Forum Post: We have a dream!
Posted 13 years ago on Nov. 15, 2011, 7:41 p.m. EST by iHaveADream
(24)
from Santa Ana, CA
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Almost everyone has heard of the "I Have A Dream" speech given on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial nearly 50 years ago. This speech united and inspired millions of people around the world. We need another POWERFUL speech to help educate and stir the souls of the masses. The 1% has a loud voice. Collectively, the 99% need to turn our whispers into one loud, booming voice! We are supposed to be the land of opportunities, hopes, and dreams...and that doesn't just mean for a select few. Please, someone, motivate the masses! Now is the time for a GREAT speech!
The speech was very powerful and moving. But honestly, it changed very little if you compare where we are today to back then. Unfortunately we are moving backwards as far as the quality of life. And it's going to get unbelievably bad.
What we really need is vision. We need a way forward. FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM Read “Common Sense 3.1” at ( www.revolution2.osixs.org )
If I wrote a speech strictly about campaign finance reform (strategic) and education (both strategic and aspirational), would that be a message OWS would be support? I truly believe those are the two tickets out of this mess. FYI - this was my original blog post about my experience at Zucotti. http://ilovenewyorkbecause.blogspot.com/2011/11/otherwise-preoccupied.html
Thank you!!!....samething in India, poverty stricken and no better off than before Gandhi....they're both my heroes and are right in theory but non violence simply doesn't work.....even Jesus overturned the tables in the temple.
The French revolution and the American one of 1776 brought fundamental change.
"non violence simply doesn't work": B U L L S H I T
gimme a case where it has worked...and please spare me the Ghandi/MLK stuff....theyre both my heroes but their ideals was far ahead of their time on this still savage planet
look no further than the present state of blacks in America and the MASS poverty in India for proof.
The founding fathers were smart. They provided the tools to bring about fundamental change without the spilling of blood. They likely did so because they knew the cost of that approach and they hoped to spare their descendants. They gave us the 1st Amendment and the ballot boxes.
https://sites.google.com/site/the99percentdeclaration/
Yes, because clearly the Jim Crow laws are still in effect. Blacks are still forced to sit at the back of the bus. Most of the South still has "Whites Only" establishments, and racism runs rampant in the streets.
That's the spiritual effect he had on people....but the oppression of his people thought liberated was merely giving a new name, the war on drugs.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=5b6kf5PIzX4
http://drugwarfacts.org/cms/?q=node/64
"To suppress a revolution, a premeditated scheme, they introduced a drug called crack to us ghetto teens. Now we off the wall nigga I can tell you what it be like, when will niggas see they got us bleeding with 3 strikes. Can't seem to focus, hopeless, with violent thoughts I wrote this, got these devils petrified and hiding from my hocus pocus"....TUPAC
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=rgVBY72KlB4
No it's called Rev Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.
MLK was the truth, those clowns are phonies.
You're right. They are keeping the Black community down. And where was ol Sharpton when Cain was getting lynched by the liberal media?
How can anyone defend a sexual predator? And, will people stop saying liberal media--they are big corporations. Can you honestly tell me that anyone thinks Disney is liberal? Media is big business. Big business is conservative. RexDiamond, you're buying into the simpilest forms of misdirection.
Why are you asking me? It's his misguided comparison.
Huh? I think you lost the feed...or it was jumbled or something. Taoman was referring to your comment regarding Cain and Sharpton...so I don't know whose misguided comparison you're talking about. And, I don't think he was really asking you anything...the questions were rhetorical.
Cain is a clown too....any black leader including that uncle Tom coon excuse for a president not demanding an end to the war on drugs are all sell outs.
http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/results?q=ron%20paul%20war%20on%20drugs
RON PA UL FOR PRESIDENT!
You are a racist and a clear example of why RonPaul is the wrong man.
Ron Lawl is the only candidate speaking out and calling the war on drugs rascist whip h is inarguable. Why isn't uncle Obama saying it?....it would be like sitting bull ignoring the trail of tears as our first Indian president....Obama is a disgraceful uncle Tom, so is Cain, Sharpton and that retarded Jessie Jackson!
btw, I'm from the hood homie, EAST ABERDEEN IN THE HOUSE! Most of my childhood friends are in jail now for drug charges because of a viciously rascist drug war that is designed to perpetuate.....
