Comment

Comment by Lindsay Newland Bowker on November 3, 2011 at 8:41am

That is true Ben..but a huge chunk of the 99%, the part of the 99% most hurt by the ruins we are all standing in, most vulnerable to falling further behind don't own lap tops and black berries..aren't on the internet and have no idea how to use it.  They can and do though gather at pot luck suppers in grange halls, church basements, odd fellows halls, and peoples dining rooms to talk about things that matter most in their communities.

Fro th ebeginning we muct include these folk in our "Occupy Cafe"  .  We need their voices, their experience to guide us and inform us.

We have a sort of working model here on my tiny island that is very rarsnferable at the neighborhood level that crosses all pary lines and economic boundaries..our monthly "Healthy Island Breakfast"  everyone working on community issues comes together to report and update..state their needs and concerns..build connections, build networks improve ongoing programs.

Comment by Ben Roberts on November 3, 2011 at 8:26am

If the conversation is about what matters to us, I think it is valuable regardless of who participates (e.g. trans-partisan or not).  I also think that moving too quickly into trying to "accomplish something" can be dangerous.  Building connections and "social fabric" need to come first IMHO.  

 

If we can link these kitchen table dialogues to our Cafe Calls and this site, we will be establishing something new and potentially very powerful.

Comment by Lindsay Newland Bowker on November 3, 2011 at 8:16am

 

@ Rob Wheeler--discussions beyond political
party.

Agree completely, Rob. The community dining
room discussions will accomplish nothing if the speaking and listening is
within the political party model..And right now that is heating up..Democrats
and greens are looking to Occupy to solidify and grow their control so there is
great resistance to the kind of discussion you are looking to..I am looking to,
Tom is calling us to. That we must have to take government back to serve the
99%

There actually already is a "We the People"
movement that does this.

 http://new.civiced.org/wtp-about-us/state-programs

 Its
main mission is to reactivate civic action and civic duty ...it teaches about
the constitution and the legislative process.it aims to return power to the
"99%" by teaching us to think of ourselves as the 99%...as the 100%.
They are well organized and well established with facilitators and conveners in
every state.

Out of these "we the people" groups people begin to
think and act as the 99% , the 100% building ongoing dialog and engagement in
addressing local issues and connecting with global and national issues

Comment by Rob Wheeler on November 2, 2011 at 8:59pm

Hi, glad to see this happening. Thanks Ron. I am personally interested however in respectful discussions across party lines; and not much interested in sitting down at the dining room table with the rest of those in my community without it.

In other words dialogue between left and right in this country is urgently needed and that is what I am interested in. It would be great if we could use Occupy Cafe as a tool and vehicle to help bring that about. I would suggest that on any number of topics we could organize and host a series of calls, linked with eforum discussions, that are specifically designed and devoted to exchange viewpoints and seek understanding and unity among those on the left and the right. Maybe we could find some conservative and liberal/progressive organizations that would co-sponsor this with us and invite their members to participate. If the discussions were truly respectful, incorporated effective listening facilitation, and sought to look for proposals and solutions that could bridge the divide, I think that a lot of people would probably be interested in them. I think that there are probably many on both sides that are tired of the animosity, negative comments in comments sections following articles, and the blaming and attacking of each other. I for one would much rather seek to understand and to seek creative solutions to overcome our common and shared problems. 

Does this fit with what the others of you are hoping to do? Thanks,

Rob Wheeler

40 years political, peace, and environmental organizer and activiist. A progressive who is willing to listen and discuss. 

Comment by Ron Czecholinski on November 2, 2011 at 10:11am

These are great questions for the table conversations being generated. I agree, Lindsay, it is grass roots action (being the change we seek) that is going to create the momentum.

It would be great if we could pull a core group together, target several communities, and develop a synchronized plan with targeted questions to kick this off.

Comment by Lindsay Newland Bowker on November 2, 2011 at 7:20am

The link to the TED conversation visiting what we can do as a massive show of support starting today from our own kitchen sin our own communities is

 

:http://www.ted.com/conversations/6764/do_you_think_this_year_s_99pe...

 

(Sorry, though I would be able to edit the post within 15 minutes but couldn't)

 

 

 

Comment by Lindsay Newland Bowker on November 2, 2011 at 7:15am

What we are right now the world will become..maybe that's the conversation we need to have at "Occupy Your Dining Room"..organizing massive campaigns on our own personal spening  and debt habits, ending our addiction to high tech gadgets, serving those in need in our own communities , alining our actions with our values starting with no more bottled water, all fair trade and organic, all local food, less spending on ourselves more donations to neighborhood food pantries, soup kitchens, local homeless shelters, take someone to chemotherapy or radiation, deliver meals on wheels to shut ins. 

We need to be the change we seek in a highly visible way.  We can organize that be that from our own dining rooms & kitchens and it will be felt by the 1% and by our elected officials.

We need to be the change we seek.  Starting now.

An excellent discussion at TED on this at the moment.

Comment by Michelle Holliday on November 1, 2011 at 11:27pm

I like where you're both going, Ron and David.  Need to sleep on it.  But I especially like the idea of dining room conversations supported by occasional neighborhood-wide World Cafe style gatherings. Very powerful concept. 

Comment by David Eggleton on November 1, 2011 at 11:15pm

In neighborhood, away from the financial district, public safety officials and reporters, one is into the constructive program of the movement, no?  There are so many more ways and opportunities to do beneficial and relieving (= productive) work that is of value to people, if not the big system.  If you're lucky enough to have a place in a neighborhood, occupy means send your roots and branches deeper and wider.

Planning for more gardens and farmer markets next year, and development of cooperative solutions to anticipated high heating energy costs (oil in the Northeast, if nowhere else) are just three types of projects that may serve people of all persuasions.

 

Comment by Ron Czecholinski on November 1, 2011 at 11:15pm

Hows the new tagline? Definitely, our homes and dining tables are the starting point. I can also imagine another level where larger World Cafe style gathering could be done neighborhood wide - then back to smaller groups around the dining table.

Like David mentions, there is much we could do from the neighborhood level beyond conversation - I can imagine rebuilding our entire system with economics and politics starting in the neighborhood (empowerment from the ground up vs top down / power over),

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• 3
• Next ›
• Page