we are growing up by necessity, those 'prejudices' often dont transfer well or are forgotten, trampled over in the rush to be a part of something out of childish/childhood experiences.
    OOhhh the accompanying glory or horrors.
    Oh dear I've gone on too long.
    But thank you again Islander. Thats all I wanted to say really.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel,

    Colonel clinker?

    Werner Klemperer’s diaries

    I think you mean Victor Klemperer - he was Werner's second cousin.*

    His diaries detailing his life under successive German states — the German Empire, the Weimar Republic, Nazi Germany and the German Democratic Republic were published in 1995. An English translation has appeared in three volumes: I Will Bear Witness (1933 to 1941), To The Bitter End (1942 to 1945) and The Lesser Evil (1945 to 1959). His recollections on the Third Reich have since become standard sources

    * Werner did write the introduction to the book The German American Family Album

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • David R, in reply to Richard Grevers,

    Zizek ( !!! ) had something to say about that
    http://occupywallst.org/article/today-liberty-plaza-had-visit-slavoj-zizek/
    Zizek owns, eternally.

    AKL • Since Sep 2008 • 22 posts Report

  • Rich Lock,

    back in the mother countr… • Since Feb 2007 • 2728 posts Report

  • 3410,

    I know of Werner Klemperer's diaries.

    I know NOTHING!

    Auckland • Since Jan 2007 • 2618 posts Report

  • Ian Dalziel, in reply to 3410,

    I know NOTHING!

    indeed, if you are John Banner aka Sgt Schultz
    ; - )

    Christchurch • Since Dec 2006 • 7953 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    Thanks for the correction. My excuse, it was early in the morning when I wrote that unresearched, and my memory failed me.

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • Islander, in reply to andin,

    All three posts give just a glimpse of what a rich history there is to be found amongst the peoples of this land. Thank you.

    Cheers Andin-there is a huge repository of stories in these motu, the ordinary stories of people- I only know some of them. from the south (&south west.) They are sustaining to whanau - I am very glad they are heartening for others.

    Big O, Mahitahi, Te Wahi … • Since Feb 2007 • 5643 posts Report

  • Just thinking,

    Today 3 pm Occupy Christchurch at South Hagley by the Buses.

    Putaringamotu • Since Apr 2009 • 1158 posts Report

  • DCBCauchi, in reply to Islander,

    He was my greatgreatgreat-grandfather, and his name was Kahuti/a. He was a rakatira, had become a bit estranged from his daughter Motoitoi (she cohabited with Richard Driver, pilot for Otepoti harbour, and produced 3 children thereby, one of whom was my great grandmother)and his wife was long dead.

    Wow. Cheers for that! I often thought of him while sitting on the beach, wondering what his name and story was.

    Since Feb 2011 • 320 posts Report

  • Steve Barnes, in reply to Ian Dalziel,

    indeed, if you are John Banner aka Sgt Schultz

    Who also appeared in this...
    Damsels in Distress The Lone Ranger (TV series 1949–1957)
    What do we get?
    The Loan Arranger
    My Ho Silver
    He wears a Smile as a Mask.

    If only he were like the other John...
    John Reid

    Tonto says to the Ranger,"You can take mask off now." The Ranger replies that he will continue to wear the mask as a symbol of truth and justice and as a way to strike fear into the hearts of outlaws all over the West. And so he always wore the mask after that.

    Peria • Since Dec 2006 • 5521 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca,

    Has anyone heard from the 3pm Auckland occupy or any others for that matter. Where are all the twitterers?

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Emma Hart,

    Sof: try the occupyauckland hashtag. Or, they're on twitter...

    Christchurch • Since Nov 2006 • 4651 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Emma Hart,

    Thanks but I am not one of the twits. I don’t do the friend book either. I try to not get too involved with these contraptions. Public Address is my most frequented place on this here little flat top thingy ;)
    I was really hoping for a update from the likes of Hilary Stace. Maybe she will pop in later, if she ever gets out of there alive.

    Soo now I clicked on your link and fancy that!
    thanks :)
    but really, where do you get the time to read all this shit? So much stuff to day is all in your mind. Not as in yours but the collective your.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sofie Bribiesca, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    all in your mind.

    That is what I suppose is great about actually going down to the local square to show a united front. Lots of people physically supporting one and another by being there in person. Pretty cool in my book.

    here and there. • Since Nov 2007 • 6796 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Sofie Bribiesca,

    a update from the likes of Hilary Stace

    Done

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • Hilary Stace, in reply to Sacha,

    I feel a bit like a neutrino. My post got here before me. Thanks Sacha. But the whole era is feeling a bit odd so nothing is surprising any more. I haven’t checked twitter either (Occupywelly) but even with the free wi-fi in Wellington people seemed to be doing that unusual thing of actually talking to each other today, rather than reporting it electronically.

    Giovanni got a bit annoyed at the poor spelling and grammar on some of the placards, which I am sure he will comment on later, and he introduced to me to Deborah who was in Wellington. Close by some young ACT people tried to be provocative with their placards praising the free market, and Ron Paul, but in these postmodern times no one took any notice. I noticed the TV1 guy chasing around for some good shots and a young reporter for Scoop seemed to be giving interviews as much as interviewing others. Anyhow it just reinforced to me that what you see on the news is only one tiny aspect of what is happening.

