Forum Post: Ye are many - they are few: the reason OCCUPY WILL SUCCEED
Posted 11 years ago on Dec. 26, 2012, 9:29 p.m. EST by therising
(6643)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
Shadz passed this gem along the other day:
'Rise like Lions after slumber
In unvanquishable number,
Shake your chains to earth like dew
Which in sleep had fallen on you -
Ye are many - they are few."
(P.B.Shelley)
Once we realize we have more in common than we have dividing us, we, the 99% we be able to make decisions from a position of unified strength instead of demands from a position of divided weakness. Through nonviolent direct action, we can raise awareness, increase our numbers and continue the unstoppable virtual cycle.
It's time for humanity to rise.
It certainly is.
The question is; will humanity answer the call?
The big dumbing down was successful, and those with the nouse are often flat out with trying to manage a family while both parents work.
I hear you loud and clear. I think the first thing we have to remember is how many people are already awake and know how fucked up things are but haven't spoken up yet. Think about the national polls from major news outlets last fall that show 40-50% of Americans support Occupy Wall Steeet movement. That shows there is a silent majority out there. Nonviolent direct action will spread the word further.
Upworthy is discussing OWS - Care2 has presented OWS occupy sandy support. The public is slowly being presented with positive aspects of Occupy.
We're very early in this movement. I think we're looking at a five to ten year time horizon for success.
Could very well be. The process has only started. If it happens faster all to the good of all - but let us figure we have a long term process to work on.
OWS and or similar groups need to be the watch dogs forever. Once order is established, then it must be monitored and maintained. Obviously our government can't do this, so it's up to the people to assume this role. I think this is actually how Jefferson envisioned a democracy.
People holding their elected officials 'accountable' is the key. Our failure to have not done that is our mistake, and it cannot be repeated. Active participation by the people which goes beyond voting is absolutely essential moving forward.
~Odin~
Whatever it takes. We're not backing down. No fucking way.
No way no how - until death - and - if possible - Beyond.
Cheers to relentlessness. :)
CHEERS {:-]) In the continuance of good causes - like health and prosperity for all.
Let's tear down these walls between us and rise rise rise!
The wall tear down the wall.
Awesome!!! :).
Ten Fold Right Back To You And Yours. {:-])
[-] 2 points by therising (6024) 0 minutes ago
Cheers. Happy New Year. ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Here's to an exciting 2013 full of nonviolent change and transformation.
I mean it's like he likes blue skies and stuff - creepy.
I loved and I hated that movie - easy rider.
Loved the beginning of that scene absolutely pisses me off as it moves to the sick reasonless beating.
Good night - I am in need of some meditation - and some sleep.
[-] 2 points by therising (6022) 0 minutes ago
Good fellowship, community, joy. That's rebellious. Makes you ask questions, laugh more and buy less stuff :). Quick, detain that man. He's joyful and doesnt seem to be able to be shaken or scared into nihilism. :). He's not buying things. He's asking too many questions. Hasn't been to mall in years. Hasn't had TV for years. Danger. Alert. Free thinker alert: ck this link :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyaUtnWr8Gw&feature=youtube_gdata_player (Nicholson nails it). ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Cheers. Happy New Year.
LOL {:-]) it has been a full day and in the communications - pretty awesome.
Yes current life practices being pushed at us are draining our spirit/soul - you know when you are doing right when you actually feel good - in spite of any physical or even financial pain - you feel good - and can express/share that feeling - even in the midst of deep depression you can see and feel beyond that moment that darkness and not give it to another but instead give them the light of good fellowship..
[-] 2 points by therising (6016) 1 minute ago
Oh. I completely agree. Your positive description of the spirit of love and positivity adding just reminded me of the converse, the very issue at hand, that our current way of life is sucking the life out of everything. Sorry I didn't make that clear. I'm low on coffee. :) ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Good fellowship, community, joy. That's rebellious. Makes you ask questions, laugh more and buy less stuff :). Quick, detain that man. He's joyful and doesnt seem to be able to be shaken or scared into nihilism. :). He's not buying things. He's asking too many questions. Hasn't been to mall in years. Hasn't had TV for years. Danger. Alert. Free thinker alert: ck this link :) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyaUtnWr8Gw&feature=youtube_gdata_player (Nicholson nails it).
Hmmm - unless I am missing something - spirit/soul does not diminish others - but it can be diminished from being starved. It does not feed off of others - not without sharing equally - and in sharing/expressing/giving it grows more - but in denial of sharing and giving - in denial of expression - it diminishes.
