Over the past few weeks I’ve been observing the Occupy Ottawa movement closely. Since right before the eviction until now, I’ve attended general assemblies and talked with occupiers about what they’re doing.
Let me just start off by saying I sympathize with the movement’s initial cause. It takes a great deal of courage and determination to stick it to the man the way they did from the start.
Lack of organization and the fragmented goals found at the campsite were minor issues.
However, looking at Occupy now, the steamroller energy that was present at the start appears to have vanished into thin air.
The protesters appear lost and the people are now refusing to waste any more publicity — be it good or bad — on them.
Occupy Ottawa has become a child with its candy taken away by its parents: the media.
Shortly after they were kicked out of their campsite, it seemed as if the movement was dead.
After the extensive coverage on the eviction, publishing the costs of police intervention and revitalizing Confederation Park, the media went on to find new play pals.
The simple truth here is that Occupy needs media coverage in order to remain effective.
So what does Occupy Ottawa do? Occupy Ottawa: The Sequel! Occupy Christmas is the name of this brand new brain fart.
The initiative is to convince the masses to cut back on holiday spending, in order to stop beefing up large companies’ revenues.
With this initiative, Occupy has shot itself in the foot. Being from a distant, foggy country, I’ve seen how much Canadians care about their holidays. A good meal, presents, Black Friday stampedes — a holiday is a proper excuse to spend and Canadians love it.
“Hit them where it hurts!” This is the bad-assed slogan Occupy Christmas employs. But who are you hurting, Occupy? It seems as if you are trying to turn Christmas into a season of regret and self-consciousness. The last time I checked, the spirit of Christmas was all about solidarity and giving, two points held in high regard by all of the Occupy movement.
Unfortunately, in order to give, some bucks need to be spent.
I realize that Christmas is also a season of thinking about those who are less fortunate, but how is having dry crackers as a Christmas dinner going to solve this?
We rely on companies. Hell, I can hardly count how many occupiers I’ve come across, walking around with cups of Starbucks coffee. “Would you like a layer of hypocrisy on that coffee, sir?”
Not supporting any large companies there, geniuses?
And once again, despite this trash talk — I am sorry — I still do support the initial causes of the Occupy movement. Social and economic inequality is sickening and has been going on for too long.
A world where the rich grow richer and the poor grow poorer is also plain debauchery. I just do not see how Occupy Christmas is a piece that adds to solving the puzzle.
So here’s my message to the movement:
Dear Occupy,
Fight the ones that count. Fight the banks. Fight the politicians. Fight the overindulging, excessively rich. Sure, fight large companies, but leave Christmas alone. It’s the one season where we get to enjoy the less drastic and less serious things in life.
It’s the season we spend with our loved ones. It’s the season where we give.
In the end, here’s an idea for all you occupiers out there: Want to really Occupy Christmas? Invite a homeless person out for a great dinner. Make food or money donations to those in need. That would be some justified and effective spending that never has to be cut back.
Not just for Christmas, but every single day of the year.
