What is Occupy Wall Street?
In the past 24 hours, I’ve had to explain Occupy Wall Street and the 99% to:
- Spaniards at the Charles de Gaulle airport
- My sister
- My hesitant friend, Hannah
This email I wrote to Hannah pretty much sums up what I see going on, how I’m involved, a very few things I’ve read and how I think you and I should behave:
I’m not in New York. I’m poking in on the protests in Portland.
Try to stay open to the idea of Occupy Wall Street for now. That’s what it needs—conscientious observers.
Here is some reading:
- Think Occupy Wall St. is a phase? You don’t get it
- “Occupy Wall Street” and the History of Democratic Finance Protest
- Correcting the Abysmal ‘New York Times’ Coverage of Occupy Wall Street
- What Is Occupy Wall Street?
When you whittle it down, it goes like this:
- 99% of us are not being served by the system purportedly set up to serve us.
- Now is the time to change that. What do we do about it?
- So far, Occupy movements have been very good about everyone having their voice heard. It’s slow and it’s messy and some people may not agree with other people (in fact, it’s unlikely you’ll ever get unanimous agreement!). But this is the first time EVER some folks have felt like they are being represented fairly. And that’s just within the protest, not their lousy government.
- Question authority. Think for yourself. Learn all you can. Discent.
It may not be the very best information dump, but it’s a decent start.
Everyone should visit occupywallst.org.
Portlanders should visit occupyportland.org.
And FDR had this thing called the Second Bill of Rights. We should do it.
