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Forum Post: What this website has done

Posted 12 years ago on Jan. 4, 2012, 7:22 a.m. EST by therising (6643)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement

Wow. So much great work being done. Cheers to all of you out there engaged in action that is bringing about lasting change. This site, among many other things, has helped make connections that matter, connections that have resulted in real action.

It's also strengthened the spirits and resolve of many of us who, through this site, were reminded how many good and smart people there are working on taking this system apart (difficult) and putting it back together again (even more difficult). On its best days, this site is a revolutionary's Swiss army knife, a well made tool that is helping so-called radicals connect and act.

Everyone is amazed that a movement that started in a park could spread around the world and unite like minded people. They detail arcane political and social theories about how this spark turned into a huge fire. But it's not so mysterious. The reason a protest in a park spread round the world is this site brought others directly into the park and got them face to face with real revolutionaries fighting for the human spirit.

Such quality connections that apeak to their lives are what people hunger for round the world. The buzz that comes from those high quality connections is contagious. It's the buzz felt round the world. And it has translated beautifully into a real and lasting resistance movement. As a result, the dam will eventually break and a new day will dawn.

As Breyton Breytonbach said shortly before being sentenced to prison for his protest activity in South Africa, "Whether we win, or whether we die, freedom will rise like the sun through the morning clouds."


(below is my thank you to the website's designer and champion, jart, if you haven't read it)

I think this forum is moving in direction of being back on track now where it's possible to interact. I think if we can hear each other, we'll challenge one another to innovate, clarify and find creative solutions. The post someone types that may initially frustrate another may later inspire him or her to share something that comes from the heart and takes things to a whole new level, inspiring others.

This doesn't lift or celebrate just one person. In fact, in my view, it highlights the power of collective effort. Thanks to jart's incredible fortitude, we all have a place to interact, challenge one another, question our own assumptions and rise to our best selves. That opportunity is there thanks to this hardfought fertile environment ... occupywallst.org . Such a gift. And the power of this gift will increase exponentially if we put our egos aside (myself included) and HEAR each other. That's not to say we don't advocate strongly for our true beliefs. Just saying we need to also take a deep breath when the comments come in in response. That deep breath allows us to accept our assumptions being questioned, allows us to really hear the questions posed to us.

I believe such an egoless ideal in its purist form is unattainable but that, in striving for it, we empower the collective. As we let go of our small selves a bit, the collective's power rises. A delicate dance, to be sure, but a productive and vital one.

The philosophical questions that arise here are legitimate and compelling. And yet it may not be as scary as we might think to give a little more, listen a little more, give up just a little on the idea of "me" being of prime importance. I wrestle with this, as I suppose we all do. However, I think I've concluded that we can become more free and more fully human as individuals if we stop protecting ourselves all the time and spend a bit more time lifting up and listening to others.

I'll do my best to live up to these ideals. When I fail, I hope you tell me. Thanks all of you out there who have done so much, especially jart for keeping this site up and running when it probably seemed fruitless at times. It was worth it. It appears the movement will emerge renewed and refreshed in the coming weeks and months thanks to the many tireless supporters, occupiers and posters as well as the glue that is this site. This is a beautiful hub.

Thank you!

24 Comments

24 Comments


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[-] 2 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

Of course, the real reason the movement has spread so quickly is that the water had been building up behind the dam for a long long time. The site is just a conduit...but a brilliantly simple one. As MLK said so beautifully, "Truth crushed to earth rises up.". Today he might add "...especially with a website that joins people together and allows them to collaborate." :)

[-] 1 points by shadz66 (19985) 12 years ago

@ tR : A Tune 4 U : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-o3CJytIPE (via recent poster 'valbuller') ;-)

[-] 0 points by DependentClass (19) 12 years ago

It isn't a "movement"; that was always just aspirational. But, if anything, OWS has now crested and people have grown bored of it. I mean, sure, talking about "momentum", "movement" and representing virtually everyone alive was a reasonable tactic for garnering attention, but the hyperbole was soon apparent.