[-] 1 points by therising (6016) 2 minutes ago
Nice. Reminds me of the native American term Powaqqatsi. (life force that depends upon diminishing other forces for its survival. Great film by the way. Powaqqatsi. ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Oh. I completely agree. Your positive description of the spirit of love and positivity adding just reminded me of the converse, the very issue at hand, that our current way of life is sucking the life out of everything. Sorry I didn't make that clear. I'm low on coffee. :)
One must feed the soul/spirit - or diminish - expressing love - feeds - it does not diminish.
[-] 2 points by therising (6016) 2 minutes ago
Good soul food :) ↥twinkle ↧stinkle permalink
Nice. Reminds me of the native American term Powaqqatsi. (life force that depends upon diminishing other forces for its survival. Great film by the way. Powaqqatsi.
But then there is always .....
Good soul food :)
"And when they seek to oppress you,
And when they try to destroy you,
Rise and Rise again and again
Like The Phoenix from the ashes
Until the Lambs have become Lions
and the Rule of Darkness is no more "
Maitreya The Friend of All Souls The Holy Book of Destiny
That is so damn cool.
Agree - one of my wishes is starting to happen - every group band together in support of common cause - sum of parts stronger when united.
Oh, think of the networking that has gone on in the last 15 months. Incredible when you think about it. Imagine what's building :)
There is so much going on - work that unseen individuals are accomplishing - sooner or later these works or their results will be seen.
So true.
Very exciting - like being a little kid again and waiting for X-Mass morning - wondering what will be found sitting under the tree.
Only now we all get to help make it happen. Perhaps that's the best part of all. . . Each American having the chance to help make history.
Each individual person in the world banding together in common cause - not a new 1 world order - but a fellowship of world wide communities - working for a healthy prosperous world for all - each following their own dreams for healthy growth.
There really is a spirit of the times and we can each contribute to it... Indeed we do contribute to it one way or another, or bad or for good, through our action or inaction. http://occupywallst.org/forum/we-have-the-power-to-turn-this-world-around-this-o/
Reap what you sow - so let us smile and be good and helpful to each-other - I would like to see a bountiful harvest from that.
You make a very critical point about people being too busy and not having time to educate themselves. This is why I am always encouraging people to slow down, slow down and simplify. I'm desperately calling on everyone to put down your cell phones, put down your tablets and eliminate the unnecessary activities that occupy your time and mind. We spend more time trying to fix and maintain all the crap junk that we buy. If you have children, hold a family meeting and discuss how everyone can simplify and set different priorities. Learn to cook together, learn to play together. Parents have their children in too many activities outside of family life and much of that is a reaction to peer pressure.
We are so disconnected from each other and the earth. Even farmers ride in air conditioned cabs on their tractors.
Well said. Right on! The silence speaks volumes and clears your head.
You know what else? I think what you were getting at above is one of the revelations of Occupy Wall Street... That being a part of a protest or occupation does more than just push back on one issue or group of issues. It also gets us face to face, out from in front of our TV's, phones, tablets and computers and into the streets. That face to face energy is unmatchable as you know. The feeling a occupations on the best days is electric, invigorating. It feels like you're riding on the wave of history in the present. It is empowering, energizing and motivating to the nth degree. It renews them spirit to be in a place with others who see what you see and feel what you feel. . .
And conversely it raises our game to an even higher level when we're challenged face to face at these protests and occupations with new ideas from people sitting right across from us.
Kanye West is a deluded materialist at times but other times he actually gets a few lines right. I think too often we get dejected and think we've thought of and tried everything and there's no hope. Neither is true. The truth is that impossible is only a word. Once we decide and commit, there's no stopping us. But first we need to get unstuck. A few of Kanye West's lyrics can help us out here:
"You might think you've peeked the scene You haven't, the real one's far too mean The watered down one, the one you know Was made up centuries ago
It may just sound all whack and corny Yes, it's awful, blasted boring Twisted fiction,
sick addiction Well, gather 'round. . . . listen
Can we get much higher? So high. So high.
. . . Respark the soul and rebuild the energy." :::::
To paraphrase James Baldwin, "What I had always wanted to say to them is exactly what they were saying to me and it was a beautiful thing to behold, them coming alive and realizing they could step out of the lie and the trap of their history and be, just be. Watching them come to life was amazing. I saw some, not all but some white boys and girls come to freedom on that road and it was a beautiful thing to behold."
Power of the people is vastly greater than the people in power!
Here is small Occupy success!
http://www.care2.com/causes/one-groups-plight-to-rebuild-sustainably-after-sandy.html
The single most important thing that will sustain this movement is that so many young people have futures that simply do not add up.
~Odin~
Hi Odin. Happy New Year. That's true. You have me thinking now. Because that frustration could build productive action or the opposite. . .
