Occupy to Celebrate: The Resilience of OWS
Posted 13 years ago on Dec. 1, 2011, 1:18 a.m. EST by OccupyWallSt
On Saturday December 3rd, 2011, at 10:00 am, Occupy Wall Street and members of the New York faith community invite the Occupy Movement to join in a celebration of our occupation at Liberty Square. We are calling on all occupiers to reenergize our movement, keep Liberty Square active, and share ideas about the importance of outdoor spaces for our future. Bishop George Packard, Pulitzer prize-winning author and journalist Chris Hedges, and OccupyFaith will rally around Occupy Wall Street's immediate need for spaces to continue organizing for social and economic justice.
The event will celebrate the launch of Tidal, a journal of occupation theory from the Occupy Movement. The journal provides a multidisciplinary exposition of the fundamental challenges posed to institutions of the status quo by the organized chaos of human beings relating to each other democratically and authentically. At the event, contributors to the journal will bring its pages to life through readings, musical performances, and artistic exhibitions.
The occupations that we have created, our communities, are the heart of the movement. We will celebrate each other with food, songs, passionate speeches, heart-warming stories, and support from our allies and the broader community. There will be a call to reclaim and occupy outdoor spaces followed by a celebration of the best of our occupation and what is yet to come.
This sounds wonderful. It is great how you are keeping the momentum of the movement going despite the incredible challenges you have had. I read everything about OWS that I can find each day. Please please don't ever give up standing for the people who can't speak up for themselves. The truth shall set us free!
I couldn't have said it better! I get teary eyed & my spirit filled with hope for the future of my young adult children to the future of my grand-children's children. Thank you for not giving up, thank you!
A video for The 99%. We've awakened and we won't go back to sleep.
http://youtu.be/Inncl71jOeU
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Once again, over and over again - Thank You OWS!!!! God bless all of you.
This movement has to become political and to start making demands as for changes in Federal and State Laws as these laws are oppressive and have caused the downgrading of our economy and numerous injustices. Almost anything is now a Federal crime in the USA or just a crime and we must change this. We cannot allow a few people in office to dominate 300 million people. No more. It's also time to organize out own political party in order to keep the movement going ahead for social changes and run our own people for all of the Federal,State and local level or government if we want to see any changes at all.
http://pastebin.com/gm2UV08D This was purported to be written by members of the movement that call themselves anonymous, Long but interesting.
Occupy Haiku: Is is lice? Is it crabs? Sleep next to me my young lovely. If you dare.
we must NOT tolerate crucifixion merchants. they look down on us as sinners if you don't believe their BS. they GROOM children by telling them their mothers are sinners thus undermining basic relationships in our communith. they abuse children with horror stories of crucifixion, a barbaric human sacrifice religion. they get children to imagine they are eating dead jesus' human flesh. they are a bunch of psychos talking to their imaginary friend and following the orders of their male only fascist elite. they want a religious war with muslims. they want to prey upon our vulnerable people and recruit them to their separate community. we must NOT recognise such BS titles as "bishop". look at their failure to protect our children from sexual abuse. fishers of men are predators of men. permitting christians to preach among us is a failure to protect OUR COMMUNITY.
Absolutely right! The religious community, especially the Catholic Church should have NOTHING to do with #Occupy! Oh, Episscopal Bishop. Never mind!
christians are all a bunch of psychos reliving the crucifixion at all their brainwashing religious services, talking to their imaginary friend. believing in virgin birth, resurrection after crucifixion and walking on water is BAD MENTAL HEALTH. the pope is the roman emperor and a hitler youth! they support their own fascist elite.
What resilience? The fact that Liberty Square isn't completely filled during all possible hours has proven to me that this movement is just a fleeting round. That the police evicted, and nobody said "Okay, let's go back in the morning. We won't sleep there, we'll occupy in shifts but still in mass" shows how much of a game this was to everyone. It's sad.
It isn't about the space, which now looks stupidly walled off from public use. The Liberty Sq occupation already had a global impact and played it's role. The 2nd incarnation is going to be bigger than anyone can foresee because people everywhere are waking up
Were you there? Just wondering.
I was frequently there but often with reservation. But implying that if I weren't there, than my opinion isn't valid is problematic anyways.
