2 Proposals

[Elbert Newton]

Here are a couple of proposals that we might talk about tomorrow night (if they can be considered to have been submitted before the 24 hour deadline):

First Proposal:

What: In the Spring, we move our general assembly to La Pintoresca Park (corner of Washington and Fair Oaks)

Why: It's a more working class and low income neighborhood. By meeting there with our banner, we might draw more people. I think people in those neighborhoods are more hungry for change.

How: Just do it.

Second Proposal

What: We change our name from Occupy Pasadena (General Assembly) to Decolonize Pasadena

Why: Indigenous groups have stated that they are offended by the "Occupy" name because of the history of European occupation of their lands. (I thought we were taking an ugly word and re-appropriating it, but I guess that view was not widely held.)  They have suggested that the movement adopt "Decolonize" as it's name rather than "Occupy." Here are two links giving arguments pro and con:

http://occupyoakland.org/2011/12/decolonize-oakland/

http://www.organizingupgrade.com/2011/12/debate-about-decolonize-versus-occupy-boots-riley/

Also, the term "decolonize" can be applied to the psychological/spiritual work that needs to be done to decolonize our minds. I think that the major obstacle to change is that our (i.e. the people's) consciousness is not expansive enough to think beyond the current economic system. Through teach-ins, theater, street actions and all the rest, we are attempting to help other people and ourselves decolonize our minds so that we can imagine and begin to build/fight for a different kind of world.

 From this perspective, "decolonize" might better describe our work since we are not actually occupying anything with an encampment.

How: Just do it.

/

[Elbert Newton]

Well, I forgot about the two co-signers part, so unless there are two co-signers out there for these two ideas, then we'll have to wait until there are.

Bert

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From: Elbert Newton <elbertwal...@yahoo.com>
To: Occupy Pasadena <pasad...@lists.riseup.net>
Cc: "pga-facilitat...@googlegroups.com" <pga-facilitat...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 29, 2011 10:09 PM
Subject: [pasadenaga] 2 Proposals