Occupy Wall Street: Get Behind Us or Get Out of the Way

It is difficult to sum up what the Occupy movement is. Not because we have no clear agenda or exacting goals but because Occupy means so many different things to so many different people. However, there is one value we all seem to embrace: Social Change.

There is no one central figure that we idolize or elect because we are all leaders and we all work together in whatever ways we can to bring about social change and to move humanity forward. We don’t have a single mouth-piece to speak for us. Occupy makes us speak for ourselves. It is more than an idea. More than a movement. Occupy is empowerment to all of those who choose to reach out and take responsibility for our community and society.

I have news for those of you who are Conservative- whether politically or socially. You are fighting against the greatest power known to humankind. Change. And your fight is futile because change is the one constant. It will never diminish. It will never go away. You are trying to freeze time. It is a foolish idealism but you are welcome to it. If you want to live in your own little world and pretend that the world is not subject to change and progression then you are free to do so. That is the beauty of free will.  Though, if you are not behind us then just get out of the way. Step aside and let the people that embrace and enact change do what we do best. Change will happen with or without you.

As for the critics that complain that the mass media is too liberal…wait…I just spit out my coffee. The alleged “Liberal” media is obviously NOT liberal enough which is why Citizen Journalism has sprung up worldwide. Are Citizen Journalists seeking fame and fortune? Not so much. In all reality it is the ideals that the truth should not be hidden from us that spurred a revolution within media. Aren’t Citizen Journalists just amateurs? Some are. Some aren’t. Their educational background or lack thereof is not a hindrance to the stories that are being told. It’s the spirit of the Occupy movement and all other movements pushing humanity forward that is behind their reporting. To show the world the truth.  The real truth.  This, without corporate sponsors and political agendas actually makes the medium more trustworthy than mass media. Citizen Journalism is really the only responsible journalism left in the world.

“Where does Anonymous come in?” You might be wondering. Why is Anonymous (Anons) linked to the Occupy movement? That is easy since Occupy and Anonymous are not exclusive ideals. Anons (for the most part) are also fighting for social change, justice, and giving the people the truth. Giving us the tools to use our own minds, form our own ideas, and affect our own change.  All of the time I see Anons lumped in with Anarchists. Are Anons Anarchists? Some are and some aren’t. I will tell you though, most Anarchists have different definitions of anarchy. Just like most Occupiers have different views of what social change means. Anons are a mix of people as are any group. Some are Occupiers, some are not. That is the beauty of the Occupy and Anonymous movements – the freedom to choose and the desire to expose the truth to the people.

The politicians and people who are against globalization are too late. Globalization was change and it happened whether you wanted it or not. Our world has changed and now society must also change to meet the new demands of a Global Society. Change is the ONLY constant. Either one must learn to adapt or humanity will proceed without them, leaving them to extinction.

Occupy is about the people. About the society we live in and are fighting for fairness and justice, freedom for everyone of every class and social/economic situation. What are we fighting for? That one is simple: a better world. We are fighting for equality. We are fighting for the future. We are fighting to put compassion back into humanity. We are crossing party lines, religious ideals, and economic boundaries. We accept everyone who is for change and reject nobody. If you do not agree with us then we respect your right to your own opinion. But words of warning- If you do not get behind us then get out of our way. Occupy cannot be stopped. Change will never cease.

November 3, 2012

#SilentMarchNyc - Father's Day- Sunday June 17, 2012

The responses I have been reading on Twitter and Fb regarding the Silent March Against Stop and Frisk today in NYC have for the most part been awe inspiring. 

Silence and the power behind a show of people who have no need to raise their voices to be heard is powerful. 

Not only is the gathering impressive, but the world citizens that have united in solidarity to condemn a policy that is discriminatory and repressive is indicative of the need for officials to stop and listen. They need to hear the silence. They need to listen to the emotions, the unfairness, and the humiliation that is represented by the masses. 

Everyone can scream, yell, shout and make a lot of noise and chaos. It takes a very heartfelt and unjust cause to compel such a large and diverse group of people to remain silent. Walking in solidarity. 

Their silence is screaming for justice and freedom.

If you can't hear it, you're not listening! #SilentMarchNyc 

 

Occupy - Globally- May 1, 2012

Wonderful turnout for Mayday! I spent most of my day and night re-tweeting to those in the field. Wish I could have been out there with everyone but we all do what we can. Here is the video compilation courtesy of tradgedyandhope. Please watch this, spread this, and 'like' this video. It does not show ALL of the Occupy protests but it does sum up what could definitely be considered a successful day! 

To those who said the Occupy Movement has dwindled - We say "OCCUPY STILL STANDS and WE STAND UNITED!" 

http://youtu.be/SGR5UQJLQvU

#BTHEIRVOICE

We need to stand up against hate crimes. We need to be the voice of those whose voices were stolen from them. Trayvon Martin, Shaima Alawadi. Just a couple of the most recent victims of hate crimes here in the US. But there are more - too many more. Here and across the globe, people are murdered because of the way they look, who they love, the way they dress, and because of the way they believe. This is not just about civil rights. This is about Human Rights. 

The wonderful thing about the internet is not just the ability to contact your friends and relatives. Use this network for the greater good. Spread the word. Spread the stories of those who have been struck down due to their differences. Due the ignorance and the intolerance of a violent minority. This is not a minority of any particular color, ethnicity, religion etc. This is a minority of intolerant and bigoted individuals who DO NOT represent how the majority feel. 

Give voice to the injustices that the governments, law enforcement, and other "official" agencies have committed. Speak up and demand that justice is achieved for victims of these vicious crimes. Spread the stories, contact the media, be the voices for the voices that have been silenced forever. Demand fair trials. Demand accurate detective work. Demand that these agencies do not let these victims fall between the cracks, or worse - through loopholes in shady legislation.

Whether or not I share beliefs or cultures with these victims, I will help them. Whether the color of our skin or the choice of their lifestyle is different, I will help them. Why? Because under the clothes, the skin color, the life choices - WE ARE ALL THE SAME. We are human. We are all citizens of this world. We all deserve the right to live, to believe, to love. The criminals who commit heinous crimes of hate have more rights than the victims of their brutality. They have more rights than the people whose lives they violated and snuffed out. They shouldn't. Victims, even those who are no longer with us, have rights too. We need to make sure their rights are upheld. 

Follow the hash-tag on Twitter #BTheirVoice and spread the word. Follow organizations that work for victims. Amnesty International @Amnesty , Unicef @Unicef , Occupy Wall Street #OWS , and other Occupy groups #Occupy . Facebook, Google+. These are just a few of the forums for our voices. Spread the word as far as you can. Let your voice be as loud as it can be. You do have a voice. Please use it, because there are too many who no longer can.

We need to Be Their Voice. Speak Up. Speak Out. Silence is deadly.