I continue to be shocked at how easily things have been dissolved. And LoveAndRespect, it wasn't about the space, it was about the presence. I have huge concerns that because of the lackadaisical attitude taken by the movement since the eviction, there will be no bigger second incarnation. I'm shocked at how little I hear about OWS now that the occupation has ended and I don't mean media. I mean conversations, on the subway, at social gatherings, walking down the street. The constant large and loud presence of protesters may not be where the "heart" of the movement was, but it IS what kept "outsiders" attention, it's what inspired people or enraged them, and without an immediate resurgence I think that ground has been lost. I wish that wasn't my opinion, because I wanted to see OWS really change things, but I think in the end (and I believe we're heading towards that way), the faults within the movement will be cited as the downfall. There needed to be, or needs to be, a strong immediate bounce back. Peoples passion becomes diffused. This generation doesn't have time for a Valley Forge approach. Ambivalence has marked them, and the last generation or two, and there needs to be a snowball rolling. My thoughts at least.
I was wondering if you had first-hand knowledge/experience from having participated, and how close you are to the situation now. I'm hoping that the momentum is still there and that people are just incubating, waiting for the next big opportunity. Do we have the where-with-all to go all out as they did in Madison last winter? I am not a NYC person and am participating in local activities. It seems to me that winter could be spent in devising means for education and outreach. Though there is enough authentic passion to fuel the movement, people still need to study the core issues and spread the knowledge in order to unify people in a common cause. Already the politicians have begun to adopt the language (or co-opt it)--I don't know how to read that signal. There are many approaches to building a movement, not the least of which is Van Jones's Rebuild the Dream project. OWS is one manifestation of a groundswell of political energy that is charging. I don't think you have to despair. Carry on, and do your own good work. Peace, RC
we are everywhere
For those that appose religious affiliations. Don't think of the movement in terms of likeness. Think of it in terns of diversity. It still takes a community to survive. WE don't have to agree on everything. We only have to protect the rights and treatment of everyone whom is just and loving and helpful. It srves no one to exclude we must include. That is the 99% and that is what it must remain. Otherwise it is no longer the 99% !
[-] Wishful 13 points 3 days ago
This sounds wonderful. It is great how you are keeping the momentum of the movement going despite the incredible challenges you have had. I read everything about OWS that I can find each day. Please please don't ever give up standing for the people who can't speak up for themselves. The truth shall set us free! ↥like ↧dislike reply permalink [-] RockyJ 5 points 3 days ago
I couldn't have said it better! I get teary eyed & my spirit filled with hope for the future of my young adult children to the future of my grand-children's children. Thank you for not giving up, thank you! ↥like ↧dislike reply permalink [-] sqrltyler 3 points 3 days ago
A video for The 99%. We've awakened and we won't go back to sleep.
http://youtu.be/Inncl71jOeU ↥like ↧dislike reply permalink [-] Skyeskye1 3 points 3 days ago
Once again, over and over again - Thank You OWS!!!! God bless all of you.
Please, understand that now all of you and myself included are part of this uprising,of this Global Revolution and the OWS movement. Yes,we will not stop now until we change this unconstitutional,evil government and its oppressive laws and corrupt political/economic system. Already our forward people are helping the homeless, the poor, and organizing so well in many other areas and all of this in only two months. That's impressive to say the least. This movement is huge and we will prevail because the will and the numbers are there. All my best to any of you.
Occupy Haiku: 17 day Hawaii vacation: Taxpayer bucks: But he cares
Occupy Haiku:
Cannot afford Revolt. Black-dot sneaks twice Amazon Nike! No sale!
we are no fly by night operation!!! we are into the business of relating the serious business of neutralizing the war maggots and calling for peace and justice!!! we have only begun to take the energy everywhere !!! we are everywhere...we are in nyc and we are in the tiniest hamlets in america!!! we will relate the issues at the primaries and the conventions!!! now just wait
Right On!
http://occupywallst.org/forum/approaching-a-metapolitical-discourse/
http://metapolitik.org/article/approaching-metapolitical-discourse
http://rebooting.personaldemocracy.com/
http://rebootingdemocracy.org/
http://rebooting.personaldemocracy.com/files/Rebooting_America.pdf
http://digital-democracy.org/
http://www.digitaldemocracy.org.uk/
http://www.rushkoff.com/open-source-democracy/
http://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/10753/pg10753.html
Love the idea of occupying the foreclosed home in Brooklyn. Keep up the good work!
