I’ve been thinking about Occupy Wall Street lately.
For those who don’t remember, or don’t want to, a brief history:
The Occupy Wall Street Movement began in 2011, after the crash in 2008, when businesses were bailed out, but people were not. It lasted 59 days and was ended by then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who claimed Zuccotti Park, where the protestors were based, had become a health hazard and everybody had to evacuate at once. The movement gave rise to the slogan “We are the 99%,” a reference to the fact that the other 1% of people in the United States were wildly rich and controlled a huge piece of the country’s total wealth. Well, nothing’s changed about that, has it? In fact, it may have gotten worse.
The encampment at Zuccotti reminded me a bit of the shantytowns of homeless people in Washington named “Hooverville,” which were built in response to the Great Depression, which was blamed on President Herbert Hoover. My take on it: it’s never a particular president who is responsible for a depression or recession but our country’s overwhelming greed for more that certain presidents trade on that causes an economic downturn.
Folks may have different memories of Occupy Wall Street, but mine involve a lovely video from our friends Jim and Jeannie Clark, a visit with the Wahoo Skiffle Crazies, a hug and a talk with a fellow teacher, hearing my friend Rickie Lee jam out with the other musicians at the encampment and the use of the “people’s mic” to get your point across. Again, for those who forgot, here’s a really emotive piece by Levi Asher (aka Marc Elliot Stein): itkicks.com/peoplesmic/
This technique began because you actually need a permit to use amplification in a public place, which I had learned while doing the Acoustic Stomps at Tappen for nine years. It was another way for the city to monitor events and grab a little change from your pocket while they were at it.
I’m wondering now how much those protests in 2011 influenced the nationwide protests we’re seeing now. The year 2011 was part of the nascent era of social media ascendency. I noticed participants using their social media to connect with others, discover what other sources were writing about the protests and just stay on top of things in general. In the wake of that event, I have seen organizers rally people on an hour notice to appear at a certain place and time and seen the effectiveness of this tool in getting like-minded people together.
I don’t believe that politicians use social media as effectively as us regular folks. We can say and do much more than they are allowed to. Although, every time I see that video that Kristi Noem released of her standing in front of a cage at an El Salvadorian prison that contained hundreds of men, supposedly all “violent gang members” (although evidence was not given of their crimes, according to CNN reporting), I either want to vomit or throw something at the screen, or both. Her disgusting display of antipathy towards human suffering is, unfortunately, typical of this administration’s disregard for human life.
And for those that think “Well, those guys deserve it!”— really? Even if these men were violent criminals, and if they are now imprisoned for life, is the goal of that imprisonment continued torture? Shouldn’t the goal be rehabilitation, both for their good and ours? Shouldn’t their living conditions at least be humane? Because, if the conditions are not, if we’re just stockpiling them like so much trash…what does that say about our country’s so called “pro-life” stance? And doesn’t that remind you of the way another country kept their prisoners? Is that us? Is that who we are?
A good friend reminded me recently that we should all practice forgiveness. While it is the “Christian” thing to do, I don’t see a lot of it being practiced by people who identify as “Christians.” I see vengeful attitudes, glee at other people’s misfortunes, a senator stating she’s glad the Pope is dead and our very own president masquerading as a Pope online. If one wants to be forgiven, one must show some remorse. I don’t see that here. I see smug attitudes and demeaning behavior. I see people who should know better ignoring orders to stop harassing innocent people. What will it take?
On Aug. 8, 1974, Richard Nixon resigned from office, following the news that he had participated in a break-in at the Watergate Hotel in order to stop the Democrats from winning the next election, which they won anyway. Harry Truman called Nixon a “son of a [expletive]” and Nixon was known to be vengeful and have a mean temper. He even had an enemies list that included, among others, John Lennon, Paul Newman and the union president of the United Auto Workers.
But, when the time came, he had the good grace and political savvy to step aside. It doesn’t appear to me that this administration does. The president recently changed his mind about a third term. Did one of his advisors finally have the courage to tell him it was forbidden by the Constitution?
Protest is vital to America’s health and growth. Violent protest of any kind only sets the clock back a few decades. And anybody who cannot or will not endure protest is a seriously thin-skinned person. You might even call him “snowflake.”
Hold those magnificent grey heads high. Carry on!
Comments maybe submitted to “Talk To The Old Guy” on Facebook.