The increasingly limited options faced by more and more young people suffering in our "new" economy (the new normal of unemployment, underemployment and unfulfilling society in general) will be one of the strongest forces for change. But what kind of change will it be? Many generations of young people have reacted to their limited options, some more wisely than others.
There's no doubt that the raw energy from frustrated young people will drive change. I just want it to be positive deliberate intelligent change rather than knee jerk, reactive change born out of fear. I don't like seeing good people's fear used to steer them into something that works against their own interests and the interest of the community. Too often we take away the wrong lessons from hardship. Out of desperation, we leap in the wrong direction when someone who is deluded (or malicious) "names our pain" inaccurately.
I've seen way too many people hate or fear others (or institutions or systems) - - out of frustration or fear. The Germans had their pain named in the 1930's during economic hardship and they fell into a trap of hating people that they actually had more in common with than they had separating them. It is upsetting to see people's fear and hardship exploited. The tea party comes to mind. Probably good people drawing all the wrong conclusions because, in part, of their own weakness and foolishness but also because corporate lackies like Dick Armey exploited their fear and named their pain.
Too often, when those in the 99% suffer, they lash out at each other instead of the forces that are truly causing their pain. And, sometimes, even when they realize the correct source of the trouble, they lash out in anger or with violence instead of with productive intelligence that will bring the new day they truly desire. I want to see us move towards community, not descend into fear, confusion, infighting and hatred.
How can we take the righteous anger and raw energy that comes from hardship and channel it into productive action that will bring us as individuals the happiness we seek instead of taking us further into hardship and pain? How do we channel that raw energy so it can help us see our commonality and build the dynamic community we hunger for. How do we take away the right lessons from this rather than descend into chaos?
In my view, nonviolence is essential and far more powerful than a violent reaction. And I also truly believe that, if we the 99% can realize that we have more in common than we have separating us, we can begin to make decisions from a position of unified strength instead of demands from a position of divided weakness.
Here's to humanity walking that fine line and taking away the right lessons from our hardship and struggle. I don't want us to be fooled into lashing out violently at the 1% which would only further seal our fate. I don't want us to be fooled into lashing out at each other either. How can we, the millions who see that real transformation is possible help guide and lift those who are suffering in order to alchemize all that pain, anger and raw energy in something that benefits individuals and helps build the dynamic community we've wanted for so long?
And to all of us who are not in the MILLENIAL generation, how will we help steer those younger than us in the right direction? Will we show them not just the ills of the society but solutions as well? And will we also offer them a positive vision for what COULD be if certain actions are taken? After all, if we want to inspire change, we're going to have to inspire PEOPLE, especially young people. I think it's important that we ask ourselves, "Have I only focused on what's wrong with society and failed to give equal attention to solutions and a positive vision of the dynamic community we could build if we engage in positive revolution? Have I only focused on action out in the world and failed to give equal time to the revolution of the mind that is also necessary? ( see post GOOD NEWS http://occupywallst.org/forum/new-view-why-gun-control-peace-treaties-campaign-f/ ).
It's time for humanity to rise out of the darkness of division and fear. It's time to alchemize that raw energy into positive forceful action that brings real transformation. We can build a new community. It's time for us to step the fuck up. If we drift, those with selfish and malicious intent will decide for us.
We need to remember the power of nonviolent tension. This is one of the most important tools available to us. Martin Luther King, Jr. explained the use of active non-violent resistance as follows in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail”:
"Nonviolent direct action seeks to create such a crisis and foster such a tension that a community which has constantly refused to negotiate is forced to confront the issue. It seeks to so dramatize the issue that it can no longer be ignored. My citing the creation of tension as part of the work of the nonviolent-resister may sound rather shocking. But I must confess that I am not afraid of the word "tension." I have earnestly opposed violent tension, but there is a type of constructive, nonviolent tension which is necessary for growth. . . The purpose of our direct-action program is to create a situation so crisis-packed that it will inevitably open the door to negotiation.”
We need to make that nonviolent tension our friend.
That was very well put. Your MLK/Gandhi-like answers to the way that this movement should proceed forward is right on. Our cause is righteous, and we have the bright young people..,.who have the most to lose..... with their energy on our side. How we get 'there' is as important as getting 'there.' Building community along the way is essential if we are going to be successful.
For now though, I am going to enjoy my last couple of days in Alaska with family, before I get back to you. You are a kindred spirit, and so are most of the people that I know well in OWS and you too...have a great New Year!
~Odin~
Cheers Odin. Enjoy!
Thanks, I did enjoy my time with family (especially my 22 mo. old granddaughter) in AK very much. Many good conversations with people from all walks of life. I even went to the gym with one of my daughters four times a week, not an easy task on those cold -20, and/or very windy 0500 mornings (that area is infamous for winds blowing 30-40 mph, and gusting a lot higher for days on end). All done not to get buff so much, as just to stave off old age a bit longer. :-)
~Odin~
Very cool (no pun intended) :). Sounds like a wonderful time with family in a beautiful place.
