Forum Post: There's a move in Aikido that applies metaphorically to the Occupy Wall Street movement

I'm all about forceful non-violent direct action and resistance. And I've been struggling to try to undermine the power of the 1% for many years. I want the 99% to win and I am just as inclined as the next person to say "Let's take down the 1%!" Here's the weird part though. When you get right down to it, the 1% aren't really happy as a result of all this plundering. I know many of them. Some of the biggies. And any happiness they have doesn't come from the wealth that came from all the destructions of lives and the environment.

That's really the saddest part of all. All his human, animal and environmental misery is done in the name of hoarding wealth that mostly isn't used. It's just stored and passed on to heirs who mostly do the same. It's all for nothing. Momentously tragic.

And when it is used, it's used for junk. Granted, their junk is bigger, fancier and more long lasting than ours but the key point I'm trying to make is that the buzz they get from it quickly fades. So it becomes an addiction just like any other addiction. They're going after the dopamine buzz and it gets harder and harder to get it.

If they're lucky, they come to their wits end and discover family, art, life, whatever. But most don't, the poor saps. Their extravagant resources enslave them as much as our lack of resources enslaves us. Maybe moreso.

It seems strange to say but we need compassion for them too. We really do. For our own good and theirs too. The reason they're plundering the world is that they're lost.

There's a move in Aikido where, when your opponent aggresses towards you, you take a slight step to the side. Then, instead of aggressing towards him, you move with him and "help him to the ground where he'll be safer." It's remarkable because you use his energy. You harness it. And you do it with the true motivation of helping him. I agree with others who say that all power flows from that mindset and approach.