Editor's Note: Naomi Wolf is a political activist and social critic whose most recent book is Give Me Liberty: A Handbook for American Revolutionaries. For more from Wolf, visit Project Syndicate or follow it on Facebook and Twitter.
By Naomi Wolf, Project Syndicate
NEW YORK – America’s politicians, it seems, have had their fill of democracy. Across the country, police, acting under orders from local officials, are breaking up protest encampments set up by supporters of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement – sometimes with shocking and utterly gratuitous violence.
In the worst incident so far, hundreds of police, dressed in riot gear, surrounded Occupy Oakland’s encampment and fired rubber bullets (which can be fatal), flash grenades, and tear-gas canisters – with some officers taking aim directly at demonstrators. The Occupy Oakland Twitter feed read like a report from Cairo’s Tahrir Square: “they are surrounding us”; “hundreds and hundreds of police”; “there are armored vehicles and Hummers.” There were 170 arrests.
My own recent arrest, while obeying the terms of a permit and standing peacefully on a street in lower Manhattan, brought the reality of this crackdown close to home. America is waking up to what was built while it slept: private companies have hired away its police (JPMorgan Chase gave $4.6 million to the New York City Police Foundation); the federal Department of Homeland Security has given small municipal police forces military-grade weapons systems; citizens’ rights to freedom of speech and assembly have been stealthily undermined by opaque permit requirements.
Suddenly, America looks like the rest of the furious, protesting, not-completely-free world. Indeed, most commentators have not fully grasped that a world war is occurring. But it is unlike any previous war in human history: for the first time, people around the world are not identifying and organizing themselves along national or religious lines, but rather in terms of a global consciousness and demands for a peaceful life, a sustainable future, economic justice, and basic democracy. Their enemy is a global “corporatocracy” that has purchased governments and legislatures, created its own armed enforcers, engaged in systemic economic fraud, and plundered treasuries and ecosystems.
Around the world, peaceful protesters are being demonized for being disruptive. But democracy is disruptive. Martin Luther King, Jr., argued that peaceful disruption of “business as usual” is healthy, because it exposes buried injustice, which can then be addressed. Protesters ideally should dedicate themselves to disciplined, nonviolent disruption in this spirit – especially disruption of traffic. This serves to keep provocateurs at bay, while highlighting the unjust militarization of the police response.
Moreover, protest movements do not succeed in hours or days; they typically involve sitting down or “occupying” areas for the long hauls. That is one reason why protesters should raise their own money and hire their own lawyers. The corporatocracy is terrified that citizens will reclaim the rule of law. In every country, protesters should field an army of attorneys.
Protesters should also make their own media, rather than relying on mainstream outlets to cover them. They should blog, tweet, write editorials and press releases, as well as log and document cases of police abuse (and the abusers).
There are, unfortunately, many documented cases of violent provocateurs infiltrating demonstrations in places like Toronto, Pittsburgh, London, and Athens – people whom one Greek described to me as “known unknowns.” Provocateurs, too, need to be photographed and logged, which is why it is important not to cover one’s face while protesting.
Protesters in democracies should create email lists locally, combine the lists nationally, and start registering voters. They should tell their representatives how many voters they have registered in each district – and they should organize to oust politicians who are brutal or repressive. And they should support those – as in Albany, New York, for instance, where police and the local prosecutor refused to crack down on protesters – who respect the rights to free speech and assembly.
Many protesters insist in remaining leaderless, which is a mistake. A leader does not have to sit atop a hierarchy: a leader can be a simple representative. Protesters should elect representatives for a finite “term,” just like in any democracy, and train them to talk to the press and to negotiate with politicians.
Protests should model the kind of civil society that their participants want to create. In lower Manhattan’s Zuccotti Park, for example, there is a library and a kitchen; food is donated; kids are invited to sleep over; and teach-ins are organized. Musicians should bring instruments, and the atmosphere should be joyful and positive. Protesters should clean up after themselves. The idea is to build a new city within the corrupt city, and to show that it reflects the majority of society, not a marginal, destructive fringe.
After all, what is most profound about these protest movements is not their demands, but rather the nascent infrastructure of a common humanity. For decades, citizens have been told to keep their heads down – whether in a consumerist fantasy world or in poverty and drudgery – and leave leadership to the elites. Protest is transformative precisely because people emerge, encounter one another face-to-face, and, in re-learning the habits of freedom, build new institutions, relationships, and organizations.
None of that cannot happen in an atmosphere of political and police violence against peaceful democratic protesters. As Bertolt Brecht famously asked, following the East German Communists’ brutal crackdown on protesting workers in June 1953, “Would it not be easier…for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?” Across America, and in too many other countries, supposedly democratic leaders seem to be taking Brecht’s ironic question all too seriously.
The views expressed in this article are solely those of Naomi Wolf. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2011.
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
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Are you serious with this? If you are, then maybe you should go live in those countries you compared the US to and try out your lifestyle there. Then blog about it for us. I stand by these protesters rights, but not when it infringes on the rights of others. And, again, WHY IS NO ONE OCCUPYING DC?! That is the only place where true change can be made! Step out of your comfort zone and get to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! PLEASE! I would LOVE to see some real change!
