Dear World,
I'm writing this post as a reflection on an enlivening experience that I had three days ago on Nov. 17. Opting out of a regular day of classes and work, there were more pressing thoughts on my mind that led to a day of stillness, connection, and conversation. I chose to occupy the Student Life Centre at the University of Waterloo where I study (seen on the the right). When I say that I was occupying it, some might take that to mean that I was protesting something that takes place there, based on their understanding of what the Occupy movement is. In sharp contrast, I sought not to bring attention to that which I see as problematic with our system, but to begin a conversation with others who care about global events and the state of our people (humans) and our countries and the planet Earth. To reaffirm that there are those in the University who are connected, or interested in connecting with, those deep questions about which direction we move in as the human race, which will decide what impact we have on this planet. The story that I've documented and tell below is the story of how I came to understand Occupy this way, and what led me to spend November 17th sitting on the floor in the centre of the Student Life Centre for 12 hours, deep in conversation, reflection and writing. I called it Occupy Today.
1-14 November 2011
==========================
I was reading posts about the Occupy movement which were appearing like wildfire before me and I was deeply moved by the potential implications of such widespread positive movement. As part of the actions of the Upstart Collaboratory for Collaborative Culture Designing (posts about this to come...) we have been curating those blog posts, media articles and such things that were inspirational and informative. If you're reading this and you're interested in what I was reading that lead to my choosing to do Occupy Today, you can find that curated collection of articles at http://www.scoop.it/t/occupy-everything.
Tuesday 15 November 2011
==========================
"I felt the words of Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York and sponsor of the eviction, like an assault on my intelligence and humanity as I read how he justified the actions the NYPD had been authorized to take."
I woke up and went to my 8:30am computer science class like I normally would do on a Tuesday, only to find that I was less engaged in my lecture than ever. However, after finding myself on twitter briefly, I discovered that twitter was in the midst of a massive uproar about events that took place in New York just 6 hours earlier (at 2 am-ish) and whose implications were still in the process of unfolding. The people who were stationed in Zucotti Park in NY and participating in the Occupy Wall St discussion, for almost 2 months at this point, had been evicted. At 2am, without warning, forcefully, and all during a manufactured 'media blackout' by the NYPD. After that I don't have a clue what happened in class, I was too busy following the updates about the eviction, who had done it, and what the response was going to be. I felt the words of Michael Bloomberg, the mayor of New York and sponsor of the eviction, like an assault on my intelligence and humanity as I read how he justified the actions the NYPD had been authorized to take. You can find endless information about this on occupywallst.org.
After class I made my way home, intending to take time to do more research and reflection on what was going on. I missed my afternoon class listening to a massive Occupy conference call discussing what actions made sense to be taken, in New York and across America, in response to the morning's events. I was moved by the functional democratic organizational structure of the conversation, as well as the voices that spoke especially to non-violence, and non-reactiveness, who turned the focus of the conversation more towards how to create what we want, rather than playing the confrontational games that are spouted by the police and the media.
These conversations are happening consistently on this website, http://occupycafe.org that has been set up to facilitate global dialogue on the Occupy movement.
The main locus of information that I was getting all said that on November 17, people internationally, but especially in America, and especially New York, were going to be participating in a widespread Day of Direct Action. All I knew was that I wanted to keep a close eye on events that day.
Wednesday 16 November 2011
==========================
"tmrw I #occupyUW in the SLC in solidarity with the empassioned people moving across the world. #OccupyTogether"
It's at this point that social media takes the stage and one can roughly understand the events that followed by reading my tweets, facebook posts, pictures, and videos, and aftermath which I've aggregated here. I'll provide a small commentary here and there only.
11:53 PM Tomorrow: I #occupyUW in the SLC in solidarity with the global occupy movement that moves tomorrow. I welcome you to join me.
https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=10150943958690591&id=692010590
by Connor Scott Turland via Facebook
---
11:58 PM tmrw I #occupyUW in the SLC in solidarity with the empassioned people moving across the world. #OccupyTogether
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137031942930575360
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
12:00 AM RT @SweetOnPeacexx: #OWS and #OccupyWallStreet are blocked from Trending topics. But its great to know that twitter lets #MyDickIn3WordsOrLess take first place
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137032270161776640
by Connoropolous via Twitter
Thursday 17 November 2011
=========================I woke up and wrote these things on my t-shirt which I wore for the day. I had no clue what my plan was.
It's at 8:30 am I arrive at the SLC and place myself down in the center. I keep my phone handy for tweeting and keeping tabs on the movement.
