Wall Street protesters need more practice : News-Record.com : Greensboro & the Triad's most trusted source for local news and analysis

I was watching the news about the demonstration/rally/block party on Wall Street.

My gosh, 700 people arrested after being “tricked” by police into going onto the Brooklyn Bridge. I felt a real rush of nostalgia from my 14-year-old socialist days.

Agitprop stands for agitation and propaganda, a well-worn technique to suggest a protest group is bigger or more influential than its true size. First, you get a few people together, hoping a few more curious or like-minded people will join you. You then break a minor law and try to get arrested.

As soon as you are touched by the police, you struggle and scream about police brutality or oppression, and your pals join in to help. Another group of people, regular folks passing by, will stop to watch.

The next step is to try to get your people mixed with the innocents. Finally, the police have to push into the crowd to get you.

This gives you a very large backcloth to draw attention to your cause. Sadly, Agitprop is an art that must be learned. The group I watched looked about as angry as a trick-or-treater getting hard candy.

Edward Philpott
Greensboro

destinys mother in law

October 11, 2011 - 7:48 am EDT

The "Occupy Wall Street" crowd could take some tips from the Republican debate crowd. For example, they could boo veterans, cheer executions, and shout "let him die". They could take some tips from the tea party activists who carried rifles to Obama rallies and shouted down representatives coming back to their districts to explain their views to constituents. Or they could shoot physicians who perform abortions.

ghost from white oak

October 11, 2011 - 8:11 am EDT

Nice try, however as much as you and the media would love to paint these hippies and left wingers with the same broad stroke as the tea party, I ain't buying.
The tea party protest and these rabbles are polar opposites, in thoughts, manners and frankly just about everything.

missy

October 11, 2011 - 8:24 am EDT

Not sure if this is an opinion or an education piece? Appears to be written as fact. Live and learn. In my opinion
it is refreshing to see groups of Americans who are not bought and paid for exercising their rights. This letter is a good example of why we are in our current economic situation. Stupid people fighting for their futures. What are
they thinking!? Just get back in line(back end) and accept your fate since some of us just don't care. We got ours (for now). Practice makes perfect...keep practicing...I'll keep learning. Democracy still rules (for now). Use it.

terrier2003

October 11, 2011 - 9:50 am EDT

Fighting for their futures? We got ours?

you are talking about a bunch of people protesting something that nobody can articulate. They are angry with Corporations and financial institutions and seemingly those who work for them even on low levels. I guess if I heard what they were against I potentially could be more sympathetic. However, in the mean time I am reminded of my 4 year old when he doesn't get his way. He can't tell me exactly why he is pissed, but he surely can act out.

retiree

October 11, 2011 - 10:47 am EDT

LOL!! Good post. You know, maybe they are peeved since their parents have told them to get their own place to live or do some work around the house.

Doug Johnson

October 11, 2011 - 1:58 pm EDT

You can bet they are not tea party folks, the liberal media loves them.
I think since they hate companies so bad, they should sign a document, they will never work for them, never use their products.
.

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