From Freedom to Fascism: Part One; Occupy Wall Street

We oppose corporate bailouts, yet we stand in solidarity with those who created them.



We oppose the 1% of the worlds wealthiest, yet we stand in solidarity with them.







We have no political affiliation as long as you don't count Obama, Democrats or Socialists.













We have no religious affiliation as we are largely atheist unless it helps our cause.





We oppose greed, yet we welcome free handouts.









We can not find work but we found an occupation.







We don't need employment we need apathy.



We stand for the middle class, when we are not exploiting them.









We declare that we have constitutional rights even though we reserve the right to exploit and defy them.



We oppose police brutality, yet we provoke it.





We claim that we are deserving of freedom all while desecrating the flag and what it stands for.









We are anti-war…





…and pro violence!









We are the 99%

Posting on ATS is solving this problem, one perfectly manicured apathetic remark at a time.

I don't agree with every point, but definitely the majority of them.

I think the degree of connection with institutional socialism that we're seeing with Occupy, is also deeply disturbing. We're in serious trouble if we can't express dissent about the condition of society, without the process of said dissent, being hijacked by a group of people who we don't necessarily agree with at all.

Useful idiots come in many flavors.
The Occupiers are just this season's most popular.

This coming from a guy who started a thread called Fox news is great! I guess it's no surprise that you mirror all their talking points then. Who needs to think for themselves when they can let the TV do it? One thing I can never get you parrots to answer: What are they doing with all this money they supposedly get? Buying more garbage can shields to stop the tear gas grenades?

reply to post by thehoneycomb


Ummmmmm.......you do realize what fascism is.......right? Judging from your entertaining little slideshow, I honestly don't think you do. People standing up for what they believe in, regardless of whether they are right or wrong, is the opposite of fascism. Fascism is when the government is controlled by corporations. Some people also refer to it as Inverted Totalitarianism. Think Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, not Joe Average on the corner with a bullhorn. The last thing we need on this site is another person who judges an entire group based on the actions of a few people. Bravo, sir.

Originally posted by pierregustavetoutant
Useful idiots come in many flavors.
The Occupiers are just this season's most popular.

This very eloquently sums it up, unfortunately. If there is one thing that Socialism as a movement can be quintessentially described as, it is a coalition of useful idiots.

reply to post by Sachyriel

Dear Sachyriel,

I can't say that I'm surprised to see you here. I try to look at a lot of threads but I'm not passionate about OWS one way or the other.

This is the point I was making in the thread about the Russian protest technique (That's a shameless plug, go to firehose and look it up, I think it's pretty good.)

You can see those images, and so can the American people. You have to know that they are cementing a certain per centage of the population into anti-OWS beliefs. Oh, your friends can say that the works of the few don't represent the many, but image after image, day after day, the world is shown OWS protesters doing offensive things.

Your friends can say "Because we have noble goals, we can do what we want." But the public isn't buying it. At some point OWS has to ask "Are we doing this to win support and converts, or are we doing it to shut down the nation?" As OWS becomes more violent and offensive, the country will become less tolerant. If OWS wants civil war, then OK, keep going.

I don't want it, and I hope you and the rest of ATS doesn't either.

With respect,
Charles1952

This threads a joke right?

I mean, I personally don't like Micheal Moore along with 99% of the USA. As soon as I saw that, I just couldn't take you seriously.

And I don't get what your pictures had to do with Fascism at all. In Fascist states you can't really protest at all...

reply to post by mnmcandiez



Nope, I don't think it was meant as a joke. You're the second poster who has objected to the word "Fascism." Whether the thread starter chose the wrong word in his headline doesn't seem to be the real issue.

What is OWS seen as doing?

What do they want to be seen as?

Are they a threat to the country?

Ask the questions that the average American is asking about OWS. Right now, I don't think it's looking good in the average person's eyes. Even last fall, before Oakland and the flag burning, over 1/3 of Americans saw OWS as a public nuisance. Not that they didn't support OWS, but that they are a nuisance. How much support is OWS willing to throw away?

You don't need many supporters for guerilla warfare. Is that the way OWS wants to go?

reply to post by charles1952


No one is ready for battle, but no battleplan survives contact with the enemy. If the enemy is expecting a battleplan, we have none. Let them expect nothing, be surprised as much as we are when it works to our advantage.

