We know the phrase, Not in my backyard ! It has even become an acronym. The Occupy New Haven movement is the most recent quintessential example of yes i agree with what needs to be done but not on my green. Not on my green where we can picnic and drink communion wine under the stars and listen to music. Not on my green where my frisbee floats like a beautiful white humming bird. Not on my green where kids can play during the International Fest with Mimes and Clowns. Not on my green where the Black Panther MAY DAY became part of history. And oh by the way this encampment looks like it will leave the green before this year's May Day troops arrive.The New Haven Green is of course for everyone. It's legal creation was a visionary act defining freedom and access from a collective shared proprietary perspective. ( for the purposes of this commentary I will not digress by saying that it was of course stolen land )
Not on my green.
I understand your lofty intentions but disagree with your tactics, so the Freedom Riders were told by Martin Luther King.
I understand your lofty intentions but disagree with your tactics, so John Brown was told.
I understand your intentions but disagree with your tactics so the the Berrigan Brothers were told.
The ONH folks will not go down in history as the above mentioned folks. Cinque still lives across the street. The Quinnipiac nation is alive. The costumes may change but Freedom still rings for those who have ears to hear.
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I admit that were I present I probably would have sided with Dr. King on the Freedom Riders plans. However that was a very different situation from the sleeping on the green movement. The Freedom Riders were challenging the overall concept and practice of racism so they chose a very clear and direct target. They went after segregated bus stations and the "laws" that allowed them.
In my organizing practice it's called "cutting an issue." Racism is a problem. Economic inequity is a problem. Problems are big. Everybody has problems and frankly everybody contributes to making 'it' a problem (whatever the 'it' is.) Consequently it is almost impossible to fight against a "problem" because you don't know who to fight. It's too big and too complicated. So you cut that problem down to something that's SMART (specific, measurable, actionable, realistic and has a time when it needs to happen.) You have to have a direct target -- segregated bus stations.
Who are the Occupiers in New Haven targeting? Give me a name. A person. An organization. Then tell me how sleeping on the green forces their hand.