While I think Occupy was born with good intentions, I just can't support the latest version of the movement: Occupy the Rose Parade.
This San Jose Mercury News article Describes the movement, which protests military and corporate involvement in the annual Pasadena, California new years parade.
They are far from the first group to protest at the parade, as the City of Pasadena lets anyone trail the police cars at the end of the parade. Usually these trailing people are spectators leaving the parade, but sometimes protest groups join in.
It all seems legitimate, but take this quote from the article and Pete Thottam, organizer of the Occupy event.
Quote:
Occupy targeted the Rose Parade because it reflects the growing corporate influence and military budget in the nation, Thottam said. The group's website also notes that a wide range of media will be in attendance.
Many of the floats are corporate sponsored, a flyover by the Air Force B-2 stealth bomber is featured, and a military figure was selected as grand marshal, he noted. Martinez suffered burns on 40 percent of his body from a land mine explosion and has since turned into an inspirational speaker and actor.
The Grand Marshall with be J.R. Martinez; former member of the U.S. Army's 101st Airborne Division and more recently won Dancing With The Stars. Forty percent of his body was burned while serving in Iraq.
I have had many criticisms of movements on the American Left over the years, and just as many of movements on the American Right; but this strikes me as a new low. I never thought I'd see the day that a movement claiming to speak for the American Left criticizing a public event choosing to honour a severely-disfigured African-American war veteran.
/rant
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