11:31:21 am on
Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Occupy What
Matt Seinberg

I am so sick and tired of reading about and seeing on television anything about the “Occupy Wall Street” movement. Do the occupiers think camping out in parks, protesting and urinating in public is going to get them anywhere? I guess some do.

The average citizen couldn’t care less about these people. I for one wish they would pack their sorry butts up and go home, if they have one. I have to believe most of these people occupying Zuccotti Park are unemployed, homeless, students or just plain crazy. 

What person in their right mind would want to live in a park for any amount of time that has no proper sanitary facilities? Where and when do they take a shower? I can only imagine how stinky they must be. Personally, I don’t like stinky people. Having a very sensitive nose makes me ill around bad smells.

No matter what city these people are protesting in, the surrounding areas suffer in one way or another. Restaurants claim that the protestors harass their customers for money, hang out in front and make a general nuisance. Are they hoping that the owners will give them free food to make them go away?

At the beginning of the protest in New York City, the business owners were sympathetic to the cause, but after weeks of noise, filth and abuse, they have had enough. The owners of Zuccotti Park, Brookfield Properties, have refused to bar the protestors from occupying the area.

What reason does Brookfield Properties have for allowing these people to live on their property? If someone decided to camp out on my front lawn, the Derek Jeter Louisville slugger would see some action if they refused to leave. Of course, I would have the sense to call the police and have the person arrested for trespassing.


Why isn’t the New York City Police (NYPD) Department doing anything? Because Brookfield Properties hasn’t asked them to, that’s why. Zuccotti Park is not subject to the same rules and laws that city owned parks are, so the NYPD just can’t go in and kick them out, and keep them out.

I was never much of a protesting kind of person, at least to do something in person. I find that writing letters and making phone calls to get my point across tends to work for me. Why would I want to live with a bunch of stinky people with nothing better to do?

For one thing, I’d miss my wife, kids and cat, along with my nice, soft comfortable bed and favourite television shows. I like a life of luxury and comfort, not cold and hardship. I would love it if I were a one-percenter.

Do those park people honestly think that the business people on Wall Street really care what they are doing? If they do, too many, many too many, illicit drugs have to be involved. From high up in those buildings, I’m sure everyone is laughing at them for roughing it in the park.

Does anyone remember the protests in the 1960s against the Vietnam War? I don’t first hand, but at least that was a cause to oppose. If these people were protesting the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I would cheer them on to get all our troops home, now, unharmed.

This movement is ridiculous and Brookfield Properties should end it before someone gets either seriously ill or hurt. When the first snowstorm hits, are these people going to cut and run or suffer in the cold and possibly get frostbite?

If these people really want to torture the business people on Wall Street, I have the perfect solution. Lure them into the park, strap them to a bench, put headphones on them and make them listen to nothing but Christmas music.

It’s not quite torture, but, personally, I would rather be water boarded than have to listen to that stuff. Bah! Humbug!

Matt Seinberg lives on Long Island, a few minutes east of New York City. He looks at everything around him and notices much. Somewhat less cynical than dyed in the wool New Yorkers, Seinberg believes those who don't see what he does like reading about what he sees and what it means to him. Seinberg columns revel in the silly little things of life and laughter as well as much well-directed anger at inept, foolish public officials. Mostly, Seinberg writes for those who laugh easily at their own foibles as well as those of others.

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