So it seems the current fad is to "occupy" something. Yes it's a fad though some aspects may trend and thats when it can be potentially dangerous. The best definition of occupation = the principal business of one's life which would mostly involve constructive works. Unfortunately the pre-occupation of the occupy fad is "the act or process of taking possession of a place or area" or seizure.
Acts of civil disobedience have been long understood to be a method of making a point. It is also usually far down the list of things to do to first make your point. In the past however the risk of doing so was well understood, be civil disobedient for the sake of a point be prepared to pay for the indiscretion.
Unfortunately the crowds occupying various places most notably Wall Street seem ignorant of this fact. The entitlement mentality has seeped so deep that when arrested for violating public safety, they see it as persecution. Protesters have long obeyed rules about how far from a place one may assemble to avoid interfering with free and unobstructed passage of the public. When they choose to violate these laws such as blocking an entrance they are summarily arrested and are usually proud of this in some fanatical way seems to them a badge of distinction rather than a violation of others rights.
The fact that these occupiers have little understanding of why they are there other than some vague and unsubstantiated claims about greed and corporations being inherently evil or the mistaken idea that it may help them get a free lunch is where the potential for danger lays.
Mobs with little common and cohesive goals do little to provoke change. Many who show up for such things may get frustrated with the lack of progress or just be there for the party atmosphere. Some seeing what they perceive correctly as an ineffectual action may start seeking other ways to make a point that include violent actions. They may be prompted by rhetoric from charismatic "leaders" or simply following in the historical footsteps of Marxists and terrorists through modern history.
Events such as these occupations are catalysts for the thinking of those who who feel disenfranchised by society. Not because they are actually disenfranchised, marginalized or in any way prevented from succeeding by society but because they have tried absolutely nothing and are all out of ideas except dogma and doctrine they have been taught or brainwashed themselves into believing.
Such peoples will thrive in the primordial soup of revolution such gatherings become. There are many examples, the French Revolution where violence was encouraged from the outset, The Boston Massacre, Boston Tea Party and Union Activism. Kent State & Monterey where initial ideas were a party and entertainment that turned ugly and promoted a setting for violence because those taking part felt not only encouraged but sanctioned to do so.
So too may the next Timothy Mcveigh like home grown terrorists be being groomed within the crowds and mobs of Occupy Wall Street or any street or town where a lack of clear intent or understanding can foster such mentalities to seek violence, either for change or for violence sake.
To be clear I am not saying that such assemblies are wrong, in fact its one of our best tools to enact change. But such acts only enact change if the desired changes are clearly understood and articulated to both leadership and the crowds themselves.
A clear unambiguous message makes a point, a large mob of rabble being whipped up to be angry over some vague assertions they have been somehow been wronged by the society because of their own failings will gain no constructive change but may be a hell of an excuse to party and in some way generate radicals who will feel justified in destruction for a cause they have no real idea about.
Is the Occupy fad wrong? Yes definitely its just a reaction to circumstances people brought on themselves but refuse to take responsibility for looking for a scapegoat in the easy target and supposed manifestation of greed and author of all wrongs they name as "Wall Street".
If the Occupy fad trends to be more self sustaining the resulting anarchy will hearken back to the mindless 60's which in reality spawned more issues like drug abuse, poorer educational systems and a a whole generation incapable of understanding how to be financially responsible who in turn created a generation of slackers unwilling to labor for their own benefit who feel some sense of entitlement to a handout.
Such is the current state of a good portion of the populous, easy prey to socialist ideals and dreams of bread and circus. Unfortunately as history has shown, bread and circus quickly become labor camps and reeducation centers where many enter and few emerge.
The most bloody repressive and failed systems and states in modern history started with clueless mobs led to their own death and enslavement by those whose gaol was personal power in the guise of social reforms.
The best thing for the Occupiers to do would be to learn from the past, figure out what if any real grievances there are and address them in the correct format, the voting booth.
In so occupying their minds with facts and reality rather than emotional rhetoric their asses may yet be saved from themselves.
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