[-] 0 points by NightShade (163) 12 years ago

yes well said

[-] 1 points by Puzzlin (2898) 12 years ago

We are winning and need to continue to bring the fight to the establishment. We need to keep the important issues in front of the American people.

Great Job! Keep it UP!!!

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

In what new ways can we take the fight to the establishment nonviolently?

[-] 1 points by shoozTroll (17632) 12 years ago

I believe the movement will have to make good on it's promise to form some kind of political entity.

To this end, I suggested early on that the title Open Source Party be used.

All party members would have some kind of direct democracy voting to establish a party platform.

Representatives could be chosen in a similar process. That representative would then demure to represent all bills to the whole membership for decisions on official votes.

How he would vote on any bill would be up the the direct democracy voting of everyone in the party.

This would maintain a level of transparency we currently lack.

To get this out to the general public, I believe we would need to emulate the kind of multi pronged marketing/PR that they themselves use.

Start now, to find smart, able and willing individuals among the occupiers, that can set this in motion.

Act soon, it will take time to mature.

[-] 1 points by Puzzlin (2898) 12 years ago

I think once we get out of the winter and into warmer weather there needs to be a big march, maybe Washington DC, and put enough people in the streets so they know we are still strong and 2012 will continue the movement. As the political battles heat up, the timing will be ripe for it.

After that we can re-assert the issues near and dear to this movement. Namely, the American Dream is going away for many Americans as the rich sell us out with the help Republicans and their ideology which caters to the rich.

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

I agree and DC sounds like a really good idea.

[-] 1 points by Puzzlin (2898) 12 years ago

It's the right place. We can write history there. Nothing like it ever seen before. We will bring home the message of lifetime.




[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

There is such a hunger for reality. Deep down, I think human beings hunger for authentic connections. The more this site fulfills that desire, the more people will congregate here and plan actions that will bring real change for real people.

[-] 1 points by Puzzlin (2898) 12 years ago

Absolutely, we look for the truth in everything. It is our only friend here on this planet. Finding it is never easy but as we gain the desire we will do the work. I hope this starts many on this path to the truth. Personally I can say the effort is well worth it. I will never stop, never.

THE PUZZLER

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23824) 12 years ago

Well said.

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

I'm excited that there's some real momentum going here.

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23824) 12 years ago

Me too.

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

What would it take to bring more people into the movement?

[-] 2 points by beautifulworld (23824) 12 years ago

I think we need to explain more clearly what the movement stands for and not be so vague about that. Also, in terms of the forum, we need to welcome new people to post. I feel like there are probably a lot of people reading this forum, itching to post, but feeling intimidated by some of the lunacy they see here.

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

I also agree about the clarity part. Many are afraid to get involved because they don't understand. We shouldn't leave them hanging and wondering.

[-] 1 points by therising (6643) 12 years ago

Great point. We need to accentuate what we have in common rather than falling into the trap of divisiveness. We all have the same foot on our neck. Let's help foster an environment here that unites rather than divides. Once we realize what we have in common, we can make decisions from position of unified strength rather than demands from a position of divided weakness.

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23824) 12 years ago

"Same foot on our neck." Great way to put it.

[-] 1 points by Listof40 (233) 12 years ago

This is a great thread...

It is nice to take a moment and appreciate the positive on this forum...

How there are alot of good ideas and alot of people here who want to help find common ground, and look to our common interests and potentials, as any healthy society should, and to the spirit of the Occupy movement which ponts out legitimate concerns, and we can even appreciate the spirit of the many free thinkers who have tried and contributed to the world throughout history... Good post...

[-] 1 points by beautifulworld (23824) 12 years ago

I agree. There are some amazing people in this forum.

[Removed]

[-] 0 points by gosso920 (-24) 12 years ago

Andy Warhol just called. He said your 15 minutes of fame are up.

[-] 0 points by Philpux (643) from Mountain View, AR 12 years ago

Campaign Finance Reform. Boom.

Brown noser.