First of all, I do NOT want to take away anything from the Occupy movement….they are finally taking to the streets and bring some attention and light to the whole economic imbalance that is this country….
But being an old cynic and opinionated SOB there are a few things I would like to say….all the major revolutions started small……and by revolution I am NOT in any way meaning the bang bang shootum up…..I am speaking about change……. REAL change……
Before I continue, let us look at other revolutions…..first, the American Revolution, which was not a real revolution but a rather violent disagreement between the family members that ended up very messy….to my point….it started rather small……a bunch of guys dressed up and raided a ship with tea and dumped its cargo into the bay in Boston harbor…..small.
Next came the French Revolution, in 1787 there was a terrible harvest and the populace had to spend more of their disposable income on food and the demand for other items fell…….the rise of social antagonism began to rise and electoral demands became commonplace….this was a small beginning and a very simple explanation of the beginnings of the revolution….and we know all too well that it took very little time before it turn violent and deadly for so many…..
Now the Russian Revolution…..I am sure well all think we know what happens…..and that it was the result that lead to the communist taking over the government…..I could write a Russian novel length volume of the revolution (if you have ever read a Russian novel you will understand)…..but let us talk about the beginnings of the revolution….WW1 had taken a heavy toll on the people of Russia and there had been all types of governments in place but none had been much success…..and then in February a protest led by women in protest of bread prices started a whole new round of protests that included workers, soldiers, etc….but the beginning of what we call the Russian Revolution was the march of women hunger marchers….it started small….with a world to win!
More recently, what is being called the “Tunisian Revolution” which started the whole Arab Spring…..it began with a small incident…..
Twenty-six year old Mohamed Bouazizi had been the sole income earner in his extended family of eight. He operated a purportedly unlicensed vegetable cart for seven years in Sidi Bouzid 190 miles (300 km) south of Tunis. On 17 December 2010 a policewoman confiscated his cart and produce. Bouazizi, who had such an event happen to him before, tried to pay the 10-dinar fine (a day’s wages, equivalent to 7USD). In response the policewoman insulted his deceased father. A humiliated Bouazizi then went to the provincial headquarters in an attempt to complain to local municipality officials. He was refused an audience. Without alerting his family, at 11:30 am and within an hour of the initial confrontation, Bouazizi returned to the headquarters, doused himself with a flammable liquid and set himself on fire. Public outrage quickly grew over the incident. And so it began!
Now to the main point of my post…..the Occupy movement started small, basically a hand full of people protesting Wall Street greed in Zuccotti Park in NYC……it started small and grew into a nationwide and now planet wide protest movement….a difference can be made but not at the expense of the movement…
As an aged long hair hippie, pinko commie I am so proud of the American people that they finally feel empowered enough to take to the streets in demand of justice and equal opportunity….they started small…..it has grown into a worldwide protest against those who exploit and enslave……makes my old heart take flight to know that all my bitching in the past has finally been heard and acted on……
All my years of attempting to educate…..(I was NOT alone, there were countless others)…….have , I hope in some small way, helped the American people to find their courage and their voice……
Remember ALL great seasons of change have started small, with a small group of brave people…..you have NOTHING to fear….but failure! So, keep your eye on the prize……you have a world to win!
One wonders, if there had been no Stalin, where the Soviet experiment would have gone. Their film industry was decades ahead of the rest of the world, but the decidedly CONSERVATIVE Stalin shut it down.
If you get a chance, check out “a day in the life” made about 1928.
Morning Jolly, I have heard of the film but never sat thru it….I will check it out….thanx
Viva La Freedom And Economic Justice—Transfabulous
Hi B. and thanx….the movement needs to work out the next phase and soon…
You make a good point to this guy’s comment. They gathered the people, they grabbed attention, not they have to unify their causes to keep the masses moving. Please check my article on the #occupy movement and how it can be unified through a single cause. I write at freepinellas.wordpress.com
Hi free and thanx for the comment…it is always good to have others opinions….I hope to see you more often…..I will check out your article….
But the empire is striking back…See the Defense Authorization bill and the new trans border agreement with the “sovereign” nation of Canada
Q. the empire will always strike back at the rebels but the problem is there is no one base to attack….and that makes it a lot more dangerous….
Lobotero,
The American Revolution, the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the Tunisian Revolution would all be but a mere footnote in the history books if nothing had been accomplished. They were effective movements (although, I have my own opinion on the effectiveness of the French Revolution, because those living a somewhat agrarian lifestyle – most of the country – were no better off than they were before.)
The OWS movement hasn’t done anything, to be quite honest. I know we need to give it more time, but if a movement that big and that popular fails to bring about any real, meaningful change, we’re screwed.
