I was just chatting with some friends at UCSC about the trope...

I was just chatting with some friends at UCSC about the trope of the tent. We liked that something that is usually used as a symbol of impermanence and therefore insignificance or even cause for oppression (such as the ancient Jews wandering through the desert in tents, and contemporary nomadic groups like the Bedouin who are greatly oppressed today) has been appropriated to show resistance, commitment, and permanent struggle. It doesn't even matter if you're in the tent for practical purposes, as these floating tents, yesterday's tent inside of Bank of America, and others show. I feel like I could just say the word "tent" to someone and either cause a cheer of solidarity or a police beatdown…

Gabi Kirk, in a comment at:

http://zunguzungu.wordpress.com/2011/11/17/thy-life-is-a-flitting-state-a-tent-for-a-night/