Oct. 15th. St. Patrick's Island
DO NOT MERGE
I know this is an extension of the Occupy Wall Street thread, but it is important and local enough to warrant it's own.
I know there are many in this community that think it ridiculous to protest in this city for this cause. I was one of those.
I think the biggest problem I had was, 'what is this cause exactly?'
And I can't answer that for you.
But we do know there are problems.
Let me relate mine. Which actually have a lot to do with why I stayed with this community.
I signed up here in the spring of 04, to join the run. I got referred by a few (legendary
) members.
The fun ended that summer, but I got sucked in by the off topic forum. There were a lot of smart and opinionated people here. More than most forums. Heck, more than most political forums. Credit to Bingo and all the mods, even today you can't go on NationalPost.com or whatever and get talk like that.
Because of the wars the US had waged, I got caught immediately. I was pro Afghan war, but anti Iraq war, a position that sometimes became hard to clarify. The reason? Afghan was UN agreed and NATO led, facts were obvious. I had actually (elsewhere) begun talking about Afghanistan when they blew up the Buddist statues and took away the TV's. Iraq, on the other hand, was justified by a president. And on means we now know to be false.
For those of that weren't here for it, I argued vehemently against the proof of WMD's. I got slammed by several senior posters. And I wasn't just throwing conspiracies (though I may have indulged when things got ugly) but I argued facts. I was eventually vindicated (on that and other topics).
So many asked me, especially if I find so much wrong with the system, and the values, of the nation below us, why do I care? And I will tell you the same answer I told those posters back in 2004.
Because 'as the US goes, so goes Canada,'.
Their problem is our problem. And now you see why I have changed my mind on this protest.
No, our government isn't as controlled by lobbies. No, our banks aren't as susceptible to tampering and greed. And no, I don't think our culture is, (from the mom buying liquid marshmallow, to the superstar who was famous for being born into a rich family) as corrupt as there's.
There are many differences. But they are our biggest trade partner. They affect our culture more than anyone. What happens there, will happen here. And so, their problems, are our problems.
And while we have fared well in the economic downturn, we know things aren't fair here. The gap between the rich and the poor widens here too. There are corporations here that need to be taken to task for employee abuse, pollution, etc. Politicians get more under the table than they ever did. I grew up in the Mulroney years, and he was investigated by the RCMP. And he countered sued and won! Since then, Chretien and Harper have been accused of worse. The evil of the lobby exists here, and the unfair pull of the corporation exists here. Things are better here, but they are far from rosy.
And so I ask all of you to join me on Oct. 15th at St. Patrick's Island to exercise democracy and dissent. It may seem like it's not our problem, but let's not get to the point of America (Greece/Italy/Iceland) to find out. Let's be responsible.
Thank you,
D
For those that want to bring groups, please PM me for more personal info.
Below are links, but as with Calgary it looks shabby. The main page was apparently attacked and blocked (yeah, I don't know if I believe it either) If you don't get replies, please contact me. Let's break Calgary's reputation!
http://occupycalgary.ca/