Oh please! Get over yourself. Dr. king didn't fix all that and neither did his speech. Don't over simplify something as complex as change and human behavior. We don't have time for it.
FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM
OsiXs (Revolution 2.0)
No one is saying King was the only one to fix things. But considering the alternative,Malcolm X and others that were more militant, King was very instrumental (and as said earlier) speeches inspire people. And, human behavior was forced to change. Think of who passed the civil rights laws--LBJ--he was a Texan, no bastian of civil rights (e.g. June-teenth June 13th) He just saw the writing on the wall. Much like Bobby Kennedy. I was never one to faun all over Bobby--I remember what he did as Attorney General. He didn't want to help King much then. But, like others they saw the sign of the times; that is, they responded to the growing demand. And that demand was articulated by a speech. Typically those that are the most disenfranchised don't have a voice--they need someone to speak for them.
And no one is implying it. I wouldn't discount Malcolm X's contribution. It was good for people to know there can be dangerous consequences for crapping on the little guy and minorities. It was also good for minorities see a strong and courageous man stand up on their behalf. In fact, I believe Malcolm made Dr. King even more courageous. But courage has a price and they both paid it. I agree, speech inspire and even motivate. But it doesn't force human behavior to change. Not on the scope that some are suggesting. Change takes time and education. America had to change because everyone around the world could now see who and what we really where. Real change takes vision. King's claim to fame was that he showed the world that America was just a bunch of hypocritical bigots and we didn't like it. That's what made us change. For the most, we just hid it and pushed it under the table. Don't be fooled. Hidden racism and prejudice is just as bad and hurtful. Look at the state of minorities and especially African Americans and native Americans across the board. It's disgusting. So the speech was very good (the best of the best), but real change was very illusive. Obama's speeches aren't that bad either. Have they really changed anything. We have to be the change. Waiting to be inspired to save our asses is quite frankly - AssA9.
FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM OsiXs (More Power and Technology to the People!) “Common Sense 3.1” at ( www.revolution2.osixs.org )
I agree with what you said about Malcolm. I thought (maybe I didn't) I made the point that Malcolm made Martin more palpable. I don't know if he made King more courageous. Change does take time, and yes people need to be educated. But really ,America wasn't ready for the change. It had to be forced into it. It was change or have a massive insurgence on your hands. We could give a crap in those days what other countries thought of us. We rarely do. "We're # 1 We're #1!" That's usually our battle cry--even when it's not true. For instance, how we constantly laud or health care system. At least the right does. And despite racism still being hidden and under the table we have come a long way from before. Still, there is racism. One needs to only look at how members of congress treat the office of the Presidency. The cry of, "liar," comes to mind. And as far as being fooled--child please! (sorry channeled Ochocinco for a moment) It's impossible for me to get fooled--I'm a product of before and after. Real change for Obama is elusive because he's not a politician as much as he is a intellectual. He seems to think the right will be reasonable--he still thinks that to some extent despite being shown otherwise. I'm not sure what you're thinking...we have to do something besides posting to each other; i.e. preaching to the choir. Besides, I'm talking about the masses. All the people--not just progressives. People on the fence have to be persuaded somehow, and obviously facts just don't work. Think about it, we elected Bush twice--while the rest of the world wondered how we could elect him once. There is a significant number of people that still think Obama is not american. I think you may have way too much faith in the general population.
Did I say he did? It took many people to break those barriers. Quit acting like you are living it. You are an insult to those who survived that time.
Oh, we're going to play dumb now. "Get your hand out my pocket"
FIGHT THE CAUSE - NOT THE SYMPTOM OsiXs (More Power and Technology to the People!)
What until you reach your 30s. You will be embarrassed at the way you were. It's a part of growing up.