The spiritual community in Zuccotti park inspired me to make this movie. Please send to others. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DvwkhRW4ajI
We need to create a third party, the other two are the same; there is too much legislation, daddy saying no, and not enough particpation.
Don't give up. We've only just begun!
Wow this sounds productive!!
I don't like the Occupy Faith thingy. Love Chris Hedges. Bishops, Cardinals & Popes not so much! I think the Movement should stay away from any hint of Faith based stuff, didnt we get enough of that from "W".
Right On! No more of this Holistic Bullcrap!
great idea to get a journal going... i've just set up a blog on a proposal for a direct democratic solution... have a look if you are interested: http://samplocracy.wordpress.com
BEAUTIFUL! There is goodness at the heart of OCCUPY and it is blessed x
Woooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!
This sounds wonderful.[url=http://www.google.com]google[/url]
Where is this thing? Once piece says it's at Zuccotti Park and another gives a 43rd St address. If it's at a loft some place what are you going to do if 1000 people show up?
This sounds wonderful.google
Republican brainstorm Frank Luntz who coins misleading catch phrases for a living stated the following at The Republican Governor’s Association meeting in Florida:
“I'm scared of this anti-Wall Street effort. I’m frightened to death.”
That due to the fact that most Americans want the 1% to pay more and Luntz can bear it because of Republicans legislating 100% for the 1% (that in an insignificant contrast to useless Democrats who legislate 85% for the 1%).
So like his past efforts such as calling the 1% the "job creators" Luntz came up with the following nonsense for Republicans to spew with the help of the corporate media.
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/12/01/379365/frank-luntz-occupy-wall-street/
This "fear" is a win for your movement. Keep up the good work. You out did Frank Luntz. Luntz has always known that the media has dumbed down a majority of Americans through the use of simplistic catch phrases that they can remember and repeat easily, and has capitalized on that by being a human generator of false "simplistic catch phrases" . A very successful one at that, to the detriment of society.
Your phrasing of the 99% vs the 1% is simplistic, but a truthful stroke of genius that has Frank Luntz "scared to death".
John
This is all basically a refresher course in linguistics for people who never read 1984... Control the Language to Control the Thought.
We WANT to tax the rich (At least equally with the rest of us... come on!), but politicians want to give the 1% all possible breaks. So taxing the rich (yay!) becomes the government 'taking money away' (= taxing, no?) from the rich. It also comes dressed as 'punishing the successful' (if taxes are punitive, how are the people who created this mess not paying the highest taxes ever?) Sometimes it shows up as 'discouraging job creators' (If the only people who can create jobs are the 1% or .1% most wealthy, we live in a feudal society and the rest of us are serfs serving our feudal lords.)
We need to educate society to hear what politicians actually mean when they are casting the taxes on the most wealthy as a hindrance on the very people who drive our economy (into the ground). Without dividing the message, we need to make sure people hear and understand that the 99% - 1% is not just a clever thing we say, it's a true economic fact, and it accurately describes the widening gap between the rich who are still getting richer at every turn, and the rest of us.
http://thinkprogress.org/special/2011/12/01/379933/300-economists-occupy-wall-street/
I love the fact that everyone in the world with internet access now knows that "99%" is a symbol for the economically oppressed and disenfranchised majority. I hate the fact that people like Newt Gingrich are "repudiating the concept of the 99 and the 1"... It's not a concept. It's a fact. This is not a theory, this is not an emotion, this is not some crazy slogan that a bunch of us hippies came up with between bong rips. It's a numerical fact that cannot be 'repudiated', denied or ignored.
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/02/income-inequality-in-america-chart-graph
Can we please spread the word that the 99% is not just a slogan, not just a rallying cry, but a very true, numerically based picture of the continuing, increasing economic inequality in this country?
Words of support from American history:
In a speech Robert Kennedy made to the young people of South Africa on their day of affirmation in 1966, Senator Kennedy said, “There is discrimination in this world, and slavery, and slaughter, and starvation. Governments repress their people; millions are trapped in poverty, while the nation grows rich and wealth is lavished on armaments everywhere. These are differing evils, but they are the common works of man. They reflect the imperfection of justice, the inadequacy of human compassion, our lack of sensibility towards the suffering of our fellows. But we can perhaps remember, even if only for a time, that those who live with us are our brothers, that they share with us the same short moment of life, that they seek as we do nothing but the chance to live out their lives in purpose and happiness, winning what satisfaction and fulfillment they can. Surely this bond of common faith, this bond of common goal, can begin to teach us something. Surely we can learn at least to look at those around us as fellow men, and surely we can begin to work a little harder to bind up the wounds among us, and to become in our own hearts brothers and countrymen once again.”
