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The Bridge Home

Sunday, October 23, 2011

Occupy THIS


Some criticize the Occupy Wall Street et al movements for not articulating demands or a platform. The movement appears content to focus outrage and gain media attention. This is necessary. The public and the powerful need to understand the problems of the 99% vs. the hegemony of the 1%. It is understandable that the leaders of this leaderless resistance are hesitant to expound on specific issues. On the local level, media reports show that the protest has degenerated into playtime for the usual suspects. There are the professional protesters trying to recapture some of their youth of the 1960s, the anarchists looking for something to break, and those who want to rant about all the evil that white males have brought upon humanity. While it may be true that white males hold most positions of power, the converse is not. Most white males do not hold important positions and many are suffering. However, this rhetoric is divisive and since the civil rights era has driven many disaffected white males to the right, lately to the Tea Party. If the Occupy movement attempts to set an agenda along with the white male ranters there will be advocates for the rights of left handed lesbians as well as exploited space aliens. No wonder Occupy wants to avoid issues.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

The Autumn Wind Blows

As the autumn wind fills the sails of Al Davis for the final run home, it is time to reflect on him and his legacy. Despite the move to Los Angeles, for which we will always accord him the rank of scumbag, he practices what he preaches, “Just win, baby!” He may not be successful every time but we know that he tries. Looking across the Coliseum to the offices of the Athletics we see Lew “Boob” Wolff, whose analogous quotation must be, “Just cash Yankee checks, baby!” If they do not love him, all NFL owners must be proud of Davis for his accomplishments with the Raiders as well as commissioner of the AFL. Wolff's fellow MLB owners are shameful that they allow this loser amongst them.