by Sean Orr | Almost two weeks in, The Sun finally mentions Occupy Wall Street, albeit likely motivated by the fear of it spreading to Vancouver (at the Art Gallery, October 15th). I’ll be there handing out falafel and throwing bunny rabbits at anyone wearing an expensive looking suit. And yes, that includes the tie-wearing Sean Sullivan.
Bore from the Floor: throne speech sets Family Day for 2013, promises education changes. Or, a how-to guide on repairing the image of your party by shifting towards family-first, post-neoconservative populism. Single people all over the Province will become enraged.
A blog made up of former NPA operatives that takes pot-shots at Gregor Robertson dredges up a blog by a pre-Vision operative who took pot shots at Sam Sullivan: Mayor Robertson’s spinmeister has lots of opinions. Because you’d rather have a completely impersonal robot void of all opinions as your media spokesperson? Oh never mind, I just realized to whom I was directing that question.
Anti-casino advocate eyes Vancouver city council seat. “The political mudslinging is not doing anybody any good. It’s great theatre, it draws a lot of eyeballs, but it doesn’t get problems solved”. Oh, you’re no fun anymore.
Gabby Kalaw: Parks and recreation are the foundation of Vancouver life. I know! I watch it all the time, too!
‘Unprecedented’ ozone hole opens over Canadian Arctic. Coincidentally, it’s the same size as the space between Harpers ear’s. “The discovery comes as the Canadian government is moving to cut its ozone monitoring network”. Isn’t it ironic that a Canadian also sang a song with the lyrics “isn’t it ironic”?
CBA raises serious concerns with omnibus criminal bill. You know there’s a problem when lawyers are essentially saying “we want less money”.
A pang of Western alienation: BC NDP leadership wannabes stand little chance. I can’t tell if The Province wants them to win or just wants Quebec to lose.
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I think what we need is more people in suits protesting. More people that cannot be immediately dismissed as the ‘rabble’, ‘anarchists’, ‘dirty hippies’. Because media wants soundbites and photosnaps. Much better to have a story about “WHY THE FUCK WERE THE RIOT POLICE BEATING DOWN THIS NORMAL LOOKING GENTLEMAN?!” than say , “Police, Saving You From the CRAZY EXTREME FRINGE”.
IMHO.
Is anybody surprised that the Occupy Wall Street protests are coming to Vancouver?
Does anybody think that there are any corporate entities in Vancouver that have any actual influence over the world economy?
What’s the point in protesting lame-ass small companies that can barely survive in Vancouver.
Oh yeah…there isn’t a point.
Right, no, of course. That’s the joke. If you see, my comment about “throwing bunny rabbits (obviously facetious) at business people” was a tie in to Sean Sullivan’s piece about the Dick Cheney protesters, where he says, albeit from the almost complete opposite perspective that you have offered, “Maybe I shouldn’t have worn a tie”. I’m making fun of the whole media spectacle. And yet I realize that although I want to put my whole heart behind Occupy Vancouver, I can’t help but thinking it’s pretty silly and at worst band-wagon jumping. That’s why I think we should be as wacky and disruptive as we can (peacefully, duh).
I share your skepticism, yet I understand the frustration and aimlessness of the very loose group of protesters. And despite the massive generalities in the message, I think it’s a reflection of the externalizing forces of the economy- it’s purposeful obfuscation and unique language serving as an ultimately isolating mechanism. It’s the same frustration we see in the fringe right wing. Spurred by financial insecurity they instead reject government and retreat into a feedback loop of paranoia and xenophobia. I mean, who really cares if they keep calling themselves the 99% when they are most likely middle-class, petit-bourgeoise?
Therefore, leading me to your point about the localization of this protest, anywhere that the social safety net has been decimated in favour of some vague promise of stimulating the economy- people will be justified in their sometimes un-eloquent disapproval. Anywhere the environment is externalized to promote economic activity; anywhere union contracts have been torn up; anywhere the interests of the common good are trumped by profit; anywhere there is media monopoly; anywhere that promotes itself as a flashy world-class city that idolizes developers while morally dismissing poverty as a symptom of personal choice; anywhere tuition fees are out of reach, anywhere the cost of living is sky-high… the people have the right, nay responsibility, to exercise their democratic right. Breaking windows? Not so much. But it’s still a manifestation of boredom, alienation, class, marginalization, and selfishness hinged upon decades of being told that they are all individuals that can make a difference when it’s pretty clear they can’t. Hockey riot included.
But it’s still a manifestation of boredom, alienation, class, marginalization, and selfishness hinged upon decades of being told that they are all individuals that can make a difference when it’s pretty clear they can’t.
Wrong.
9% Unemployment + tight lending standards…when people can’t buy the shit they don’t need, they get bored and frustrated…you give the ‘people’ too much credit my man
I’m not sure I understand. I agree with you, I said it’s pretty clear they CANT make a difference.
My God, Sean – as much as I am a fan of T&2S, I think this comment thread in particular illustrates the value and potential for longer think-pieces from you, in whatever capacity or arena. Your wit, snark and poignant zingers are great in this realm, but there’s so much more intelligence, dimension and complexities, ethical, moral and political, to your perspective that too few of us are privy to. I shake my head at the (easy) dismissal of you as DTES ultra-left cynical hipster, when you have so many contrary opinions that defy the label (Guess who doesn’t think gentrification’s such a bad thing?) Ferchristssakes m’boy, find an outlet or make your own – a constant, evolving Sean Orr Manifesto would add some much needed colour between the local right and left.
Aight – you can pull your pants back up now. ; )
Wow thanks. I don’t know if I have the self-discipline or the resources to really pull that off. I like to think of everything I’ve written, including band lyrics, and hell even my tweets; as “a constant, evolving Sean Orr Manifesto”. Since I am already in the passive position of commenting on what other people have written my goal is not to offer some grand narrative of my own, but to show that the dominant one is flawed. Besides, I’d rather take a less didactic approach and engage when the reader is ready to. I do feel however, that this happens less and less on Scout, compared for example to my days on Beyond Robson, although often those decayed into a troll feeding frenzy. I guess the point is that I am cynical. Extremely so. And I struggle with it. I used to be so active in my opinions, now I hide behind them. I want people to see that. I want people to see that living in this city can be a bitter experience, and I’ll wear my contradictions proudly.
But enough about me…