Comments on: Ice Cream in the Park http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/ We are the 99% We will no longer remain silent! Wed, 07 Mar 2012 13:48:25 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: marlon http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/#comment-237 marlon Wed, 16 Nov 2011 19:07:33 +0000 http://occupyatlanta.org/?p=764#comment-237 For sure, what i wrote should not be mistaken as an attack on Ben Cohen. I, for one, regret that I couldn't get some ice cream :) And I'm sure Ben is a very nice fellow. But when we mention major 1% corporations uncritically in connection with the Occupy movement, it is notable and significant. We must be very careful not to accidentally imply support of them.And anyway, I don't see anything contradictory about saying that we like for Ben Cohen to support Occupy Atlanta and give out free ice cream, and that Ben & Jerry's is part of a 1% megacorp which is destroying our livelihoods in pursuit of limitless profit. Either half of that message by itself would be incomplete. For sure, what i wrote should not be mistaken as an attack on Ben Cohen. I, for one, regret that I couldn’t get some ice cream :) And I’m sure Ben is a very nice fellow.
But when we mention major 1% corporations uncritically in connection with the Occupy movement, it is notable and significant. We must be very careful not to accidentally imply support of them.

And anyway, I don’t see anything contradictory about saying that we like for Ben Cohen to support Occupy Atlanta and give out free ice cream, and that Ben & Jerry’s is part of a 1% megacorp which is destroying our livelihoods in pursuit of limitless profit. Either half of that message by itself would be incomplete.

]]> By: Oliver http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/#comment-235 Oliver Wed, 16 Nov 2011 03:05:52 +0000 http://occupyatlanta.org/?p=764#comment-235 Keep in mind as well that Ben Cohen has supported the 99% Movement from the beginning and supported the movement with donations and personal presence since the beginning, without asking for media coverage or any other privileges, just like Sen. Vincent Ford and many others that have been supportive of us. Many "rich" people do so, because not all of them are evil, they are human beings too and see the evil that has infested our government. Keep in mind as well that Ben Cohen has supported the 99% Movement from the beginning and supported the movement with donations and personal presence since the beginning, without asking for media coverage or any other privileges, just like Sen. Vincent Ford and many others that have been supportive of us. Many “rich” people do so, because not all of them are evil, they are human beings too and see the evil that has infested our government. ]]> By: robertf http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/#comment-234 robertf Wed, 16 Nov 2011 02:50:48 +0000 http://occupyatlanta.org/?p=764#comment-234 Marlon, I hope (and assume) you'll be there tomorrow. Hopefully there can be some discussions, peacefully, about such issues. I also wonder why Ben & Jerry sold their company, and if they are concerned with the way things are run now. I guess in truth though people can only do so much in their lives -- they shouldn't be expected to run a company themselves for their entire life. I'm glad they did the groundbreaking work that they did do at least. And perhaps Ben will be nice enough to have some talks with people about being in the business, as well as social movements, and any new ideas he has.And I'll be there for some ice cream. That's very nice of him. Marlon, I hope (and assume) you’ll be there tomorrow. Hopefully there can be some discussions, peacefully, about such issues. I also wonder why Ben & Jerry sold their company, and if they are concerned with the way things are run now. I guess in truth though people can only do so much in their lives — they shouldn’t be expected to run a company themselves for their entire life. I’m glad they did the groundbreaking work that they did do at least. And perhaps Ben will be nice enough to have some talks with people about being in the business, as well as social movements, and any new ideas he has.

And I’ll be there for some ice cream. That’s very nice of him.

]]> By: SaraA http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/#comment-233 SaraA Tue, 15 Nov 2011 21:44:37 +0000 http://occupyatlanta.org/?p=764#comment-233 "Ben and Jerry's" is not coming to the park; Ben Cohen is. If it had been "Ben and Jerry's will bring us ice cream" I might have balked myself. Also mentioning that he's the co-founder is necessary to identify him because being named "Benjamin Cohen" is like being named "John Smith."The list of corporate products we have accepted as donations is long...such is the reality of building a raft from the bones of the whale that swallowed us. I also disagree (along with many, many other participants in Occupy Atlanta) that members "the 1%" are not welcome. They are and have been welcome at Occupy Wall Street. They just don't get treated any differently from anyone else; they don't get cushioned by the privileges they are used to, including the automatic megaphone of money. If they are game for that, I say let 'em come. “Ben and Jerry’s” is not coming to the park; Ben Cohen is. If it had been “Ben and Jerry’s will bring us ice cream” I might have balked myself. Also mentioning that he’s the co-founder is necessary to identify him because being named “Benjamin Cohen” is like being named “John Smith.”

The list of corporate products we have accepted as donations is long…such is the reality of building a raft from the bones of the whale that swallowed us. I also disagree (along with many, many other participants in Occupy Atlanta) that members “the 1%” are not welcome. They are and have been welcome at Occupy Wall Street. They just don’t get treated any differently from anyone else; they don’t get cushioned by the privileges they are used to, including the automatic megaphone of money. If they are game for that, I say let ‘em come.

]]> By: marlon http://occupyatlanta.org/2011/11/15/ice-cream-in-the-park/#comment-232 marlon Tue, 15 Nov 2011 19:21:06 +0000 http://occupyatlanta.org/?p=764#comment-232 Ben & Jerry's is a Unilever corporation. Unilever is unquestionably part of the 1%. Here is an overview of some of their crimes: http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=260 Obviously Ben Cohen is welcome as an individual, but we should be clear that representatives or supporters of 1% corporations are not welcome. Because no matter how funky and off-beat its brand image is, Ben & Jerry's Inc. is not on our side. Ben & Jerry’s is a Unilever corporation. Unilever is unquestionably part of the 1%. Here is an overview of some of their crimes: http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=260
Obviously Ben Cohen is welcome as an individual, but we should be clear that representatives or supporters of 1% corporations are not welcome. Because no matter how funky and off-beat its brand image is, Ben & Jerry’s Inc. is not on our side. ]]>