In the beginning of this nation our founders set forth in writing the idea that the people should and must have a voice in their government. We grant without reservation that “All men created equal” took a long time to see its true potential. But now in this new century, the entitled and landed gentry have sought to create a new definition of this sacred idea, that corporations share this dear and precious gift of the status of a citizen. What value is placed on those who fell in battles to defend and protect these ideas? What do we tell the spirits of those who fell at Yorktown, Gettysburg, the fields of Europe, and those who fell by our fellow citizens hands in Selma, and Birmingham, and Kent State University? What words of comfort shall we offer those who have fallen in the hot sands of the Iraq and Afghanistan that we have abdicated the voice liberty paid in their blood to corporations and business? Shall we be the generation that allows the American dream to fade quietly into the past for the sake of the few who control the vast wealth of this nation? To hold ourselves mute to the destruction of the promise of a better tomorrow, so that shareholders of a company may see return on their investment. Shall we not be held accountable if instead of a future full of promise all we have to give to future generations is a balance sheet, showing where we mortgaged their futures out of a fear of speaking out against the vast power and wealth divide we have allowed to grow unchecked. Or shall we by these first steps of occupying the center of Corporate America call out to our descendants that we shall no longer lie down, we shall no longer bow, and we shall no longer bend. We shall hold our elected officials and ourselves accountable for the future of this nation. We shall not let CEOs and boards of directors be the leaders of this nation any longer. We must as a whole remove those politicians that have sold the future of this nation to special interests for a pittance. No longer shall we sit in silence while this continues, we shall not let 1% of our citizenry hold the reigns of power, economically, politically or socially. The occupy movement shall have met the goal set out when the nations simply stands and refuses to accept the status quo, for we are the 99%, we already occupy the whole of this nation. We simply need to speak up and let our voice be heard throughout this nation.
Here! Here! Now that's what I'm talking about! WE ARE THE 99%!!! THIS is what we need...TO SPEAK UP AND BE HEARD!!! A speech like this should be spoken in every Occupy camp! It should be on the news! I mean, really, what do we see on the news? We see people camping out. We see police arresting folks. We see little signs and people wandering around. The whole Occupy movement is just a blip on the news. IT SHOULD BE FRONT PAGE!!! IT SHOULD BE HUGE!!! EVERYONE should be talking about the movement!!!! WE, THE PEOPLE...should BE the news!!!
If I wrote a speech strictly about campaign finance reform (strategic) and education (both strategic and aspirational), would that be a message OWS would be support? I truly believe those are the two tickets out of this mess. FYI - this was my original blog post about my experience at Zucotti. http://ilovenewyorkbecause.blogspot.com/2011/11/otherwise-preoccupied.html
Wow! I truly enjoyed your blog post about your experience at Zucotti!
Oh, I totally believe OWS would support a speech about campaign finance reform and education. Unfortunately (sigh), a large part of the strategy would have to include keeping the speech short enough and simple enough to relate to the masses while, at the same time, intelligent enough and bold enough to unnerve the 1%. Sure, initially the speech just has to motivate the 99% (which is obviously no simple task). When you say the words "campaign finance reform" I know many people would simply tune you out. People want to scream about how they feel slighted...how the fat-cats (1%) sit around enjoying champagne and private jets while the 99% are their bloody servants. People are angry. People are tired of struggling for nothing so that someone up top who does nothing doesn't have to struggle at all. These are the people you have to appeal to...and they won't necessarily make the connection between campaign finance reform, education, and the homelessness or near-homelessness they are facing today. It has to be about today. You have to make it all relevant....OBVIOUSLY not a simple task.
a) thanks! b) much agreed and I'd never use those tired terms 'campaign finance reform' - we need something a little more inspirational! thanks for starting this dialogue. I'm going to work on it anyway and go from there - thanks again for keeping this discussion going!
I agree with IHaveADream. The movement needs to be a little more focused, or seem like they have more focus. NPR (which is NYU or City College in NY) had on one of the OWS organizer's on the radio yesterday. He was all caught up in getting kicked out of the park. He talked about going after Bloomberg, which is so misdirected. It's cool to be all Kumbia-ish and unfocused, but to keep the support of people that are hurting and vote in large #'s you can't sound like a buffoon and get distracted. So, there should (at this point) be certain people which are involved in communicating the OWS messages clearly.
I loved what you wrote as well. I went downtown about two weeks ago on a Tues. I smelled no urine or anything resembling that. Most people were asleep at 9pm. They have rules posted. It was very quiet. Also, I have to admit that The Mayor has been pretty reasonable. Can you imagine what would have happened in Philly--the city of brotherly love--they would've shot those fools!
