The Conscientious Objector: Reframing the Perception of the Warriors on Wall Street

"Things cannot be forced from the top. The international fight against corruption would have to spring from the people - it would have to be so strong that the elected delegates would be turned out of office if they failed to do it. War will exist until that distant day when the conscientious objector enjoys the same reputation and prestige that the warrior does today." - James Douglass


As much as I despise the hypnotic power of language, I realize that it is currently an unfortunate reality. Terministic screens - the words and set of symbols that become the filter through which we describe and regard the world - has a way of shaping the way we perceive reality ("Language, as Kenneth Burke thought, doesn't simply 'reflect' reality; it also helps select reality as well as deflect reality").

With that being said, ever since Occupy Wall Street (and the Occupy movement) began, our brave brothers and sisters have been slapped with one of the most derisive, dismissive, disparaged (not to mention lazy) screens of all - hippie - along with all the ignorant projections that come with it. Regardless of the fact that its negative connotations are already largely undeserved, there's no denying the fact that it frames perception in a similar negative light - conjuring up images of listlessness and confusion, and not worthy of being taken seriously. As we have seen from countless video interviews, pertinent signs, and a comprehensive (and evolving) list of grievances, this is anything but the case.

Again, the ignorant try to roundly discredit a movement with a simple word (funny how that's often the case when it comes to "liberal" issues). So lets start using a new term. One that better reflects the legitimacy of our issues, while providing well-deserved gravitas. One that, when you hear it, is hard to argue against. From here on out, refer to those occupying Wall Street as what they truly are - conscientious objectors.

Better yet, be one yourself.

(Take that, Frank Luntz - you fuck.)

They aren't beating up on the police, they are being respectful, they are policing their own area, prohibiting alcohol and drugs in their encampment, not screaming at people as they walk past, coordinating their demonstrations, and people of all ages and walks of life are responding positively to them.

They are also sticking to one main message--not a hodge-podge of tangential crap. They're on the corporate greed/corruption/excess bandwagon and its relationship to government.

I think it's a leadership thing, myself.