I suppose we can quibble over its accomplishments, but in my view, there have been none.
Terrance, we could say the same with the American revolution….the average colonist was no better off in the end…or the Civil Rights Movement….the average black is only slightly better off than they were in the 60’s….with all revolutions…the cause must be addressed not just the symptom…
Well, the OWS has got many talking about the case of money in government….there are many in Washington that have signed on to a amendment that would take the cash out of government….it is a long way from passing but at least they are talking about it and recognizing the damage it is doing…
Lobotero,
I understand your point, but I feel compelled to protest slightly.
If you accept the reasons delineated in the Declaration of Independence as the driving force for the revolution, then, yes, the average colonist benefitted under our new system of government. The catalyst for the French Revolution, however, was, in my opinion, from everything I have read, inequality that brought about sheer penury. The high society types – nobles, clergy, etc… – were exempt from the punitive taxes forced on the peasants, artisans, and others. But this inequality – and I’m sticking to this term for a reason – was more than just economic. I won’t delve too much into it, because I’m sure you’re well read on the topic, so let me just finish up my point.
The American Revolution achieved freedom for the colonists. The French Revolution didn’t even achieve that, since France slipped into despotism shortly after, and accepted the rule of Napoleon I.
The revolutionists bellow of “Liberté, Égalité, Fraternité” was all for naught.
The Civil Rights movement was effective, I think, in at least exemplifying the changing times. It legitimized an important idea about the American experiment.
The talk is good and I share your hope that it goes somewhere, but the glass has never been half-full in my eyes.
Thanks.
Terrance, the idea of the Am. Revolution was liberating….but the average small farmer got little from independence….whereas the leaders got everything….now the French Revolution I will agree with you there and the egos that followed gave the French people the Reign of Terror and we know how liberating that was….
The Civil Rights movement officially banned segregation but for the average black living in poverty it did little to help that problem…..we have more black politicians, journalists, etc but the average person in the ghetto has little chance of going beyond that, unless they can play a sport or deals drugs….
It is always a pleasure and the movement needs to take it to Washington and get in the faces of the 1%…..
Lobotero,
The average person may not have taken advantage of the newly acquired independence – sure. But simply having it is important, in my view.
I actually agree with you about the Civil Rights Movement now that I see your overall point. It’s important to realize that government flung those people into ghettos, into subsized housing units, tossed in a few schools, but didn’t fund them sufficiently, and seemingly forgot about them. And though so many do realize it, we don’t change it. Why?
Terrance, I think your are completely correct….but on a day to day their lives did not change much….
Poverty is needed for capitalism to work and that is why it is tolerated and even sought in some cases…
I think the “too many chiefs, not enough Indians” idiom fits here.
I see the OWS is going to foreclosures and camping in yards to prevent the people from being thrown out….now this is a good idea!
I have a lot of hope for the Occupy Movement too. Obama didn’t/couldn’t follow through with change, maybe Occupy will. Any way the people are pissed and now have a voice. Too bad the idiotic Tea Partyiers aren’t getting on-board.
Morning Hansi….it depends on how they use their time and their resources now…..they must find a united way to approach the system….
It’s really sad that it took martyrdom to start the Arab spring, but it definitely was the spark.
The Occupy Movement is great as it finally calls attention to the 99%. I’m not sure about its long term effect considering how the screaming heads on Conservative talk radio have spoken of the movement. I don’t know. Maybe I’m just keeping my expectations low so I don’t get disappointed. 🙁
Hi Spinny and welcome back….I want to see where they go next and to whom they get in the face…..there is so much possibility….but keeping expectations low is a good idea…..
Thanks for this. As you probably know, protestors have occuppied the surroundings of St Paul’s Cathedral in London for about a month now. There are a number of smaller camps around the City of London.
The Church of England has torn itself apart over this issue and it has been fascinating watching the major City companies pressure the church into having them evicted. God and Mammon in its rawest form. That plus the Murdoch media being hauled over the coals for their corruption of daily life and private grieving.
Who knows where all this will lead but it is good to see people standing up for themselves and saying enough is enough. In Britain there really is a Class War now in full swing – but as usual with our system of Government the attacks are through the welfare and pension systems and micro-changes to levels of entitlement in the hope that the people don’t spot them or miss their incremental effects. We shall see. But as John Lydon sang all them years ago “Anger Is An Energy”.
May the road rise with you!
Hello ginger and welcome aboard nice to have a British point of view…hopefully we will see you often…
I have been trying to keep up with the doings around the world….but it gets difficult when US politics is so screwed up….Anger is energy would make a good slogan…..just thinking….