Thursday, December 1, 2011

5 lessons learned -- maybe -- by the Occupiers

Walt didn't have much to say about the OWS gangs which infested parks and similar spaces in many cities of North America and elsewhere. Really, for those of us who remember the hippy-dippy 60s, Haight-Asbury and all that, there wasn't much to say. Been there. Done that. Got the herpes.

Some commentators, however, have waxed thoughtful, among them Eric Duhaime of QMI. In "Life lessons learned by Occupiers", he points out that, if they were paying attention, the LIANE (Loonies Indignant About Nearly Everything) could have learned Five Stone Truths that the rest of us already know.

- The first lesson came out of an incident that occurred at the beginning of the occupancy of Victoria Square in downtown Montreal. Late one night, a protester came back to his tent to discover that two homeless drunks had taken possession of it. When he gently invited them to leave, he got hit in the face. That’s when he understood the idea of private property. Lesson No. 1: Down with public property.

- During the protest, organizers of Occupy Montréal collected donations from the public, and kept $10,000 in a tent. One morning, the money had disappeared. Those who were rebelling against great financial thieves learned there was at least one thief among them. They ran to the closest bank to open an account. Lesson No. 2: Banks fulfill an essential function.

- Almost two weeks ago, mass fights erupted in the camp, with some even receiving death threats. Those in charge of the camp had to ask the police to chase the most violent away. Lesson No. 3: Law and order help when you’re being pushed around by criminals.

- As meal times came and went, organizers realized that some who came to eat at the “people’s kitchen” were not protesters but freeloaders, so they refused to feed those who did not give them a hand. Lesson No. 4: You need to work before you eat.

- When the temperature at night dropped below the freezing point, the elite of the camp left the plebs alone and went to sleep in their warm and comfy homes. Lesson No. 5: The leaders of the left — from the former USSR to the Occupy NoMatterWhere — never practise what they preach
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