8:33 AM RT @theCCR: #OWS #N17 dozens of riot cops outside New York Stock Exchange, crowd getting too big to contain, we stay peaceful, we stay strong.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137161434055442433
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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8:38 AM If you don't want to hear loads about occupy today, unfollow me.If you do, stay tuned. AND/OR join me in the SLC to watch Ustream & converse
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137162755479310336
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
8:43 AM If you don't feel like sitting through another day of drudgery&schoolwork & want to talk about current events,you can find me in SLC #N17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137163890466357249
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
8:55 AM I've taken my place in the dead center of the SLC. I just want to know I'm not crazy for caring. I just want you to know you're not alone.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137166921878601729
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
8:59 AM I will be here all day.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137168018244505600
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:05 AM RT @IanPowers: RT @OccupyWallSt: Police brutality at Nassau and Pine. #OWS #N17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137169369699598336
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:05 AM RT @IAmVeroEscobar: #OWS is trying to shut down NYC today. They're coming to your borough now! http://bit.ly/sFRhfQ #N17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137169465145180161
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:05 AM RT @TheNewDeal: Things are Getting Crazy http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution Rt #OWS #N17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137169549043830786
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:05 AM RT @tylerology: Oh shit...it's getting heavy. http://www.livestream.com/globalrevolution #OWS #N17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137169602370211843
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:06 AM RT @micahuetricht: RT @OccupyWallSt locked arms broad and beaver chanting Wall St. is closed!! #N17 #ows #winning
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137169741897924611
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:17 AM RT @edmorden: They can stop u from trending on twitter, but they can't stop #OccupyWallSt #OWS #N17 from shutting down Wall Street! Solidarity!
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137172529138778113
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:17 AM RT @alphaleah: #OWS : NYPD arresting retired cop! RT @OccupyWallStNYC: Philly Police Captain (Retired) has just been ARRESTED! #N17 #ows
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137172562970017792
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:17 AM RT @ytosh: #N17 #OWS PHILLY POLICE CAPTAIN JUST ARRESTED BY NYPD (live at http://ustre.am/DOkR)
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137172621233102849
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:30 AM RT @HiJCP: @blogdiva @jopauca Look at the fear the 1% illustrate by having their minions threaten peaceful Americans with violence! #n17 #ows #Fail
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137175774502469632
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:30 AM RT @arieloshin: Police line only moves for BMWs... apparently #ows #N17 http://twitpic.com/7fd2qi
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137175887421509632
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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9:34 AM RT @LiborVonSchonau: Cops back up as ppl DANCE #OccupyWallStreet #OWS #OccupyWallStNYC #OccupyWallst #NYC #N17 http://yfrog.com/h7rq1dnj
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137176849452244993
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
"I just want to know I'm not crazy for caring."
9:49 AM I've taken my place in the dead center of the SLC. I just want to know I'm not crazy for caring. I just want you to know you're not alone.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137180621280788480
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
9:52 AM I'm occupying the SLC today, and live streaming occupy wall st. I'm already having some fun with it :)
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137181196584095744
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
9:52 AM I'll be here all day.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137181309536698368
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
10:13 AM RT @lulusgirl888: RT @nyclu: Someone brought a box of donuts for the cops. No takers but the cops smiled #occupywallstreet #ows #dayofaction #n17”
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137186698797912064
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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10:14 AM RT @fernhilldammit: Awesome! http://www.ustream.tv/theother99 #N17 @ows 13,500 watching right now. #occupy
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137186971427684352
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
This was a significant moment for me. Not only did Ann Simpson, manager of the SLC come over to talk to me, but she voiced her support and compassion, signed the sheet of paper, and ended up bringing me a coffee a little bit later on. This wasn't the only time that people offered to bring me food and drink, which was an amazing support, as I wasn't really wanting to ever leave my place in the center. Of course, I ended up getting up to go to the bathroom, to spread my colourful notes, and to stretch my legs. However, whenever possible, I only left my spot when someone else who was sitting me with temporarily agreed to stay and be present to our station.
10:22 AM The manager of the SLC just came to talk to me and signed her name :) I'm not crazy.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137188968063176706
by Connoropolous via Twitter
Shortly after this, the only 'media coverage' I was to get that day arrived on the scene, none other than a student from the Turnkey Desk taking a few pictures of me with a Playbook. However, he was a friendly guy and it felt like it was kicking off the day to a good start. I still don't know exactly what the intention is for those pictures, if any. I don't mind either way.
