October 1, 2011
At first I wasn’t going to go to the Occupy Wall Street protests against the banks and greedy corporations that continue to bulldoze the middle class right off the face of the earth. I heard about cops pepper-spraying people, handcuffing them till their hands turned blue and abusing their power to silence people protesting peacefully. I’ve been beaten up by a cop twice in my life and I’m not anxious for the third beating. And I have to admit, the cynic in me said, “What’s it all worth? Can it make a difference?” Well, it’s been going on for two weeks now and I’m curious as to what the scene is like down at Liberty Park. “Boris” asked if we were going to go, and that’s where we’re off to right now. I really wish I had a gas mask though!
Shit, I just walked outside of work and it's pouring down rain. It'll be hard to take pictures down there tonight, so I've decided to go next week. Tonight, I'll improvise and take photos of walking home in the rain and pair them up with lyrics and links to songs about rain. Kind of an artsy-fartsy post tonight. Okay, here we go.
Feels like colored rain, tastes like colored rain, bring on colored rain...yeah.
I loved her, but now I've lost her, love's in vain. I watch a funeral in the rain.
Further reading: The Weather Channel, The Weather Man and Answers.com.
I wish I never saw the sunshine,
Cause maybe, I wouldn’t mind the rain.
(Surprise link...click on it...I dare you!)
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17 Comments | Share Article | tagged Chelsea, Occupy Wall Street, The Beatles, The Ronettes | 1 Reference
Reader Comments (17)
Good thing you stayed away from OWS,,,yeah those cops are probably not in a great mood in the rain. The video's were a great collage covering many genre's so as to not leave any rain man out....or woman. But you did save the best for last with The Beatles and for sure that video was taken at their peak (aside from Paul's chipped tooth). During that time in 66, they played their last live show at Candlestick park and then Sgt Pepper came out and then Yoko, and then,,,well you know.
Has any protest ever produced any results ? It just seems to be something to do for people who have nothing else going on ....
@Al: I've always been amazed by Paul's chipped tooth in that video, they did know Dr. Robert after all!
@GENE: Protests raise awareness in social issues and that in itself is a result and makes people think and sometimes react. I applaud people who are passionate and speak their mind. It's what freedom of speech is all about. The Attica protests inspired a great scene in "Dog Day Afternoon!"
What do these Occupy Wall Street people want to happen ?
@GENE: I'm not an expert on it, that's why I want to go down and talk with some of the people about what they're doing. From what I can gather the main theme of the protests is to bring awareness of the power that corporations and banks have in our politics and they want it to stop. You can read all about what they have to say at their website/blog:
https://occupywallst.org/
"Power To The People Right On!"
Glad you played it safe in the rain.
(plus I would have feared for Gumby)
Be careful of those 'Badges" if and when you go.
But...
Great lyrical photo journey!
Well done my Son.
Like that Rainy Night in Georgia shot!
It was my worst fear,
My eyes began to tear
My mind is torn asunder
as I hear the Chocolate Thunder.
@GENE: Your question about protest has merit, though I can understand people upset with banks, BOA just decided to gouge its customer just a little,,,,five bucks,,,but five bucks here,,,five bucks there,,,it adds up. But I keep thinking of the lyrics to "For what its worth",,,,"young people speaking their minds,,,mostly saying hooray for our side",,,,yeah,,,I know little gets resolved in protest,,,,but its the young people that do it for us,,,and that is called democracy,,,its our right to try,,,even if nothing comes from it,,, I surely can see your side and Marty's. BTW,,,,this is me trying to analyze this after a few cocktails,,,,so don't read too much into it.
I guess it makes the protesters feel better -- but that's about it. I've never seen protests accomplish much. Banks don't care about anybody. I'm surprised Wall Street doesn't send in tanks after these people. The civil rights gatherings might have accomplished something. But then these things can be bad also ... like the treatment of Vietnam veterans :(
Me ... I'd rather sit down with a beer and mind my own business ... like tonight :)
Go Yankees ... !!!!!!!
LOVE the rain! Great post for me :) And I'm not reading to watch you die, but I guess having a beer would sort of be an appropriate way to go.
great post...pictures w/ lyrics...nice concept...maybe MAD should work it into his repertoire...tryin' to not get into the "protest" thing...will just say—"First they came for the..."
A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain.
Robert Frost
rr
@everyone: Sorry not to comment back, but I found out my friend Bob Arihood died this week. It's kind of a fucked up night. I'll put up a tribute to this wonderful New Yorker tomorrow. Till then, R.I.P. Bob.
I went to the protest on Friday and it's good to go in person and see what is actually going on. I was skeptical of them before I went, but after being there, I'm 100% behind them and am proud so many of my neighbors are speaking out against what is becoming a divided society. The media has been very dismissive in their reports, which infuriates me. I do agree their message needs to be clear, though...that said, there were at least a couple thousand people when I was there and I hope more are on the way.
AHHHHHHHHH you're so good to me Marty!
love walking in warm summer rain, love artsy fartsy posts!
I sure do love me some pre-soundtrack Randy Newman. I've got a thing for curmudgeons.
@Biff: Me too, a real genius.