Co-option

[m_x]

This is not a press committee statement, the invite to attend the meeting last night went out on the press email.

This message is not about "matt and friends", we tried formulating a description of what this movement is and how people can take part.

Perhaps if you could point to specific things you'd like to see changed this would be an easier conversation to have.

[marymcmahon@clear.net]

I prefer the syntax of the New York statement.
It embraces difference and feels more inclusive.
It's written in prose.
It acknowledges the the heart mind and soul of humanity.
It avoids absolutes and doesn't dictate.
It captures a spirit and your version states the facts.
I'm attracted and moved by the artistry, and I appreciate the talent it takes to write with such purity.

I can't believe you read the two statement without appreciating the difference.

Regarding the Mark & Friends, this is only meant to illustrate that if someone takes it upon themselves to define this movement which is premised on not being well defined for strategic reasons, you are speaking only for individuals who wrote it, ergo, your chapter of the Occupy Chicago Movement.

This is all a matter of delicacy.

re the meeting?? Sorry, I don't know what you are saying.

This is the place to have this discussion and I hope more people join in.

[seemoreglass09]

Mary, could you copy and paste the version you prefer into this forum and highlight the parts you are specifically talking about?

I have asked everyone on the 90+ email chain about this and about 10 other subjects to move their discussion into this forum to streamline matters.

[L'avant-garde]

I am in agreement with Mary. Our voice has been co-opted. This is a simple thing to call attention to, and our reasons against it equally simple. We are non-partisan. SEIU is using our voice to serve the false partisan dichotomy. Ergo, we want to formally adopt a proposal against this, and any future instances whereby some group presumes to speak for the 99% members of Occupy without any kind of process, any kind of conversation. That is a form of personal assault and violation, and the fundamental injustice Occupy is fighting, through occupying literally and metaphorically- the theft of the people's rights, abilities, and avenues to be heard (and therefore obeyed by those sworn to obey), whether through word or action. Distortion distortion, the fundamental method of state control.

[L'avant-garde]

Here is a OccChi version of OWS's, reposted. The thing I'd like to add is that we ought perhaps to make indirect mention of what constitutes co-option of our voice. Some lines I wrote in another version to that effect: "Those
seeking to compromise our autonomous non-partisanship by
appropriating our messages and our symbols do not represent Occupy Chicago.
To co-opt the voice of the 99% is a thing that cannot be allowed, and
which can only serve to alienate and divide."


Statement of Autonomy
11/10/11
Passed by the General Assembly at Occupy Chicago

Occupy Chicago is a people’s movement. It is party-less, leaderless, by the people and for the people. It is not a business, a political party, a union, an advertising campaign, or a brand. It is not for sale or distribution.

We welcome all, who, in good faith, petition for a redress of grievances through non-violent engagement. We provide a forum for the peaceful assembly of individuals to engage in participatory as opposed to partisan debate and democracy. We welcome dissent.

Any statement or declaration not released through the General Assembly and made public online at www.occupychi.org should be considered independent of Occupy Chicago.

We wish to clarify that Occupy Chicago is not and never has been affiliated with any established political party, candidate or organization. Our only affiliation is with the people.

The people who are working together to create this movement are its sole and mutual caretakers. If you have chosen to devote resources to building this movement, especially your time and labor, then it is yours.

Any organization is welcome to support us with the knowledge that doing so will mean questioning your own institutional frameworks of work and hierarchy and integrating our principles into your modes of action.

SPEAK WITH US, NOT FOR US.

Occupy Chicago values collective resources, dignity, integrity and autonomy above money. We have not made endorsements. All donations are accepted anonymously and are transparently allocated via consensus by the General Assembly or the Operational Spokes Council.

We acknowledge the existence of professional activists who work to make our world a better place. If you are representing, or being compensated by an independent source while participating in our process, please disclose your affiliation at the outset. Those seeking to capitalize on this movement or undermine it by appropriating its message or symbols are not a part of Occupy Chicago.

We stand in solidarity. We are Occupy Chicago.

[m_x]

Mary I'm sorry but I don't quite understand why you think our statement is so much more personal than the OWS version. We used theirs as a template but sought to make it even clearer.

Also I appreciate poetry but we need to be clear more than we need to be poetic IMO.

As of now this is how the edit reads:


"
Occupy Chicago is a nonviolent nonpartisan people’s movement. We welcome all, who, in good faith, act to reclaim our economy and democracy from corruption and corporate influence in government. We provide a forum for peaceful assembly of individuals to engage in participatory democracy and non-partisan debate that welcomes dissent.

Occupy Chicago does not endorse and never has endorsed the two dominant parties, Democrat and Republican, that are currently carrying out the agenda of the 1%. Our only affiliation is with those who want to end the entanglement of big business and government. The people who are working together to create this movement are its sole and mutual caretakers. If you have chosen to devote resources to building this movement, especially your time and labor, then it is yours.

While we acknowledge that many people and organizations have historically attempted to fight for freedom and justice through participation in the two political parties, the aim of Occupy Chicago is to stake out a more powerful and politically independent path that can win the real change we need, instead of accepting hollow solutions offered to placate us. We invite people and organizations to work with us to realize this goal. Organizations who choose not to follow this politically independent path are none the less encouraged to work with us where we can find common ground.

We call upon our allies to speak with us, not for us. We value the contributions of all participants in our movement including professional activists who work to make our world a better place. However, if you are representing or being compensated by an independent source while participating in our process, please disclose your affiliation. Those seeking to compromise this movement's political independence by appropriating its message or symbols do not represent Occupy Chicago.


Any statement or declaration not released through the General Assembly and made public online at http://www.occupychi.org should be considered independent of Occupy Chicago.


We are an independent movement of the 99%. Join us in fighting for a better future."

[L'avant-garde]

I personally get the sense that we aren't sufficiently addressing the wrong-doing. We don't need to point fingers, we don't need to name names, but we should at least draw attention to the issue of co-opting the movement's voice, the only legitimate expression of which is the GA.

And I think Mary's problem was that the OWS version is more inclusive, and sounds less like the product of a committee. It emphasizes the room for other views and participation more than ours.

[L'avant-garde]

But, that's it for me. I prefer to the version I posted, with a mention of co-opting and the crime of stealing the people's voice. I have to head out now to make the GA. Good luck!

[pHinkasaurus]

all the email discussions are being redirected to this forum post, so there are no more possible exclusionary elements.

please keep this discussion on topic. suggest edits by recopying the section (if not the whole thing) you are editing and including it in your post.
thanks!

i am for keeping the phrasing "democrats and republicans" since it does call out those two parties specifically.

[Mark]

I like the initial language of the first paragraph about partylessness and leaderlessness, not being a business, advertising campaign, a brand or for sale.