---
10:23 AM RT @RT_America: People going into Zuccotti with large bags and backpacks right now #n17 barricades are open
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137189229414461442
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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10:24 AM RT @masseydaniel: Protesters stream into zuccotti chanting whose park our park.#ows #n17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137189256702590976
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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10:24 AM RT @Jonna_Rae: police have opened the barricades to the park #ows #n17 http://www.ustream.tv/theother99
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137189272502550528
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
10:42 AM This is my occupy camp in the SLC. I'm especially happy about the Magic wand just given to be seen at end of video :) http://twitvid.com/LPRVK
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137193786504777728
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
10:42 AM I know there are others who feel what I do.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137193994894581760
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
11:19 AM Occupy Today.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137203216197763072
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
---
3:29 PM RT @agentsofchange4: @OccupyChicago RT @estellevw: “If only they enforced bank regulations like they do park rules, we wouldn’t be in this mess.” #OWS #n17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137266069374124032
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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3:29 PM RT @_truthsetfree: Steady stream marching up broadway to union sq "banks got bailed out we got sold out" #ows #n17 http://yfrog.com/h68ijrbj
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137266098507747328
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
"Are you occupied or preoccupied?"
3:35 PM Are you occupied or preoccupied? Take today to STOP. Just for 2 seconds, 2 minutes, 2 hours, 2 days STOP. And take another look.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137267651692068864
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---I spent large portions of my day writing down every scrap of wisdom I had, my understanding of the Occupy movement, and words that I thought could make a difference in the day of a student who picked up my notes. I scattered them on the floor all around and around the SLC, as well as occasionally giving a note directly to people. I can't think of a more satisfying way to have spent Occupying myself or the day.
3:36 PM How I'm occupying myself. http://t.co/2CoCWxFv
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137267809049780224
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
3:36 PM #occupyToday
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137267949315698688
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
"I guess what I'm trying to avoid is action for the sake of action."
3:38 PM I guess what I'm trying to avoid is action for the sake of action.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137268329319641088
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:27 PM RT @pacific_justice: Tell me what democracy looks like. This is what democracy looks like...The world is watching... #n17 #OWS
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137295871640473601
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:27 PM RT @99PercentNY: Foley Square is PACKED with people who are sharing their personal stories. POWERFUL STUFF! #n17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137295913629659136
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:38 PM RT @99Brett: Foley Square from the air on #N17. Live chopper footage: http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Occupy-Wall-Street-Day-of-Action-Police-NYPD-Protest-134025883.html http://twitter.com/99Brett/status/137298198384480256/photo/1
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137298603571027971
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:39 PM RT @99_film: Unions have arrived at Foley Square. 10,000 people estimated there. Watch historic live stream w/Tim Pool: http://t.co/iVNT6edn #ows #n17
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137298876179812353
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:40 PM RT @bradleybowen: 10,000 people in Foley Square #OWS #N17 http://www.ustream.tv/cbsnews
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137299056169979904
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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This a video of a flash mob that happened at 5pm that I was warned about. So I moved my stuff out of the middle of the floor until they were done. Everything except the many colourful notes which now resided on the floor, look closely to see them in this video!
5:54 PM First a Call On Me flash mob, now the Waterloo Warriors band. Pretty cool! http://twitvid.com/R0RCE
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137302679922814976
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:54 PM RT @AnonyOps: BIG crowd. Stay peaceful, don't antagonise police. Use this momentum for good. Police are 99% too. We are all in this together. #OWS
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137302686252023808
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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5:58 PM Here's the Marching Band. One minute ago Kevin and I were singing Pharoah Pharaoh let my people go with them. http://twitvid.com/WQLHK
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137303730390441985
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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6:00 PM Appropriate given the 10000 strong people in Foley Square, new York. #occupyToday #OccupyTogether
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137304183098441729
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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"...my perception is that students are less open to curiousity, which makes sense when you have a grasp of the stress that students are under, a counterforce to curiousity. "
Upon noting that there are no tweets between 6 and 8:30 pm, it makes sense to fill in this gap with what were undoubtedly some of my most powerful experiences of the day, hence the non-tweeting.
2 tweets back I mention a Kevin. Kevin played an unexpected and significant part in my day. Appearing first at a moment when I wasn't at my post, I was off to the side and I turned around and saw a guy adventuring curiously around the floor looking at lots of the coloured notes which lay there, and then to see what the strange setup was in the middle of the room.
I want to take a moment to acknowledge just how novel this moment was. I mean, over the course of my day, hundreds of people came and left the student life centre, many of them stopping to sit in the SLC surrounding where I was. Whether intentionally or not, I was amazed at the massive number of people that could walk by at their fast-paced walks with places to go and things to do and no attention to pay to little colourful notes on the floor that look like trash and couldn't possibly have words of significance that could change the direction of their day. I thought University was about being curious and wanting to learn, and yet my perception is that students are less open to curiousity than ever, which makes sense when you have a grasp of the stress that students are under, a counterforce to curiousity. To see Kevin stop in his tracks and explore a situation which piqued his curiousity made my day as much as anything.
