Forum Post: In some ways, it's quite simple: If we remain active, engage in tactical resistance and remain non-violent, we will win this. If we give the 1% their dream come true (violence), they will win. We choose. It's ours to win or lose. Pls spread the word.
Posted 13 years ago on Oct. 27, 2011, 1:30 a.m. EST by therising
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This is scary. Watch what happens here. Tells you a lot about what the attitude of commanders is. Very short clip but says it all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZLyUK0t0vQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player
The way we win is by engaging in active NON-violent resistance. Non-violent tactics of King, Gandhi and Gene Sharp.
Non-violence is power. Dictators around the world have been brought down with Mr. Sharp's tactics and the ones who haven't criticize him openly out of fear. Col. Donald F Bletz of the Army War College said that Sharp's tactics should be a part of the nation's defense policy.
Read King and Gandhi's autobiography. See the film Gandhi and learn how powerful non-violent tactics really are.
We can win this. It is within our grasp if we adhere to strong active non-violent resistance.
Re. "In some ways, it's quite simple: If we remain active, engage in tactical resistance and remain non-violent, we will win this. If we give the 1% their dream come true (violence), they will win. We choose. It's ours to win or lose. Pls spread the word."
I feel that tho' your forum-post is over 3 months old now, it is permanently relevant & really rather important. Thus, I link to a more recent 'forum post' from myself which I humbly and sincerely feel speaks to the spirit of your post above : http://occupywallst.org/forum/for-those-of-the-99-truly-serious-about-non-violen/ .
SOLIDARYTY and "SATYAGRAHA" ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satyagraha ) to all things 'Occupy' !!!
Acta Non Verba ;-)
My perception is that the media is now successfully spinning this as being the fault of the protesters. That sickens me, but I think they are making it work. I think we need to change tactics in light of that fact and get these films out to as many as possible. They aren't showing this stuff or writing about it.
Partly for this reason, I think we should regroup and refocus on just the two specific issues most Americans can understand: That is money out of politics, and income equality. We should back off direct action until the public can figure out who the villians are.
I agree but think that the only way to change public perception now is to have three or four smaller direct non violent actions in different cities: New York, Chicago and DC perhaps. These would need to be well organized, peaceful and speak to the "money out of politics" and "income inequality" issues. This will get the broad support moving back our way. I would hope we could have large numbers of people who look like middle America so that when this hits news middle America sees their kids out there fighting for real things that matter and getting arrested for it. I think it's vital they see the willingness by people they consider mainstream to get arrested for what they believe in. The beauty is that "get the money out of politics" and "address severe income inequality" are two causes that about 70% of Americans can get behind. To tell you the truth, as a result of that, I think this shouldn't be hard at all to repair the PR damage. Americans have short attention spans and press is hungry for the next story.
I think we must first renounce violence unconditionally. Therefore anyone carrying out acts of violence and meaningless destruction would automatically be outside of this movement.
My willingness to stay in this movement is predicated upon that stance, and It must be addressed one way or the other.
You make a great point. I agree.
you have exactly what you want 3000 miles east in europe, go there and you don't have to protest. ps. don't mind all but 2 are going bankrupt. enjoy
Once again, so true!
I want to get violent for some short-term release while knowing that it is a losing (lack of) strategy. We can't win with violence because we do not own violence. We are fighting violence and the enemy trumps supreme. Gotta use our brains, thats our monopoly.
Non violent protest only works when it is combined with an action that forces the oppressors to relent.
An example is the 1955 Montgomery AL bus boycott, sparked by Rosa Parks arrest. After a year of finding alternative ways of transportation, segregation in buses ended.
We need to take similar action. Do not support the corporations and special interests with your money, until they stop their unfair influence of government. If you buy their product, you support those who oppress you.
What is it that the movement wants to win? There are no clear set of goals and without any goals, there is no end state which means there is no winning. See Operation Iraqi Freedom for an example of a winless occupation.
Gandhi and King had real messages and real stuggle you guys don't
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/26/michael-moore-piers-morgan_n_1032428.html
The first step in becoming a truly non-violent protest is making sure official OWS press releases are absolutely peaceful. Publishing press releases which tither on the brink of violence causes two probems:
A few days ago, OWS published this press release:
http://occupywallst.org/article/solidarity-sunday/
The headline reads "Wear Black Fight Back" and is presented on top of an image which features an explosion just above the word "cops". A close inspection of the image reveals that the explosion was added with an image processing software.
At a time when many people accuse Occupy protesters of using violence because of the black bloc's actions, this is not the type of marketing that OWS needs. By releasing this type of material, OWS is shooting itself in the foot if its goal is truly to be seen and understood as a non-violent protest.
Personally, it dumbfounds me that earnest Occupy protesters, those who represent the majority of protesters and do not want to use violence, are not complaining about this issue. It really is the first step at fixing Occupy's reputation.
If the NYCGA can't be more careful when publishing press releases, and if earnest protesters don't complain when problematic material is published by the NYCGA, then I feel that Occupy deserves the reputation of being a violent protest.
I've notified the NYCGA and they haven't removed this news article. What does that tell me? It tells me they don't really care how they are perceived by the mass media. Hell, they are feeding the idea that they promote violence all by themselves. There's no reason to look at Fox news to come up with that concept.
This is a serious issue you raise. It is very important we all pay attention to what you're saying here and consider it. Here in this comment of yours may lie the future of the movement. It's hanging in the balance. And the NYCGA holds the power to decide which direction this goes. What's it going to be?
Here is a recording of another great one from the 60s: http://www.randirhodes.com/pages/rrnews.html?feed=393046&article=9687222
IN DEPTH: Who The Hell Is Saul Alinsky? He's not the man Newt Gingrich - and many of the right-wing extremists - think he was.
Read more: http://www.randirhodes.com/pages/rrnews.html?feed=393046&article=9687222#ixzz1l6BueFnK Unite and Win! Unite and Win! 2010 Never EVER Again!!
"dictators around the world"? Who?
Yes, even though I'm mad as hell right now, I know that non-violence is the only way. PS The goal is to bring the 99% to their senses!
It really is true. Nonviolence is the most powerful weapon. Direct nonviolent action can move mountains.
Hey, therising, did you ever see this documentary about the women of Liberia who overthrew despot Charles Taylor non-violently?
Here's the link and please forgive me if you were the one who sent it to me. I can't keep anything straight anymore:
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/women-war-and-peace/full-episodes/pray-the-devil-back-to-hell/
Thanks for the suggestion. I'll check it out.
We can do this. We know where we're going. We have the instinct.
Let's take the high road and react to brutality of the 1% with defiant non-violence, withholding from them the one thing they want.
Now is the time to rise with provocative non-violent resistance ala Gene Sharp.
We can win this. Stay strong. Stay forceful. Stay focused. Stay centered. Be provocative. And always be non-violent.
"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent-resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. Just as Socrates felt that it was necessary to create a tension in the mind so that individuals could rise from the bondage of myths and half-truths to the unfettered realm of creative analysis and objective appraisal, we must we see the need for nonviolent gadflies to create the kind of tension in society that will help men rise from the dark depths of prejudice and racism to the majestic heights of understanding and brotherhood.
The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation. I therefore concur with you in your call for negotiation."
Here's the entire "Letter from the Birmingham Jail":http://abacus.bates.edu/admin/offices/dos/mlk/letter.html
the people funding ows ( soros, the unions, ) want violence.
That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
it's not ridiculous, it's horrifying