I count myself as being one of the underemployed, struggling to meet my mortgage payments while those that laid me and others off gave themselves raises. Please continue to provide a voice for us!
Steve M.
Uber-rich Capitalist pig Robert Kennedy. Part of the 0.001%. Ignore him.
Yes, yes!! What is yet to come... Forward we go in search of true social justice for the 99%. Forward to realize our full potentials and occupy the human heart. No to War Street and it's evils. Forward! Yes! Yes!
"Pacifism is objectively pro-Fascist. This is elementary common sense. If you hamper the war effort of one side you automatically help that of the other.
"Nor is there any real way of remaining outside such a war as the present one.… others imagine that one can somehow “overcome” the German army by lying on one’s back, let them go on imagining it, but let them also wonder occasionally whether this is not an illusion due to security, too much money and a simple ignorance of the way in which things actually happen.
Despotic governments can stand “moral force” till the cows come home; what they fear is physical force."
—George Orwell
Have to disagree. Nonviolent civil disobedience is not equivalent to pacifism. It is a dynamic process that draws its power from its occupation of the moral high ground, by its manifestation of truth, by the way it holds a mirror to its opponents. Violence is part of the system we wish to transform, and therefore can never be the means by which we achieve our goals. Our strength can be in our numbers.
Firstly, this is a quote from George Orwell written during a real war. I do not promote violence nor do I think it is a tactic the aids the current goals of OWS.
Its admirable that you renounce violence. Activism takes many forms. Remember that no rights or concessions have ever been 'gifted' by the oppressing classes. Everything was won through activism of various methods. Adhering to one path alone is a strategy that is more easily suppressed. Diversify yourselves.
The very ability and rights that you have to vocalize, propose and support an opposition at all is, in the US, a result of many many people fighting and revolting - often with violence - against the powers that would deny the people all rights. This happened during all of the 1700's ("Freedom from .. all domestic oligarchy." - this meant George Washington) and even in Philadelphia armed citizens mounted several attacks to oppose the inequality being considered by the "Founding Fathers" during the Continental Congress. The Bill of Rights was won by insurrection and even then they constitute 'negative freedoms' wherein they preserve the repressive powers of the wealthy.
Read ALL of Noam Chomsky and for a primer watch the documentary "Rebel without a Pause".
“I suppose that, at some point, the ruling class will simply strike back by force, and there has to be defense against that force, and that probably means violent revolution.” - Noam Chomsky
Read "Deep Green Resistance" (Keith, Jensen & McBay) The economy and the environment are one issue - our survival.
"The task of an activist is not to navigate systems of oppressive power with as much personal integrity as possible; it is to dismantle those systems."
"Despotic governments can stand “moral force” till the cows come home; what they fear is physical force." InDeed.
Thank-you for your response, which is forceful. However, I remain unpersuaded. You strike me as a pragmatist, and I must concede your point that few victories have been won through nonviolent means alone. But aren't Ghandi's and MLK's campaigns exceptions. I think so--indeed.
In which ever sense you mean "pragmatist" it likely fits. Ideals are great until they fail. Its especially not great when they fail to preserve peoples' integrity, well-being and lives.
There are many good reasons for us to advocate and support non-violent principles. I think both Ghandi and MLKs accomplishments are indeed exceptions and peculiar to their milieu - I doubt their non-violent strategies would have had the same result without the specific conditions in which they operated; their times were 'mature'.
The dominant condition operating in today's Capitalist-Industrial system is the integration of, and full support of, the state. They operate as one. Any advantage a people's movement might gain in correcting (subverting) the system is quickly and carefully neutralized by the state's pervasive power.
In one way or another all above.ground movements will be made ineffective.
Perhaps violence is in need of distinctions; there exists the violence of self-defense, for political resistance and in spontaneous opposition to the material ability of the dominant system to oppress.
Each person needs to determine what is appropriate to their own goals.
I look forward to the stream and/or the recorded excerpts to share!
Keep Changing and Adapting. It confuse the 1%. Fair-ness.
