Forum Post: What this website has done

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."

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(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!