    A reasonably sized diverse crowd gathered on the bridge in the rain at 1 pm basically to connect, out of curiosity and just be part of a worldwide movement which is saying something like stop and change direction. Unlike Auckland there were few political party/union identifiers and I only noticed one person with a Unite flag. Before long it cleared up and was pleasant and mild on that well-designed City to Sea bridge people space. People came and went and there was much chatting about politics and common concerns. Connecting. Lots of families and babies and kids. I liked that. Some are inevitably driven to organise and a section decided to march down to the stock exchange to have some anti-capitalist speeches. A staunch young woman I have known since she was a baby called for like-minded people to form a ‘committee’. My friend (her mother) and I were getting tired feet so we went off to the library cafe to ponder on our parenting skills and activist role-modelling if this is what our children had learned – to form a committee. When we came back Occupy had evolved into a variety of large and small groups of people doing their own thing, surrounded by their placards. Some tourists stopped to ask some young women what their notice ‘Don’t buy sh*t’ meant. Didn’t hear the answer.

    A large circle of mostly young people had formed their committee and were sitting on the ground taking turns with a talking stick (someone’s juggling baton), introducing themselves, reading out stuff, having their say, or deciding on strategy. It was very heartening, though, to see the next generation so able and together. Who knows what comes next and this global movement is, after all, only 4 weeks old? But for once I felt optimistic for the future. These days my activism strategy is to encourage others. Then retreat to a cafe.

    Wgtn • Since Jun 2008 • 3229 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Hilary Stace,

    These days my activism strategy is to encourage others. Then retreat to a cafe.

    Good on you.

    Occupy Chistchurch.
    Gives a reasonable view of the turnout. A few remained behind to mind the camp while most marched to Riccarton & back. Nice mood.
    Bit chilly tonight for the brave campouts though.

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Christopher Dempsey,

    I caught the tail end of the OccAuck march which went quite slowly - walked 10 meters or so, then stop. Not sure why. Very large crowd.

    Moved into Aotea Square, onto the grass area. Several hundred people. Surreal situation; Range Rover were demonstrating their new Landrovers on the hard surface of the square, then the OccAuck crowd then the most interesting art installation - The Performance Arcade on the other side of OccAuck - which is well worth seeing if you do happen to go down to Aotea Sq.

    I stayed for a bit, listening to the thankfully few speeches, but became amused at the committee nature of it. Very middle class, but ultimately, very productive, and designed with a few tweaks to make sure that agreements were embedded within the group. A very good model of organising I have to say.

    I left and went home to make creme brulee.

    Parnell / Tamaki-Auckland… • Since Sep 2008 • 659 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    walked 10 meters or so, then stop. Not sure why

    caffeine deficiency

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

  • andin, in reply to Sacha,

    raglan • Since Mar 2007 • 1891 posts Report

  • BenWilson,

    for they are thus unaccountable even to reality.

    Good line.

    Auckland • Since Nov 2006 • 10657 posts Report

  • Joe Wylie, in reply to Christopher Dempsey,

    I stayed for a bit, listening to the thankfully few speeches, but became amused at the committee nature of it. Very middle class, but ultimately, very productive . . .

    Good on the middle classes. No, really. Traditionally the class of relatively painless innovation, short of knock-down-drag-out revolution. Even if you've been tipped out of the income bracket you still try to retain the values. Buy free-range eggs. Or cage-free, in a tight week.

    At the Kaiapoi red zone rally three weeks ago, one of the organisers, recently politicised by having his home condemned despite there being no evidence of real damage, concluded his speech by asking the crowd for their thoughts. A thirty-something presumably non-homeowner stepped forward from the only group carrying banners and proposed a deal.

    With a mixture of jargon and inarticulacy he proposed to "stand in solidarity" with aggrieved property owners, provided they'd join him in opposing the kind of injustices he'd been dealing with, such as "employers treating people like shit". Mr Homeowner appeared to give the proposal his brief consideration before agreeing - "Um, yeah, that sounds pretty good". Homeowners and workers united, sealed with a shrug and a smile.

    The always excellent Avonside Blog has a brief and to-the-point post on the bigger picture:

    flat earth • Since Jan 2007 • 4593 posts Report

  • Sacha, in reply to Joe Wylie,

    The always excellent Avonside Blog has a brief and to-the-point post on the bigger picture:

    Briliant joining of dots between Occupy Wall Street and #eqnz.

    Is it harsh to say that our politicians are like their brethren elsewhere - more interested in representing narrow private interests than the country or city that are supposed to be their constituencies? Probably not. At the national level financial bail-outs, and general support to big business, has been associated with a history of a light touch on the controls of anything to do with organized money. In the absence of proper restraints organised money and it's businesses have been able to do almost as they wish without paying the price - the price is paid by the public.

    In the area of earthquake recovery, confidential arrangements with insurance companies, secrecy over the state of the land, failure to provide a suitable mechanism for dealing with disputes (land zoning, insurance assessments), and blind subservience to market forces when the playing field is not level, would suggest it is a continuing state of affairs.

    Local government deference to the requirements of developers and investors, a lack of openness with intentions and decision making, and overt attempts to prevent support and advocacy services being provided to those in dispute with insurers, suggest a similar distorted situation exists at the local level too.

    Ak • Since May 2008 • 19745 posts Report

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