Occupy Portland

Hundreds of people have now been Occupying Portland (and Wall Street, and Seattle, and…etc) for almost an entire week. They are camped out at Chapman Park, closing off SW Main Street to all thru traffic. I found the initial march and protest affective and inspiring. It’s not often we see a movement take hold nationally and stick. The press has covered it here in Oregon in a positive way. I can’t help but think of the Arab Spring uprisings earlier this year. I’m grateful there are a couple stark differences between the Occupy movements and the Arab Spring movements…most notably the lack of violence and arrests. And the City of Portland has been working with the protestors, not against them, a fact I find hilarious for an anti-establishment movement.

I pass by the Occupy Portland camp each day on my way to work as I drive down SW 4th Avenue. I’m fascinated by the community that has been set up there…they have a library. Yes, a library. But now I’m starting to wonder: What’s next, occupiers? I agree with their basic cause for action. Big banks in this country are out of the control and the disparity of wealth among Americans is outrageous. I’m not now, nor ever will be a member of the 1% of the wealthiest faction of this nation, and there should be more equity. But is continuing to sit in a park for days on end the way to achieve this? They certainly have the right to do so, and I think a point has been made to both corporations and our elected officials. But I’m concerned the creators of this movement didn’t think past the “let’s march through the streets of our city” phase. The ultimate solutions to these issues need to be approached in a long-term, collaborative way. People are disenchanted and disenfranchised with government. I get it—government is bureaucratic and slow. But this is the system our founders created and put forth for us to use. The right to protest is vital and I’m glad to see it utilized. But what comes after the protesting? I want to do some research on this question, because it’s not the first time we’ve seen something like this in our country. I wasn’t alive for the last era of rebellion in the 1960s and 1970s. But I believe we have to work with our leaders in office to come to solutions and put actions into place. The waves of revolutions and civil uprisings in Libya, Tunisia, Yemen, etc were triggered by police corruption, ill treatment, and an desire to overthrow the entire government regime. But it’s not the same here.

I’m still forming my opinion around these movements. I think it’s exciting, and I hope for positive change in the direction of equality and fairness. Our country is fraught with economic and social injustices, and I’m glad that citizens are engaging in the issues and voicing their opinions. I’m not sure what’s next, but I can’t wait to find out because I have feeling we are making history here.

An update in October

I am highly doubtful anyone reads this blog anymore because I post so infrequently. I have only myself to blame. However, I felt inspired this morning before I start making fundraising calls.


The next three weekends of October are very busy for me and I love it! This time of year is one of my favorites because the weather is crisp, leaves are on the ground, the decorations are festive, and we are still in anticipatory mode of the holidays. However, yesterday I was leaving work, got to the door to go outside and I kid you not it was a torrential downpour. Welcome back, crappy weather! I embrace you until February and then I’m through with you for another year. Unfortunately, I know it will continue to be rainy until July, which is why I continue to say that if I could have any magic power it would be to control the weather.

This weekend, I’m headed to Sunriver for the Democratic Party of Oregon Summit. This occurs bi-annually in the fall of every off election year. This will be my first time going. My only real goal for the weekend is to network the crap out of the thing and try to get hooked up with a great job since I was only brought on through October for the position I currently hold. I’m also curious to go to Sunriver, I have been there once or twice in my life, but because of the family alliance with Black Butte Ranch we never had a reason to go that far down Hwy 22. I’m looking forward to going for a weekend with really not much to do other than socialize and go to a dinner on Saturday evening. The keynote speaker is Cecile Richards, the president of the Planned Parenthood Action Fund. Should be an all-around good time.

The weekend after, I’m heading up to Seattle for the Oregon State/Washington State game at CenturyLink (Qwest is now CenturyLink) Field. Myself, Chris and Celia are all driving up together on Saturday for the 7:30pm game, and I am just hot to trot to go watch a football game under the lights. I went to Linfield, and have no real alliance to any PAC-12 team, but I know more true Beaver fans than Duck fans and have more OSU shirts, so I root for the Beavs normally.

The final weekend in October is Halloween weekend. I still haven’t figured out what to be…though I’m heavily leaning toward being Cher in the early days. I’ll need a leather fringe vest, bell bottoms, and a long black wig. I was watching Dancing with the Stars last night and saw her in the audience watching Chaz Bono do his thang. The woman doesn’t age! It’s weird and supernatural…or it’s botox and collagen, either one.

Over and out.