The Jesus one kinda made me smile, because he was of middle eastern decent if we follow the bible.

Anywho, I don't like Occupy its this months idiots I suppose but thats not fair. This people are mad, and they should be. However there all mad at different things, or being told what to be mad at. Like I said early, occupy is a clusternugget(Tm).

EDIT: Oh wait, as for being a fascist or socialist movement, yes the socialist movement has dug its claws deep into the 99% as it being received as a socialist revolution? No that won't happen. Oh and you should look up the word fascism, I don't think that word means what you think it means. Just saying.

reply to post by charles1952


This thread is just propaganda. If you take a small bunch of photos from any LARGE SCALE protest there are ALWAYS going to be crazies in the bunch. Or just flat out things you disagree with....

It's ridiculous to make a judgement off select photos. I don't even have anything to do with the OWS. But, at least they are actually protesting rather than being keyboard warriors.

And if you use the word Fascism incorrectly it puts the whole content of the thread at question. SO, yes, it is important. There's nothing more ridiculous than people trying to talk politics when they don't even know the political meaning behind a word their using.

reply to post by mnmcandiez

Dear mnmcandiez,

I'm not sure that I disagree with you.

But the point, for me at least, isn't that those photos accurately identify every member of OWS. They do paint a picture of OWS that is very distasteful. The image created is probably not the one OWS wants to portray. To put it brutally, OWS is screwing up here. Does OWS want to be accepted or hated?

I don't think it's fair to judge a book by its cover, or a thread from its headline. If the word "fascism" wasn't used you'd still have the images. Deal with the substance of the thread, not its icing. What would happen if he started a brand new thread with the pictures but not using "fascism?" What would be your response then?

With respect,
Charles1952

reply to post by charles1952


He missed a few pictures.....

I will add to this thread. Sarcasm added also.

Because its not about Socialism........



Or Communism......



Or Anarchy..........





Or backing.........




Or symbolism.










Its about Participation.....

reply to post by charles1952


And I could paint a unlikeable, horrible, depiction of any MOVEMENT. Or of any protest, person, meeting, rally party etc. It really isn't that hard to do, actually it is VERY easy..

But I went to film school and currently majoring in advertising design soooooooo that probably has something to do with it

People seem not to realize how fake everything is until they are behind the camera themselves.

And my response would be exactly the same...

reply to post by mnmcandiez

Dear mnmcandiez,

As hard as it is to believe, I'm not arguing with you. We just seem to be on different paths.

Consider OWS as a product that has to be sold. Your competition has launched lying, disgusting ad campaigns. You don't want to throw out the product, so I assume you either redesign the product or launch counter ads. You would know better than I would, because you're in advertising.

So what can OWS do? It can jump up and down and say "Our competitors are lying about us," but I don't think that will be too succesful. I'm just asking OWS to recognize that there is a perception problem.

What has to happen? I don't know, how about have half of a camp work at a soup kitchen while the rest are protesting? How about a flag raising ceremony? Again, I don't know, you're the advertising pro.

If I'm bugging you, I'm sorry. Feel free to ignore me, no hard feelings.

With respect,
Charles1952

reply to post by sonnny1

I love the participation trophy cartoon.
I got a few of those in grammar school. I was like "Thanks for the loser award. I'd prefer nothing, thanks."
Then there was a the "exhibition" ribbon in swimming for freestyle. I sucked at freestyle. I swam the exhibition event for it because I wasn't good enough for the competitive heats. They gave me a ribbon. What was that? The Special Olympics? I threw those away immediately. Still have my blue ribbons and trophies for breast stroke and backstroke. Getting awards for losing can never produce anything good in society. Winners should be celebrated. Losers should try harder to excel or find another avenue for success.
Sorry folks, people are not nor will they ever be equal. Trying to enforce fantasies will only make a society crumble.

reply to post by mnmcandiez

This thread is just propaganda.

Correct.

Every picture is propaganda.
I am simply documenting it and putting it into context.

reply to post by xXxinfidelxXx

Ummmmmm.......you do realize what fascism is.......right? Judging from your entertaining little slideshow, I honestly don't think you do.

You'll have to wait for "From Freedom to Fascism" Part Two.