Forum Post: 2 Months!!

Mic check. MIC CHECK!

It’s now 11.18.2011 and I feel great.

In case anyone missed it, November 17th was one of the biggest days for the Occupy WallStreet movement. By day’s end, the support in New York City reached an estimate of 36,000 peaceful protestors and it was absolutely amazing. Sadly, I live in a town of no importance and I was unable to make it anywhere that could have made any difference. I would’ve loved to protest in New York or in my home for 6 months - Portland, Oregon. I miss Portland.

But! I stayed here. On my couch. I watched the LiveStream on my laptop. And as I watched, I quickly spread the word to my immediate family and on occasion my mom would show an interest. I posted the news on my Facebook and in a forum in which I participate. I tried so hard to rally the troops but I found myself alone in my own world with my laptop. As I watched, though, I knew I wasn’t alone.

Hundreds of miles away from gaining traction for myself, I watched the Occupy WallStreet LiveStream, and I felt as if I was a part of the movement. In my home, I marched with those people. I shouted back against the ones taking away our freedoms and our rights. I stood strong against the oppressors. I agreed with the students fighting for accessible and affordable education. I shouted with the unknowns, “Whose street? Our street!” I encouraged everyone to keep going as the protesters blocked the streets, the subways, the sidewalks, and as the protestors delayed the opening of the stock exchange.

One day soon, I hope to make it to Wall Street in-person. This is a rally that needs to be embraced and judging by the video I saw, this movement needs to be experienced first-hand.

The movement is addressing lots of great things. Oppressing everyone by taking away rights and freedoms and backing them into a corner without access to things like healthcare or education or jobs is just plain wrong. We should all have the same rights and same access and same opportunity. When a person says that someone is less than themselves or that the protestors should “get a job!” that person just doesn’t understand.

Know this: The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as result of a buying-off a politician or any other leader. The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as a result of destroying a humane doctrine. The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as a result of corporate greed. The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as result of destroying our environment and/or resources. The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as a result of bullying our citizens or other country’s citizens. The rights, the access, and the opportunity shouldn’t come as a result of the need to dominate and to control.

Until the ones we’ve elected to represent ALL of us wake up and change things for the better, this operation will continue in full-force. The occupation of the streets may not happen month after month but the ideas will always live on. We need to remind ourselves that we’re all connected. We should love each other and work together. We shouldn’t be fighting a have/have not war amongst ourselves. Working together is the only way that will solve this problem. It’s the only thing that’s going to move us forward as a country and as a people. I believe in this movement. I believe in us. I believe in the embracing of love and peace. I believe it can and will happen.

We are the 99%.