Here's a paraphrase of James Baldwin that struck me today. Thought you might enjoy:, "What I had always wanted to say to them is exactly what they were saying to me and it was a beautiful thing to behold, them coming alive and realizing they could step out of the lie and the trap of their history and be, just be. Watching them come to life was amazing. I saw some, not all but some white boys and girls come to freedom on that road and it was a beautiful thing to behold."
Yes the Matanuska-Susitna (Mat-Su to the locals) Valley with the surrounding Alaska Range, Talkeetna, and Chugach Mountains, where one of my daughters lives in a beautiful place. It also has a very interesting history. In 1935, 203 families moved up here from Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Michigan under Roosevelt's New Deal. They were each given a 40 acre plot of land with the idea of establishing an agriculture communtiy in Alaska. This program had a lasting legacy on AK as it did similar projects in the lower 48. Today there are potato, cabbage, beet, carrot, etc. farms sprinkled throughout the area.
Every summer the arrival of these courageous Colonists is celebrated with a Colony Day Parade in which some of the original colonists (whom were kids in the 30's) ride in convertibles, or antique cars waving to the crowd. Many organizations, and businesses chip in to sponsor a wonderful free picnic afterward which is held on the beautiful grounds amidst flowering Dogwood trees of the local Lutheran church. My granddaughter loves this day, but probably no more than me. :-) I am also elated that my granddaughter is being taught in pre-school by two very gracious young native Alaskan women.
OK, sorry for getting off on a tangent, and reminiscing but there are some paralels in there somewhere in the roll that government could play today, now getting back to the subject: The awakening of the young generation in OWS that i have seen is a beautiful thing to see. I remember reading about a Cairo professor who said something to the effect, ' If you were to tell me five years ago that this generation would strive to bring democracy to Egypt, I would have laughed at you.' The same would have been true for me about our young people. To say that i was astonished at the birth of this movement would be putting it mildly! It was very heartening for me to observe the young generation's awakening in my early visits to Zucotti Park in October 2011. Seeing their determination...sharing their vulnerbilities...displaying courage....and caring for one another...was/is "a beautiful thing to behold." I am always a bit sad when it comes time to leave these wonderful people, but i always feel reinvigorated from the time i have spent with them.
~Odin~
Wow. That generation is becoming a stronger and stronger pulsing heart little by little... So beautiful to see them rise.
Your time in Alaska sound splendid. Good soul food.
Yes it is wonderful to see the young people awaken. Visiting family in AK was great "soul food," even better than Sylvia's Restaurant where i enjoyed a great meal with other Occupiers after a protest of our prison polcies this past summer.
~Odin~
Beautiful. What an evening that must have been.
I've enjoyed many great day/nights with my fellow Ocuupiers in NYC. I have great admiration for them, and for all the sacrifices that they make.
~Odin~
Cheers to that comaraderie :)
Thanks....errr, how 'bout 'skol' in tribute to the people of Iceland, and also to the people of Norway and Sweden who rose up against injustices in the early part of the 20th century? OK,OK, so maybe I'm a bit biased. ;-)
~Odin~
Cheers to all those smart folks. Plus the smart folks described here: http://occupywallst.org/forum/this-is-fuckin-awesome/ . They show us a clear path to victory!!!
Great posts, great links from two of the best contributors to this forum. Thanks. While not quite the same, we cannot forget the courageous people of Montreal/Quebec who refused to be bullied by their government. They took to the streets en masse to protest tutition hikes and the notorious Bill 78 which severely limited the right of people to protest. It was in Columbus Circle during a speak-out that I heard an elated young woman from Montreal tell of their victory.
The world-wide revolution is well underway, just don't expect the CMSM to cover it.
BTW that Birgitta Jonsdottir is some woman, eh?
~Odin~
Wow - "The world-wide revolution is well underway, just don't expect the CMSM to cover it.". So true. Yes, Ms. Jonsdottir is really a strong person and knows how to make it plain! :)
The "C" before MSM is for 'corrupt,' in case you are wondering. If stupid constantly repeated catch phrases, emanating from the lobbying strategists helped get us to this unenviable point in our history....it can be honest ones that help get us back to equilibrium, and beyond.
Great point. Let's call things exactly what they are!
In compliment : From People for the American Way.
Status of OWS
http://www.nationofchange.org/going-efforts-occupy-1358007353
The Evil One Percent
http://www.facebook.com/ellen.whiting.12
Just a blank Facebook page. Can you send info in plain text in form of a comment here?