This is why the 1% will remain unfazed by this movement. A movement needs ONE STRONG, COLLECTIVE VOICE! A powerful speech can and has moved millions. Unfortunately, as evidenced by some of the comments here, we are now the land of the twits. Perhaps not all 99% of us are numskulls, but a good percentage are nevertheless...
MLK is one of my heroes bro, his ideals are ultimately correct but far ahead of his time...unfortunately in this world, force and violence is the only way to make fundamental change.
I think you're right; we need a great speech by someone other than a politician. Politicians are so hampered by their office.
Right now I'm a bit occupied with issues of strategy. If time is a serious constraint, perhaps someone else?
So what's this strategy that has you so preoccupied? Hopefully everyone won't desert you while you're still trying to come up with THE strategy.
-- On Civil Disobedience and Direct Action . . . . November 12, 2008
http://occupywallst.org/forum/on-civil-disobedience-and-direct-action/
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. Targeted Interdiction and Subversion of Institutions - WTF? Nov. 15, 2011
http://occupywallst.org/forum/-targeted-interdiction-and-subversion-of-instituti/ --- It has been said we should take up arms . . . . November 12, 2011
http://occupywallst.org/forum/it-has-been-said-we-should-take-up-arms/
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-- Direct Action - Proposal before the committee: A Demonstration of Tongues . . . . Nov. 13, 2011
http://www.occupywallst.org/forum/direct-action-proposal-before-the-committee-a-demo/
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-- Trending on Twitter - Corporations Have No Tongues . . . . Nov. 13, 2011
http://occupywallst.org/forum/-_-trending-on-twitter-corporations-have-no-tongue/
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-- Targeted Interdiction - What is it? . . . . Nov. 14, 2011
http://occupywallst.org/forum/targeted-interdiction-what-is-it/
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Cool! You ARE doing more than simply strategizing in your head. Props to you. Keep drawing in the masses. I applaud your strategy and may the force be with you!
Where you find the ideas have merit, be sure to do your part and spread the word.
Shall do...definitely!
so cool.
We are realizing the New American Dream.
you know what happens to be that have dreams....they die. ask mlk
[Removed]
Blah, Blah Blah.
Really? Is that your contribution? That's all that is swimming around in your head?
Give us a break : NO MORE SPEECHES by Oblabla, please!!
Give us a break : NO MORE SPEECHES by Oblabla, please!!!!!!!
SPEECH: the faculty or power of speaking; oral communication.the act of speaking. something that is spoken; an utterance, remark, or declaration.a form of communication in spoken language, made by a speaker before an audience for a given purpose.
I don't see anyone's name mentioned under the definition of "SPEECH" in the dictionary...so why do you choose to go THERE? Oh, I'm sorry...you must be one of those twits I was talking about
I was merely trying to make the point that "fine-souding words" are NOT ENOUGH and that millions of Americans were FOOLED by Obama's speeches.
That being said, I await a new Martin Luther King and a new "I Have a Dream" speech, i.e. the VERY OPPOSITE of Obama's blabla.
But if it pleases you to think that I'm a twit... be my guest!
By the way, it does NOT please me to think you're a twit...it is merely MY opinion. After all, you are the one who mentioned "Oblabla" when I made no such reference in my original post...and I think that makes you a silly, bothersome person (the definition of a twit).
True. "Fine-sounding words" are NOT enough to change this country. There MUST be action. But if everyone is running around doing their own thing there is only chaos and exhaustion. A GREAT speech can UNIFY the masses. A GREAT speech inspires and motivates a movement.
I didn't say a "President's" speech or an "Obama" speech....I said a GREAT speech. I suppose "GREAT speech" is subject to personal opinion. Perhaps you took it too personal. Perhaps you thought Obama made a GREAT speech...and you were fooled. I'm sorry. Personally...in MY opinion, there is a difference between motivation and acquiescence.
Enough of the speeches. We've had Obama for years. All the man ever does is give speeches. Pretty words mean zilch.
Huh. I've never heard of you, nikka. I've heard of Obama though. It sounds to me like he's done more than you have.
What?