Forum Post: Good luck with the Movement - From South Africa
Posted 12 years ago on Nov. 17, 2011, 12:31 p.m. EST by Warlynx
(64)
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Hi all
I just want to say keep the faith, be strong and be brave. What you are doing is right! Charity starts at home, and all though I am thankful for the help the American public has dished out to the world and the many good things it has done I can't help but to condemn the crazy amount of money they spend on their war machine.
You are touching on the principles of Ubuntu, and for that I take my hat off.
Everyday you are in my thoughts, and I write articles about the movement to try and muster some more support from you from South Africa.
Be safe!
Thank you - together we will prevail!
Yes, the winds or change are blowing across the globe, everywhere normal people are becoming more dissident with their governments. Take China for example, you read and hear more and more about dissidents from that side of the Great Firewall, and it because of advancement in technology, Governments can't push out propaganda quickly enough, because information is getting shared at ludicrous speed
they want a communist country. if that happens, I'm moving to Africa with you
ikki5 - I doubt they are trying for a communist country, and they seem smart enough to steer clear of that option.
I think they just want America to fix things at "home" first before they try and fix the rest of the world through military action et al.
Don't know if you are aware of how many US military bases there are in other countries, and they are now building a new one on a South Korean island, and increasing the size of the one in Australia.
Call me a bit paranoid and skittish, but I get nervous when one of the big superpowers of the world which has been in every major conflict since WW1 start with troop deployment across the globe. It won't only affect the US itself, if the shyte hits the fan, but the whole world, and then my friend, not even Africa can shield you from the flames.
PS: You are still welcome to come visit though :) It's good to treat foreigners and show them around our beautiful country
well I'd like to believe it but the way they talk about equality, sounds like they want everyone equal, making the same amount. no one better than anyone else. Sure that is good but... there is corruption in that context because we are human
It takes some time to understand the real tone of this movement. I for one would hate to impose conformity on everyone - that will only impede progress for all. Some will get rich quicker and that is just fine but those who get rich need to guide along others to follow their paths, and hopefully NO ONE is left behind. South Africa shook off its hateful yoke of apartheid peacefully. One of my ancestors endured a baton hit in Capetown and bore the scar permanently but it was a mark of honor! Somebody stood up in those dark days and I am proud to be a descendant. We have come a long way in the U.S. from those dark days but we can certainly learn from how South Africa succeeded in its relatively peaceful reforms to get rid of apartheid.
@grapes - Heya :) South Africa in your bones? That is quite something.
You are right, we somehow managed to get through it peacefully, but our democracy is also in dire straits now. Greed is bleeding it dry, and tax payer money is not getting to where it is suppose to go, leaving millions behind who still have little or no access to running water, sewage, electricity.
I am sure you can understand the frustration on this side. The few with political and economical pull are now our Class Elite, black and white, yellow and brown while the rest of South Africa suffers.
That is why I support the OWS movement, because I am pretty sure we will have the same type of movement over here soon
@Warlynx: I trust our veterans the most in being less militaristic because they have gone through living hell and really know what it is like in war. On them I want to erect the power to do good in our society. They still have the military know-how at home to checkmate the Class Elite if need be. For South Africa, it is probably best to provide clean running water first, free universal vaccinations and low-cost medical care next, then sewage treatment and electricity, and education, too.
To avoid hoarding, we need to do away with scarcities, real or apparent. To share more using less resource usually means more liquid flow of resources and plentiful cooperation on their way. That is a governance issue and usually the rule of law is needed with plenty of good wills, too. Trading is more dignified for the parties involved than just giving and receiving aids. Often small tokens given in return can be much better than complete freebies. Vibrant trading is frequently the foundation of prosperity but the government needs to stand guard to enforce fair trade.
Welfare state is not the way; nor is capitalism without societal and humanitarian constraints. We all need to empathize the universal need for health, education, and security. To jump-start the process, we probably have to ask the wealthy to chip in first. If you as a parent are in need, will you not ask the strongest of your offspring to help?
ikki5 - I agree with you, and there is no short term solution because inherently human being are occupied with hoarding as much of everything they deem necessary for their way of life, something I think got left in our DNA as we evolved from hunter gatherer's with no steady supply of food.
This leads to greed ultimately and I believe the purpose of the OWS movement is to say to the Ultra Rich in society "Hey, really? Do you not think that the 20 cars you own is a bit silly? You are 4 in your house hold, why not use those 4 and share the rest with people who are less fortunate than yourself" in essence.
I also understand that one don't want to create a well fare state where you get one guy working his ass off, and 19 free loaders living of him, but there are also ways around that. That is why I believe that a philosophical system like Ubuntu needs to replace today's "Cogito ergo sum" philosophy.
We need to set aside our differences and get together as a global community to work on solving common problems like our finite resources, our huge energy requirements, our food production security and living space.
That will only be possible if we get past the material hoarding that got left behind in our DNA