If the movement stopped tomorrow, shut down and went home, we've still won. We've got kids who never voted interested in the political process. We've woken up apathetic people who are starting to realize the system is broken and perhaps even some politicians have awoken to the fact that we're on to them.
Credit unions have seen an uptick in business and big banks have been forced to back off adding fees to the accounts of the middle and working class. The rabid attacks on #OWS and the participants shows just how scared those who benefit from the status quo are right now. First they ignored us. I remember the snarky comments from Ali Velshi on CNN about 6 weeks ago when the first occupiers showed up and he told me it wasn't a news story worth covering. Then they mocked us as being "commies" and we responded with military members supporting us. Then they fought us and created pictures of police brutality that blew up Facebook and Twitter. Now we've won and everything from here on out is just icing on the cake. We've changed the national dialogue, and we're just getting started.
The kids who are marching, taking rubber bullets and being vilified by Fox News are future members of our government. They're learning the art of peaceful protest and the harsh realities of the system of democracy. I couldn't be more proud.
Hear here!!
ReplyDeleteGood for you..
ReplyDelete"We've changed the national dialogue, and we're just getting started." WORD to that comment especially.
ReplyDeleteYou're more encouraged than I am, I really hope you're right. I hope something comes of this. I hope the Occupy movement really inspires the disenfranchised to become a part of the political process and become an agent of change. I guess for now, all I have is hope. Glad to see you're more positive about it.
ReplyDeleteThe political process is rancid. It is no longer possible to effect meaningful change through traditional avenues in this country. Every level of government has been bought by mostly anonymous corporate interests. The only option left to us is to throw ourselves in front of the machine, clogging its gears with our bodies.
ReplyDeleteGreat post! I for one am raising three children ages 8,9, and 10. They are occupiers. We stayed at the OccupyKC site but not now only because it's too cold but come summer, we will be back and it's the children who ask to go to the "Occupation" everyday. This is their education, more than any public school could ever come close to with thier lies,coercian, and brainwashing. I don't know what will happen, who does? Our story http://whoarethe99percent.blogspot.com/2011/11/too-little-too-late.html
ReplyDeleteYou know...I think you're right. And this is an encouraging thing to hear from someone else too. People are stirring, and thinking, and minds are sharpening. It's really cool to see. Even people like my mom, who hates politics and actually disagrees with some of the ways the protestors went about making their points heard, has gotten involved in this and agrees with the Occupiers' points themselves. She and I have had hours upon hours of beautiful discussion about it, and she's even gone on to share her thoughts about it with others of her age and social circle. That's huge, when a movement that's seen as being largely supported by young hippie types (like myself) can get a middle-class, middle-aged, politics-hating lady like my mom not only agreeing but actively involved.
ReplyDeleteYes, I think it's working. I think we've gotten the attention we need to be heard and begin spreading change.