There seems to be a nationwide push by law enforcement to end the "Occupy" movement by force. I'm not worried about this because you can't kill an idea with riot batons and tear gas. It has been tried. You can kill the messenger but not the message.
Of more concern to me is the propaganda area of the class struggle. The "Occupy" movement has been accused of being directionless and without leadership. This is essentially true and that is the beauty of it. It is an expression of rage by the 99% who have discovered that in spite of a well funded and strategically executed campaign to divide working people, we have more in common with each other then with the oppressors and their paid mercenary cronies in government. It is an expression of class outrage, and yes, I said CLASS.
Leaders and organizations exists. Just spend a couple of minutes on the internet and you will find one to suit every outlook. What is needed, and is now occurring, is the communal expression of common outrage. A spontaneous uprising by working people that they who govern cannot ignore. It is not the place of the "Occupy" movement to install leaders, although that may be a happy side effect, it is the place of the movement to inform the leaders already in place of the popular will and our commitment to struggle. Having received that message, if they do not take the side of the masses then they will be removed, and until the political system is modified to reflect the popular will instead of that of the financial elite, we of the working class should continue to engage in civil disobedience, within the scope of our abilities as individuals, until it is.
Make no mistake, the elite will not surrender power without a fight. They will continue to blame the encampments for every social evil that already existed due to their greed, like homelessness and crime. Every thing that goes bump in the night near an "Occupy" encampment will be blamed on the movement even though the fault lies with the paradigm installed by the greedy few at the top.
There are actions all over the nation tonight. I, like many others cannot join them physically because I have to make a living, but I know they speak for me and they have my support and my love. Through there sacrifice and bravery, my chains are being broken and I welcome them as liberators.
The "Occupy" movement does not seek to bring down the system. It is a natural occurrence in a system that is already collapsing under the weight of it's own inequities. The people are awake. Let the loving outrage continue until we have retaken our planet for the good of all instead of the profit of a few.
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Excellent post, Rob. A lot of activity recently in our nascent movement. Last Saturday night in Portland an estimated 5,000 community members showed up in support of the Occupy Portland encampment. (See photos on my FB page.) Thursday, thousands participated in the Day of Action. Some of the camps may be gone, but the movement has touched deep well of discontent and people finally have a vehicle by which to express their frustration and outrage. A lot of action across the country yesterday and there will be more this weekend. Someone once said, “If the people lead, the leaders will follow.” Soon enough there will be big changes.
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