I really can't observe the "occupy El Paso" group from where I'm currently living, but I can get a pretty good feel for it from the El Paso Times. If I was in El Paso, you can bet I'd be there every day to report from the front lines! Just kidding - I'd ignore them and get my info from the El Paso Times just like I'm doing now.
Read today's report on the camp out for potheads HERE and HERE. The video is a nice tough - and we'll get to that.
I've got some observations.
1. Idiots will saying anything to a reporter. Evidence is provided in the following quote from one ofthe articles:
""There are a lot of good vibes and everyone is starting to get to know each other," Mazuca said. "That's what we are trying to show, that regardless of the economic situation we can all come together. There shouldn't be a division and there is no reason the homeless should be homeless.""
What a country we live in! People are so rich they can take 24 days off to go live like a homeless person for FUN and then lament the fact that people are homeless! I hope this guy lets a real homeless person stay in his bed while he's out playing homeless.
2. Another interesting quote:
""We are just out here showing we care. We can't just stand by and let things get worse," Gillespie said."
You "can't just stand by and let things get worse," you say? I think the occupation of the park is literally defined as "standing by." You're not doing anything other than standing around, standing by.
3. The quote above is from a guy named Matthew Gillespe whose bio reads from that article:
"Gillespie, 29, is an accounting student at El Paso Community College and the manager of the Golden Goose Tattoo shop. He plans on being at the plaza when he is not at school or at work. "I'm lucky enough to have a job," he said."
He's right - jobs are about luck and luck only. Forget all those other BS factors like ability, education and hard work - jobs are about being lucky. This Gillespie guy won the job lottery! Went down to the 7-11 bought a job lottery ticket and they read the number on his ticket on Saturday night and he became a manager of a Tattoo shop.
Gillespie seems a little bit too entrepreneurial for this whole occupy movement. He's currently working in an industry that charges a nearly 5,000 percent markup on its product/service and he's pursuing a degree in accounting so that he can work for some capitalist counting up all the dough they make. Can't anyone tell Gillespie that he's not "walking the walk?"
4. Speaking of Community College - didn't know they have a "pre-med" program...
"EPCC pre-med student Kayla Perrotto, 23, set up a tent Monday evening to be one of the occupiers of a block-sized park that is normally vacant after sunset."
Seriously? I'm sure Daniel Borunda (the reporter who has to put up with these people) did everything he could not to laugh hysterically at Kayla Perrotto who has managed to shove all two years of her community college pre-med course work into five - if you assume she graduated from high school at 18 like the rest of us.
A little word to the wise on people who claim to be "pre-med" or "pre-law." You can be either of those your freshman year given the fact that before you get a law degree or an MD, you're going to have to take the basic course like English, math and science. "Pre" means before, so whatever you're doing before law school is "pre-law."
Of course, I could be off my rocker here and EPCC is ripping off kids (or adults like Ms. Perrotto who have been out of high school long enough to have a BS/BA already) telling them they have a "pre-med" associates degree to offer. God love'em if they do! That's hilarious. There's nothing like a couple years of comedy college and unhealthy fixation with Grey's Anatomy to prepare one for the life of a full-fledged med student.
These "occupiers" are full of shit, but at least they make me laugh.
5. Perrotto wasn't done saying brilliant things:
""It's people who recognize something's wrong with our government and the way it's working and want to do something about it," she said."
And what does Ms. Perrotto plan on doing about it? She's going to sit in a pigeon shit infested park for 24 days. That'll show them!
6. Some of the people are very dedicated to the movement... or they just need a place to crash and score free drugs, booze and food.
"This is Valerie Kerr's first protest, she said. Originally she was just looking for a place to stay the night, but due to her current situation, this may be the perfect cause.
"I've been staying at the homeless shelter, but I've been looking for a job or a way to get into school," Kerr said. "This has been heaven sent.""
So Valerie was just wandering around downtown with no place to stay and out of nowhere a bunch privileged white kids set up camp in the middle of a park - YEAH FOR VALERIE! You can tell she's really dedicated to this movement. She's not just some freeloader looking for a handout!
And do you know what was "heaven sent" in Ms. Kerr's mind? Not the job or schooling she's looking for, but the pothead camp out in the middle of downtown. She has her priorities right in line with the "occupiers."
7. Most of these people are white. In a city where 80 percent of the population is brown, you shouldn't but one or two white people at this thing. Too bad it's mostly white rich kids with nothing better to do but piss away all the advantages given to them by their hard working parents. I'm assuming since it's mostly white people, it's a racist movement just like the Tea Party.
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More later - this is getting to be a very funny topic.
So I have a fun new hobby. I printed up directions on how to get to San Jacinto Plaza with a note that there will be free food and camping available. I'm handing them out to the panhandlers on my side of town. And I've got some scarey ones!
Posted by: dot | October 18, 2011 at 08:10 PM
Brilliant! Maybe your idea will spread to other cities!
Posted by: too funny | October 19, 2011 at 08:28 AM
Folks you are showing your ignorance here. This statement from a Fund manager says it all:
He added that he was disappointed that members of Congress from New York, especially Senator Charles E. Schumer and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, had not come out swinging for an industry that donates heavily to their campaigns. “They need to understand who their constituency is,” he said.
Posted by: Texaswoman | October 19, 2011 at 09:38 AM
Most surveys say the public supports the protestors, in NYC 67percent of the city does.
It might seem as standing around but its really open Solidarity without status eg many of the social trench groups with leaders and boards may support the protestors eg ACLU and TCRP, MABA etc type .orgs really any underdog type org.
Also while they are in the Park, the streets are just a step away eg protests which have moved to streets often results in change is what History shows.
Posted by: Carl Starr | October 19, 2011 at 10:15 AM
New York also voted almost 80+% Democrat in 2008. I don't think support will stay high, small businesses in the area are reporting significant losses due to the disruption. Most of the buildings in the area of Zucotti Park are young middle class residential with children who's lives are being disrupted.
The group has become more radical as they've gained support from the media, celebrities and some legislators - there is a tremendous amount of open anti-Semitic rhetoric, calls for violence and so forth. That just doesn't play to the American public over the long haul.
Posted by: dot | October 20, 2011 at 09:28 AM
"They're pretty much keeping the poor poorer," she said. "It's a little morbid, but I sometimes feel like they are trying to kill the population off and only keep those who were born into wealth and education around." yeah you got Valerie Kerr all figured out there buddy
Posted by: Itisi thefreeloader | December 07, 2011 at 02:13 AM