Wordless Wednesday: Solidarity

To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men - Abraham Lincoln

Occupy South Bend rally wrap-up

The rally I attended on Saturday was awesome.  There's nothing like working with people towards a common goal to make your spirit feel empowered.  I crocheted a hat, made and flew signs, participated in a march, and enjoyed the company of an amazing group of people.  It was truly an amazing experience.  I encourage everyone to get out there and take part.  These people are protesting for your rights. 

The detractors seem to be missing the point of the movement. These are not people looking for a handout, many of them have jobs (some more than 2 or 3), the ones that don't have jobs (lost when the economy collapsed beneath them) have been actively looking.  This isn't about politics.  This is about stopping the progression of our country from democracy to corporatocracy. 

The threatened clean-up of Zucotti park is a prime example.  It's a public park, right?  Wrong.  Even though everyone is TOLD it's a public park, it's owned and run by a private corporation.  Brookfield said that their agreement with the city required the park be used for free enjoyment of the public...  That is, until the public don't toe the company line and then they have to go.  Indiana's toll road is another good example.  It was built with public funds but is now owned by a corporation.

How much more do you want to give to big business?  Tax dollars saved them when they were "too big to fail".  The hope was that by saving them, the government would be saving and creating jobs.  Tell that to the people who have been unemployed for over a year because companies have learned that their workforce is so desperate to keep their jobs that the employees do 5 times the work for half the pay. 

This is what the movement is about.  People are angry about the state of the country.  And they should be.  The government (all parts of it) and the corporations are in bed together.  Companies don't differentiate between Republican or Democrat, they'll give money to both to guarentee that the laws passed benefit THEM. But governments shouldn't work for companies.

Lincoln said in the Gettysburg Address that our government was "of the people, by the people" and most importantly "for the people."  When did that stop?  When did the government give up on the people and become "for the corporations?"  We've let it happen.  But as the situation degenerates, I believe we need to avoid violent revolution and take part in non-violent, constitutionally granted ways of changing the system.  An Op-ed piece in the NY Times calls this America's "primal scream."  We need to scream our heads off before things get worse.

Occupy Together

Occupy Indiana: Occupy South Bend

Facebook: Occupy South Bend

Occupy Krafty Kitten

I don't normally bring politics on this blog.  There really isn't a need or a purpose to it.  However, something is going on in America right now that is affecting me and should affect you.  The "Occupy Wall Street" movement is being compared to the riots and revolutions in the Middle East earlier this year, and, honestly, was sparked by the same reasons. 

For three weeks the movement occupied Wall Street with no word from the media.  Twitter, Youtube and Facebook were the only outlets for information (much like the riots in the Middle East).  Once the police started beating and pepper spraying the peaceful protestors, the media started reporting on them.  But the news has been disingenuous at best and deliberately misleading at worst. However, this debacle of reporting has led to something amazing - the spread of the movement across the United States.  There are Occupy movements in many cities across the United States, even here in South Bend, Indiana. 

Now, I have been called a hippie by many people.  I believe in the power of voting and, if that fails, peaceful protesting.  I believe in taking care of the weaker members of society - children, the elderly, and the infirm.  I believe in helping people and working together to create a better world.  I also believe that our society, for all its advantages, has failed to help the people who take part in it. 

We have teachers struggling to teach kids on reduced salaries which were forced upon them due a lagging economy, we have people losing their jobs and having to find new and creative ways to feed their families, and we have people dying because they cannot receive proper medical care due to exorbitant costs and prohibitive insurance.  We also have created a ruling upper class with our democratic society.  We elect politicians based on our belief that they will support their constituents only to discover their masters are really the 1% that controls most of the country's wealth.  People grin sardonically at each other when discussing politics because they are aware that the government has failed.  "But what can I do about it.  My voice doesn't count.  My vote doesn't matter."  So make it matter.  It worked in the 50's and 60's.  It can work today.  But you have to DO something, and this is your opportunity to take your stand.  Find your local Occupy group and, even if you can't protest, show your support.  The protestors need food, water, tents, sleeping bags... 

As far as what I will do for them, this weekend I am going to the protest in downtown South Bend, labeled a dying city by Newsweek.  I am going to stand with my people and protest the injustices.  I strongly believe this is necessary, and I strongly believe we can make a difference.

Occupy Together

Occupy Indiana: Occupy South Bend

Facebook: Occupy South Bend

Wordless Wednesday: Occupy Together