Forum Post: SOLIDARITY.
Posted 13 years ago on Sept. 30, 2011, 1 a.m. EST by JSoto
(6)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
WE NEED DEMANDS. The Egyptians demanded to overturn Mubarak. The African Americans across the nation demanded voting rights and fought against Jim Crow laws that cemented segregation into our society.
In order to have true solidarity you must demand something in return. The freedom rides and sit-ins all were done with an aim...
The notion of disenfranchising the banking oligarchs is a righteous one, however there needs to be a demand. Solidarity will come with social pressure but also organization and relentlessness in that organization.
Dancing around in your underwear and acting like a novelty hippie only creates a charicature of ourselves and does not promote the cause but only allows the masses to view us as directionless, uninformed and here conveniently jump on a bandwagon.
It only sets us back to be viewed in that light. Organization and relentlessness is key - this isn't Bonnaroo - but a chance to be part of a revolution.
Here is my suggested list of demands. The demands are fairly specific (but could use some editing), there is a deadline and non-violent tactics that work are outlined. I'm very interested in your comments because I'd like to get it to the point that it's worthy of submission to those handling the official list of demands.
https://occupywallst.org/forum/our-turn/ .
If you find this list of any value, please pass it on to others. Thanks.
any and all comments or possible revisions will be submitted!
I'm going to pass this on to as many as I can. It's nearly ideal.
Thanks! I want to be clear that this list of demands was assembled from people's suggestions on this forum. It was truly a group effort. I was just the assembler. I honestly don't think it's tight enough but I'm on revision 25 and my eyes are getting tired :). Once you've looked at it as long as I have, it's hard to see the mistakes or areas to improve so I'm hoping it will make its way to as many people as possible so they can collectively point out improvements. It is a wonderful way to edit. I wish I'd had a quality team like this when I was writing papers in college. :). It has been a lot of fun. We even had current execs in investment banking and former traders sending ideas. I'm finding there are lots of people on the inside who aren't comfortable on the inside and would like, at the very least, to see reforms that would make things more fair for them and the American people.
This is incredibly great to hear - and there had been no doubt that there stand insiders tired and conflicted. It's difficult to not be while trying to sustain yourself and maintain a sense of righteousness. It's almost tragic in a way, to be so torn.
I'm refreshed and so incredibly hopeful for all of this. For YEARS i've waited and I finally think something will turn over. I will give this to as many people as possible, accountants, FORMER merill lynch insiders etc to gain some more perspective and to seek some more possible angles. :) Rest your eyes.
The list in progress
https://occupywallst.org/forum/proposed-list-of-demands-please-help-editadd-so-th/
People are too self involved to get unified. We just need to start sneaking into canada before they build a fence....
demands lists have been generated if you scroll down you can find them.
but wont it be easier for the media to pigeonhole us if we make a list of demands?
Also, So much us screwed up with the US right now, its hard to put it all down on one list!
and the media will demonize the most purest of hearts - there is very little anyone can do about them. They are centered around putting importance to the flash-in-the-pan. And that's not something we want to be.
Here's one thought re the media. Someone turned me onto this so I'll pass it along here. Remember when you stopped eating at McDonald's? It was probably either because: a) you didn't like the way it made you feel or look b) you learned about their marketing practices in the Book Fast Food Nation or c) you learned about what the food was made of and what went into those processes. It introduced you to a whole new way of looking at the world. And you carried that perhaps as you looked at the rest of the world with a critical eye.
I think it works the same way with junk TV, junk news, etc. You woke up to it. So can others.
I used to think it was hopeless but I've developed a whole new view now. I'm seeing that no matter how expensive and focus group tested their message is, it's essentially heartless. And human beings deep down crave heart.
So, I'm learning from example of others that the simple message with heart can penetrate the consciousness of even the most jaded or glazed over. Because they're hungry..... for good food.
Once folks realize that they are not being given the pacifying, satiating solution that they so desire, the notion that there is a nameless and inherently evil machine at work will become more and more apparent - the demands reflect the undoing of an extremely sturdy and intricate knot and I hope to help pick at the knot until it's completely unravelled.
Wow. Marketing, Gandhi-style. Interesting!
Do you have a practical example of how to apply what you describe, particularly for OWS?
Yes. Actually I do. I call it "The Nothing Succeeds Like Success" campaign. It's based on previous campaigns referred to in the link below. There is already a huge contingent heading to DC soon (HUGE) and these numbers will swell exponentially once the first wave of direct action takes place. Here's a glimpse. https://occupywallst.org/forum/our-turn/ Gandhi and King were the best marketers EVER. When they provoked the opposition with direct non-violent action and the cameras and reporters were there to catch the reaction for the world to see, that was no accident. Brilliant marketing. And of course that was the least of their talents.
There's plenty to write down on a list considering how many are affected.
Sit down with economists, political scientists, accountants - people that understand how money is transferred and how exactly mergers and acquisitions allow companies to be saved when they should go under. MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS help daughter/sister/brother companies survive when they should go under while average businesses fail everyday. This kills healthy competition. WHEN THERE IS NO COMPETITION IT IS EASY TO WIN.
We need to start somewhere.
Perhaps an initiative to regulate - something that must happen whether or not the right will shit a brick.
and how about they pay back the 700 billion dollars - not to the reserve -- but to US.
but on the other hand if there is no list of demands the media can make up what ever they want about the goals of the movement