If we want Occupy Wall Street to be the movement our dogs think it is then we should let the dogs hold the leash!
Shelby, more person than B of A, represents Occupy Denver in opposition to the farce of corporate personhood
Occupy Denver Press Release:
“In response to Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s insistence that Occupy Denver choose leadership to deal with City and State officials, and drawing inspiration from the notion that corporations are people, Occupy Denver’s General Assembly has elected a leader: Shelby, a three year old Border Collie. “Shelby is closer to a person than any corporation: She can bleed, she can breed, and she can show emotion. Either Shelby is a person, or corporations aren’t people,” said a Shelby supporter at the time of her election.
Occupy Denver reserves the right to alter leadership status, but for now, Shelby exhibits heart, warmth, and an appreciation for the group over personal ambition that Occupy Denver members feel are sorely lacking in the leaders some of them have voted for on national, state, and local levels. Accordingly, Occupy Denver looks forward to communication with Mayor Hancock and Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper sometime this week to introduce their leadership.
Newly-elected leader Shelby will be leading this Saturday’s Occupy Denver march against Corporate Personhood, and invites all other civic minded dogs (and their leash-holders) to join.”
Break out the kibbles Shelby.
UPDATE: Video of Shelby and the general assembly during the vote. I love the way Shelby turns around and looks at the speaker every time her name is mentioned during the announcement – Good Dog!
– Iron Filing
6 Comments
I agree 100%. Now the question is for Jay Leno who thinks people are “whats and thats”. The man that brought the dog to the occupy event. Are corporations and our furry friends “that” or “who”? If corporations are people, then it would be “the corporation who sent more jobs overseas”. And dogs are mammals like us or thats? “The woman who brought the dog who was elected representative of occupy Denver?” Which really has nothing to do with the post. I just have no way of contacted Jay Leno.
Ruff! I like Shelby and this is good satire but, seriously, get a person who can speak well as spokesperson for the movement if we want to actually “move forward” without stopping at each fire hydrant…
I love that they talked about how the state is obligated to find a translator. That is awesome.
At first, I was a bit put off by the nomination of Shelby to be the speaker for Occupy Denver. I tend to agree with KAE. Street theater is great, though, and after watching this video, all of my qualms have been swept aside. Shelby is the perfect figurehead for the “corporations aren’t people element” of Occupy Denver. I do hope they can find a translater.
On a more serious note with regards to OWS – there comes a point where titular leaders need to admit that that’s what they are – leaders – and assume a more out front role in what’s going on. Every group has leaders and they usually know that they are and the group usually knows who they are. Otherwise I fear that OWS and its spin-offs will fade off into the winter night and not reappear when the daffodils pop next spring.
We follow what is going on in Oakland fairly closely and feel that things are going downhill there. Simply stating demands without establishing an actual forum to work them through with those you are making the demands of isn’t going to get Occupy Oakland out of the current confrontation cycle. Shouting down city council members wins very few friends. Being used as a front by folks who only want to break up stuff? Shutting down the workplace of thousands of people? These are counter-productive. They make a point, sure, but I don’t believe these actions lead to positive outcomes.
Hmmm…DON might make a good spokesperson…or translator!
Arf!!