Okay, a change of tack. The statistic thingy is telling me I've been read over 200 times, but I suspect those reads are just bots crawling all over the web looking for stories to send/sell to news/opinion aggregators. So, I'm just going to use this space for what might become random thoughts/ideas.
At the moment, I'm plugged into a live stream of OWS/99% protesters occupying an area adjacent to an empty lot owned by Trinity church properties. Occupy Wall Street would like to occupy the space. The church is refusing to grant permission on the grounds that by providing such things as bathroom facilities, blankets, some food and hot coco, that they've done enough. Typical of churches. Big on appearance but very little actual substance. Trinity owns most of lower Manhattan, so they're anything but part of the 99%. Again, typical. My experience is that churches and religions are relentlessly hypocritical when it comes to power - either political or economic. They're the polar opposites of their Biblical heroes such as Moses and Jesus. But they're more than just blind to the fact that for enough silver, they'll sell out not only those fictional leaders, but anyone and everyone else.
Back to the OWS. First, I think this may be the most important political activity of the 21st century. It has the potential to bring about real change for everyday people by wresting a fraction of the power held by the moneyed interests. One of the first people to be involved is David Graeber who is an anthropology professor/writer and an anarchist. Don't be afraid of that term. Anarchists are not nihilists. He advocates a position similar to that of the Diggers. What both advocate is a political/economic system free of the importance of money and/or police/military.
That said, I'm a little pissed today 'cause when I tried a link from an OWS name on twitter earlier, I was directed to a video stream where I had to watch a commercial in order to see what was going on in NYC. It wasn't worth watching the commercial in order to watch a few people standing around waiting for something to happen. Eventually people are going to make a tidal wave of profit from this movement. Some will be the Abbie Hoffmans who exploit whoever and whatever for the advancement of self. some will be decent people prior to becoming spoiled by the money, others will be the usual ghouls who people now recognize as zombies. Only these zombies are attracted to money rather than flesh. I hate to be negative, but it's only a matter of time 'till people prey on the good intentions of almost anyone (including me) involved with the movement.
More later
posted by Unknown @ 11:05 AM
2 Comments
2 Comments:
Re Occupy & Trinity Church: You don’t need to be religious to understand -and embrace- the idea that "Whatsoever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." But many of the 1%, in blind greed and endless schemes, have forgotten this. They have closed their eyes to what the word "society" should really mean, what it can mean. But due to Occupy Wall Street, we are finally talking less about CUTS and more about BLEEDING. Instead of demanding m-o-r-e budget cuts -to be borne by the middle class and poor- we are FINALLY focusing on the shameful bleeding that the poor and middle class has endured, for all too long. Instead of talking about even m-o-r-e cuts in the taxes of millionaires....we are now talking about fairness and justice - about an economy and a political system that is increasingly run for the rich, and by the rich. Instead of talking about LESS government, we are talking about a government that WORKS FOR ALL OF US, not just a favored few. Thank you OWS, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter, and for helping open our eyes to what’s going on in this country, and why. The attempt by OWS to occupy Duarte Square (the empty lot owned by Trinity Church) is much more than a plea for sanctuary. For like Zuccotti Park, it’s an attempt to carve out a protected space, a living conscience for the city, amid the repression. A refuge...in a city where control-freaks would sweep us under the rug, and out of the way. In a city where they would pen us in, and permit us to death. In a city that tells us to “move on, move on”..... you don’t belong, you don’t count, you don’t have a right to be here...don’t assemble, don’t block the street, don’t trespass, don’t EXIST! They would deny us, deny our lives, deny our very futures. IF WE LET THEM. But OWS responds, both in word and in DEED: it says we’ve had ENOUGH - we BELONG, we STAND our ground, and we DO matter! This IS our land, and we want it BACK! The word OCCUPY...says it all! That’s why OWS has captured our imagination. That’s why a living breathing OCCUPIED public space is important for OWS. Like Lady Liberty’s never extinguished torch that burns in our harbor, OWS needs to have a concrete, persistent, in-your-face presence.. ..to continually remind us of what we’ve lost, of what we are, and what we can be; a protected place to affirm, to illuminate, to defy...and to inspire. Trinity Church, with its oft-proclaimed ideals (and its huge land holdings), should look deep into its collective soul, do the right thing, and help OWS secure a sanctuary. Not merely a space of refuge, but one of hope, non-violent change, and compassion. And dare I say: a space of love - love of country, love of your fellow man and woman, love for the poor and oppressed. Can thoughtful Christians argue with these simple Christian / human values? For if Christ were physically with us today, as He was 2000 years ago, He would be among the FIRST to climb those fences, and occupy Trinity’s Duarte Square. Of this I am certain. Let us pray that Trinity Church -and others -hear the call, and respond. For the old ways are not working...
I agree for the most part, which I think I summed up with OWS likely being the most important political movement of the 21st century. Obviously, we can't know that since we have over 80 years left to find out. :) A point I'd politely disagree with is that "this IS our land," It's not. Not in reality. There is no land I'm aware of that does not belong to some legal entity. And that's one reason why movements like OWS are so critical. There's no reason that land owned by municipalities cannot or should not be occupied by citizens other than in doing so, some residents will find it aesthetically displeasing. They don't mind the fact that there are poor disenfranchised people (mostly children) unless they're forced to look at what that fact represents.
OWS and similar organizations can change that fact simply by forcing the ultra-wealthy to have to see the reality they have engineered with their hired guns.
Lastly, thanks for the response! It was not only a very good piece of commentary, it proves at least one human has read something here. :)
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