Problem is the 1% isn't confused...they're amused! The Prez comes to town and who does he visit with? Yeah, those guys...they wave their money around and he changes his tune...
Yes - they are confused because they are too narrow-minded and think they can control everything too easily. This makes them easily sideswiped by creativity and adaptability.
Love this, LoveAndRespect.
I think OWS movement should focus on the corruption-free government management and policy making. Congressmen and senators are servants of special interest groups, particularly, the most Tax-funded defence industries. USA politicians are smart-corrupted to the extend way over others.
http://knowledge321.wordpress.com/ will be in NYC April checkers anyone........
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The Republican circus goes on and on and on. More than ever, as I look at the sorry set of Republican “rivals” on the other side, I am THANKFUL to have Barack Obama as President, and as a viable candidate for re-election. Mr. Obama: your heart, your values, and your basic decency are all in the right place. But...your hands are tied. Unfortunately they were tied by us, the electorate.....when we failed to provide you with a Congress that you can work with. Instead, you are saddled with a don’t-tax-the-1%-do-nothing Congress that battles you at every turn, while the people suffer. God, they don't EVEN let you pass your own appointments. It's not Tea-publican gridlock - it's Tea-publican sabotage. it's Tea-publican treason....while the 99% BLEEDS. And then they try to pin the blame on Mr. Obama. These people have no shame...or else its been purchased by those who can afford to do so. Grandma gets her meager Social Security check, and they call it “socialism”. Give me a break! (and Grandma too!) Thankfully, with Occupy Wall Street, America has found its voice: a voice that reminds us that people -ordinary working people- really DO matter. Not “corporations are people-people” , but REAL people! Tea-publicans want even more tax-break-corporate-welfare-loopholes....while they send our jobs overseas, and wish that we’d go away too. They talk about “welfare queens”, but hey, if these guys don’t have enough mistresses, I can hook them up with a few gorgeous -and rich!- oil companies. It would be a perfect blind date, except for the fact that they’re ALREADY in bed with them :-). But instead of talking about less government , and more corporate welfare, and more painful cuts to those who can LEAST afford it..., Occupy is a voice that demands a government that WORKS, a government that works FOR ALL OF US, not just for a favored few,...not just for the rich. It’s a voice that comes up from the grassroots, and lifts us up in turn: because it insists that this land IS our land...and that we WANT IT BACK! And most importantly, it's a voice that will help us re-elect the President AND give him a more progressive Congress to work with. Mr. Obama: I wish you well. OWS: I wish you continued growth, and success. You both STILL give me hope.
Obama is the paid stooge of Wall St . Sold out to Big Pharma and the Health Insurance Industry (Obama Care) Sent 40,000 more Kids to Afghanistan to be killed or Maimed. Sold out Seniors by putting Medicare and Social Security on the chopping block to make a deal with Republicans. No Better Than Bush NBTB. Medicare for all. Bring the troops home NOW !
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Another major objective OWS should focus upon is to demand the elected government officials and leaders put out the strategies and policies to rapidly rebuild the beautiful USA. At a couple dozens of millions of Americans are suffering. Millions of American children are starving at USA.
http://pastebin.com/gm2UV08D This was purported to be written by members of the movement that call themselves anonymous, Long but interesting.
Another major objective OWS should focus upon is to demand the elected government officials and leaders put out the strategies and policies to rapidly rebuild the beautiful USA. At a couple dozens of millions of Americans are suffering. Millions of American children are starving at USA.
Does everyone know about Occupy Broadway? We are also occupying a public plaza in the theater district from 6pm Friday until 6pm Saturday... Meet at the TKTS plaza at 47th and Broadway at 6pm Friday and we will all walk to the undisclosed location to have a 24 hour occupation with performances the whole time! go to Facebook.com/occupybroadway to find out more and stay in touch.... This is an official occupy movement...
OWS has Staying Power! I really wish I could be there because it's going to be inspirational. It's good to see the movement evolving to cover more issues... it all connects and unity is the key. Wall Street/Gov corruption hurts nearly every aspect of our lives and the cost is too great when it causes war, environmental destruction and loss of Liberty. Outdoor space is our home so yeah, it's everything. People are waking up and uniting, so keep that OWS tidal wave sweeping the World! Stand strong! Peace
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I know the US is jesusland and all but you would do well to distance yourself from these religious parasites.
love and respect
100 % Correct .