Kevin was the person that stayed the longest with me on Thursday, he didn't leave until I did. I think he arrived around 4:30 or so. Because I was used to most people just coming and going from my occupation, it took me a while of having Kevin there before I just asked him 'so are you staying until 8:30 with me then?' and he said 'yeah sure'. I think we're both really glad that he did.
Kevin and I sometimes sang, sometimes told stories, sometimes watched the live streaming video of events in New York. Until Mohammed came.
Mohammed told me that he had seen me earlier in the day and actually took me to be doing homework or something, and that when he realized that I was still there many hours later, this couldn't be what I was doing. And so he too followed his curiousity to our doorstep to find out what it was that I was doing. A slightly hilarious situation ensued in which we were trying to have a conversation over the sounds of the marching band playing directly behind us. So a group of five of us, at the time, moved to the far corner. Seeking to facilitate a conversation of the amazing quality which I have experienced elsewhere, and seen demonstrated endlessly in conversations taking place within and about the occupy movement, I wondered out loud why the other 4 individuals had found me. While I hugely appreciated the words of a fellow Knowledge Integration student, K, encouraging me in what I was doing and also being curious herself, she had to leave shortly thereafter, as well as another KI student, C, who was with us only briefly.
So Mohammed and Kevin and I began to talk... and talk... and talk. The conversation turned towards questions of spirituality, human thinking, community, technology, culture, and so on. We knew that the conversation was a good one when Mohammed revealed that the shuttle he intended to catch had left half an hour ago. My understanding of what kept him there talking with us is not only the content of the discussion, though, but the quality of the process itself. Each of us listening with respect, an open mind, and coming back with creative and supportive responses, brought the conversation to a lighthearted, yet deep, improvisational quality of the space.
The previous is possibly the most important information contained in this post.
Reframe:
Any group listening with respect, an open mind, and coming back with creative and supportive responses, can bring the conversation to a lighthearted, yet deep, improvisational quality of the space.
To me, this is a big part of the Spirit of Occupy.
---
"my #occupyToday SLC experience comes to a close after 12 straight hours in my location. My thoughts clear. My body calm. Conversation shared."
So here's my concluding post. And with it now I've shared below a picture of the piece of paper that sat with me all day, calling out with all the empty space it started with to be signed, to have names join mine there on that page, showing solidarity with each other and with all the people that are bringing their voices together to talk about the world that we could create together. My thoughts and thanks go out to these people who joined me on Thursday, not all of whom are on this page. It was an experience that I won't soon forget and I hope and think that it made an impact on others, their thinking, or at least their day.
8:43 PM my #occupyToday SLC experience comes to a close after 12 straight hours in my location. My thoughts clear. My body calm. Conversation shared.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137345069299679235
by Connoropolous via Twitter
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8:48 PM RT @umairh: It would be cool to make a post-demand movement. One that does instead of asks. Just a little suggestion.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137346288025993219
by Connoropolous via Twitter
If you're looking for someone with sensibility and informed wisdom on the economic crisis, who will share his honest opinions without exception, that person is Umair Haque, @umairh. A good follow on twitter.
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8:49 PM RT @lccarson: A lot of my best teaching happens outside the classroom. A lot of my best learning happens outside the classroom.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137346673050533889
by Connoropolous via Twitter
Thankyou Linda Carson for emphasizing, yet again, that point which really struck me on Thursday experientially. Would I have learned more by going to my CS and archaeology class, or by doing what I did? Regardless, the day was an absolutely amazing experience of learning and teaching for me.
---
This tweet is in response to a post from that same Knowledge Integration professor of mine Linda Carson who tweeted at me "Well done, Connor" in response to my concluding tweet. It was amazing what an impact this had on me, and the synchronicity of it. Just prior I think that part of me was wishing that I could have some kind of affirmation for my actions, that what I had done made sense, not just to me, but to others as well, and I think when her reply came in it really made the difference to me to hear that from someone who's opinion I value greatly.
9:24 PM @lccarson I appreciate that.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137355591168434176
by Connoropolous via Twitter
"When I know what makes sense, I do it. When I don't, that's insanity."
---
9:39 PM When I know what makes sense, I do it. When I don't, that's insanity.
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137359246324011009
by Connoropolous via Twitter
---
A political cartoon that made me laugh.
11:43 PM RT @dtapscott: "Look at the mess those protesters left behind!" http://blogs.ajc.com/mike-luckovich/files/2011/11/newmikecolor.jpg
http://twitter.com/113565114/status/137390444123402240
by Connoropolous via Twitter
Saturday 19 November 2011
=========================I receive two notifications on facebook from friends linking to the same thing: A website I don't follow, but know about, called OMGUW. Turns out. I'm on it.
Some people lovin'
Some people hatin'
Read on and see.
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