Forum Post: Recalling History

In history, do you know what happens when the lower economic classes of society get restless?

Let me tell you.

A LOT of blood.

As an avid history geek, I pride myself on knowing a lot about what happened in the past. I also pride myself on the fact that by understanding the past, I can learn from history's mistakes.

Don't get me wrong, I am all for the lower masses rising up against evil and corruption in the hope of a better future. After all, the beautiful United States of America was born from such an occurrence.

But I am NOT for the lower masses getting so restless and angry that they toss all forms of rationality and reason out the window and follow a cultish set of beliefs that reportedly will carry them to victory over tyranny.

Example. 1918, Germany.

The German people were upset and embarrassed over losing the Great War. They were also angry at the fact that many of their liberties had been lost when they were defeated by the Allies, and that they had to pay for the damages done.

Anger and resentment. Recipe for disaster.

Along comes Hitler. At first, people think he is a nutjob. They even throw him into prison, denouncing his views as rubbish. But it is in prison that he writes his famous book, Mein Kampf. And it is after prison that the German people begin to take notice of his radical beliefs.

I am assuming you all know the rest.

I just want to point out the similarities between these two situations. I am not calling the OWS movement fascist. Do not take this the wrong way.

1930 Germany and 2011 America. Both have millions of people upset at their economic conditions and want to blame somebody. Both have millions of people who are so angry, they refuse to pause for a minute and think through a logical argument that they can present to advocate their cause. And both have radical leaders who will stop at nothing to get their point across.

The only difference is that Germany was blaming the Jews.

I am not saying that Wall Street and the Capitol are not corrupt. Actually, I believe that in some places, the system does need to be reformed.

But I am saying this: those part of the Occupy Movement have rushed and they have made major mistakes!

OWS doesn't even have a formal list of demands. How is anyone going to take this movement seriously if they don't even know what they want? Also, OWS is targeting too broad of a type of people, all those who make over a certain amount of money.

They are not stopping to think that maybe, just maybe, some of those in the "1%" have earned their money honestly and fairly. OWS is not stopping to think that just possibly, some of those people in the "1%" started out in the "99%", and through hard work, determination, and luck, made it to the top.

Also, they are not even pausing to think that, just perhaps, some politicians and businessmen and women are not just acting on their own self interest.

The most important thing that I am asking those part of the OWS movement to consider is to slow down. To think. To rationalize.

Because the movement is already resembling other protests in history.

And we already know how those turned out.

Please stop and think about what you all are saying. I firmly believe in this original cause of OWS, that all of the people should be making the decisions, not just a select few.

But I do not believe in this.