OWS And The Myth Of Fence Sitters (It's Time To Not Be Nice)
By Mickey Z.
23 September, 2013
World News Trust
Photo credit: Mickey Z.
In the classic 1989 film, Roadhouse, thespian Patrick Swayze inhabited the role of James Dalton, head bouncer at a seedy establishment called the Double Deuce Club. Dalton was armed with a PhD in philosophy from New York University and his three rules of bouncing:
1. Never underestimate your opponent.
2. Take it outside.
3. Be nice until it's time to not be nice.
Note to those striving for enduring social change: It's time to not be nice.
Define “Respectful”
I was reminded -- yet again -- of the infamous Dalton Rules when I was recently censored from a popular Occupy Wall Street Facebook page.
Yes, you read that correctly.
You see, I had been an admin on this page for quite some time -- given the mandate of posting my own articles, photos, and events -- and I was appreciative of the opportunity to reach such a large, diverse audience.
All was going well until I posted an article of mine called What If the Emperor Had No Soldiers? (Re-think: “Support the Troops”). The next thing I know, the post is deleted and I'm removed as admin -- without even the courtesy of a message explaining why. I inquired, of course, and was told I had made a “classic mistake” by not being “respectful” of soldiers.
Epic fun being lectured about respect after being censored without notification.
Here’s what I learned: If you volunteer to be paid to help the U.S. wage illegal and immoral wars, you're deserving of respectful treatment. If you're a proven comrade who's been on the ground since Day 8 of OWS? Not so much.
Heaven forbid we turn off those fence sitters who would surely join OWS tomorrow if only we weren't so damn disrespectful of the Empire's mercenaries.
Earth to OWS (and all activists): De-occupy the fantasy of appeasing fence sitters and focus more energy being worried about the impending economic, social, and environmental collapse.
Mythical Fence-Sitters
Don't alienate the poor misunderstood cops. Don't judge those misguided souls who voted for Obama. Don't condemn capitalism, some folks are attached to it. Don't be disrespectful to soldiers -- they just didn't know better. The excuses, the counterproductive rationales never end.
Wake-Up Call: Fence sitting is a myth. There is no neutral. Complacent = complicit.
Any “fence sitter” who claims activists are “too radical” is just looking for excuses to stay uninvolved. Why cater your message to them when they demonstrate time and time again that they won’t join any movement in any meaningful way any time soon? Sure, you might be able to eventually/maybe/perhaps convince a few of these souls but how much time do you think we (the eco-system, all life on earth) have?
I’ve even heard some animal rights comrades express fear that the word “vegan” can provoke a negative reaction. Let me make sure I understand: The global animal by-products industry murders 53 billion land animals per year, consumes and destroys one-third of the planet's landbase, and is the No. 1 source of human-created greenhouse gases but it's the word “vegan” that makes folks squirm?
Suggestion #1: Stop being so “respectful” in the face of ecocide.
Suggestion #2: Instead of wasting even one millisecond wondering what might inspire and motivate these fictional fence sitters, follow your heart. I don't mean offending just for the sake of it. I'm talking about integrity, e.g. having a mission and not compromising on it.
Suggestion #3: Stop being so goddamned nice.
“It's time to not be nice”
Being nice has given us a nation that pats itself on the back for its freedom and democracy while relegating most of its citizenry to a life of debt, a life without sufficient health insurance, a life of wiretapping and color-coded terror warnings, a life of undrinkable water, polluted air, and inedible food (sic), etc.
Being nice means the United States constitutes less than 5 percent of the world’s human population but consumes roughly 35 percent of the planet's “resources” and is home to 25 percent of the world’s prison population.
Being nice means U.S .women are paid 77 cents for every dollar a man makes.
Being nice got us believing that coal is clean, nukes are green, and we must vote Democrat ‘cause the Republicans are mean. Yeah, being nice resulted in the Legend of Barack Obama™ -- the most remarkable example of programming and conditioning since the yellow ribbon sticker.
Being nice has us more fearful of offending mythical fence sitters than of 80 percent of the forests and 90 percent of the large fish in the ocean being gone or 150-200 animal and plant species going extinct each day.
Being nice mean 54 percent of our tax dollars goes to fund the U.S. Department of Defense (sic) -- the most violent institution on the planet -- but we're being told to remain “respectful” to those who willingly play a role.
Fuck that.
As MLK once reminded us: “When you're right, you can never be too radical.”
#shifthappens
Mickey Z. is the author of 11 books, most recently the novel Darker Shade of Green. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, he can be found on an obscure website called Facebook. Anyone wishing to support his activist efforts can do so by making a donation here.
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