She conveniently leaves out the meeting of Geore Sorros and NY Police Commissioner Kelley last week. LOL bet there wasn't money on table at that meeting
How about the crooked New York government officals that threaten the owner of the land you are destroying. he has no rights to his property because of the MEE people
George Soros is the poster boy for financial manipulation and corruption.
Cyberpunk, anyone? Government owned by the corporations, massive crackdowns, police owned by businesses Ha, rpgs are always one step ahead......
George Soros also indiorectly funded #ows. Now he's potentially funding the NYPD, right after JP Morgan had given them 6 million dollars.
This is whats we're talking about people. Wake the heck up already!!! Being wealthy is not a criminal offense, however being wealthy and using your money to influence politics and stir up unrest is absolutely monstrous and vile. Why haven't arrests been made yet? I suppose if you pay off police departments with enough money they'll leave you alone? The FBI should be investigating the NYPD, George Soros, JP Morgan and many others. And if the FBI isn't investigating them, then they aren't doing their job. Period.
What is the matter with George Soros? If you would read his background perhaps you will support him.
The "ME GENERATION" faces lives with minimal careers and retirement without social security, medicare, pensions or home ownership. The "Baby Boomer" generation has looted future generations to a state of crushing poverty and left nothing but trillion$ in debt.
The "Baby Boomer" generation is the generation of "Cronus" and "Saturn"; the ancient gods who devoured their own children.
Your missing the point.
A revolution starts with a gun and a purpose, which at this point in time will never happen cuz the majority of you don't believe in the use of firearms. I hope theres a zombie apocalypse and it starts at OWS, then i won't have to hear about this silly hippy garbage anymore and I can really enjoy freedom cuz you'll all be zombies eating each others brains. Haha did you really think protesting does anything? When has a protest ever resulted in change. Change is what you get from a 49 cent bullet, and while your at it, why don't you get halloween and christmas banned too cuz you obviously think they are holidays made up by greedy corporations. You OWS people just don't know when to stop, u just keep pushing and complaining. Welcome to America the land of opportunity. You can come here from a 3rd world country and make a good life for yourself, but apparently thats not enought for you, maybe the truth is the OWS protests are fueled by the protestors own greed.
Joe Shmoe: So, your argument is that someone has to die to accomplish social or governmental change? This seems to discount the "bloodless revolutions" we have every time we have an election. You imply that changing our leaders through voting does not lead to any change. If that is true, then you seem not to believe in American democracy. Is this true?
On another front, do you also believe that the social changes of the 1960s, largely thought to have been accomplished through peaceful protests, were ineffective?
Where is my "missing the point"? It's "you're" dummy.
Haha what bloodless protests are you speaking of? I also wouldn't call an election a revolution by any means. Actions speak louder then words, and from what I can tell there are no red blooded americans in this "occupation". Just a bunch of loud mouths who feel they have been wronged because the person on the other side of the fence worked harder and had more business sense then them, get real. People come from nothing every day in this country and then achieve their dreams because they worked hard and played the game, not because they whined and complained about everything.
Occupy J Street!
Why on earth do you think there is no Occupy D.C.??????? It would have taken you all of 10 seconds to determine your claim was false. Or do you simply prefer to make false claims in hopes of getting people worked up.
i just moved back from 10 years from one of "those other" countries. the author is spot – on. among developed nations, this one is not notable for any sort of "freedom".
Do you even know what Freedom is ?
Freedom in the US stands for Freedom of expression and Freedom of Self and Responsibility.
But I'm sure to you Freedom means I am taken care of no matter what I do. I can fail miserably because I have no artictic talent but someone else will always pay my bills.
I also agree. All I ever see from the other side are false claims that these protesters are violent, dirty, druggies, looking for a handout. I have not hear that message from OWS once from the beginning. The lack of intelligent argument from the other side is a indicator to me that they have no defense for their bad behavior. The crack down on protesters by police only serves to prove the point OWS is trying to make. None of you are free, everything you are and ever will be has been bought and sold by the corporations that now own everything. I am saving this editorial because it had some incredibly good ideas for how to orchestrate the protesting in order to enact true change. Thank you for the article Naomi.
jimmyjohn is right – as pretty much anyone who has spent any time living in another country can tell you. America isn't top dog anymore. We could be again, but not until we take back control of our own country. Until then, things will continue to get worse. Think about it – why has Congress' approval rating continued to drop despite changing political 'hands' so to speak? Because both parties aren't serving our interests; they're serving the elite's interests. It's worth noting that many members of Congress are themselves among the financial elite – and please tell me none of you think that's a coincidence, because it's not.
Some of you may ask 'Well, if you think this country isn't so great, why don't you move out?' It's true, I could leave. There are parts of Europe that are absolutely beautiful and I would love to spend more time there. However, this is my home. I was born here. I have lived here virtually my entire life and I want to make it a better place than it is now. That, in short, is why I am not going anywhere and it's why the protesters aren't going anywhere either.
SNAP, you're saying the protesters aren't violent?? Are you in that much denial?? Every OWS video I've seen on Youtube is them screaming profanity and antagonizing police officers. They're defecating on police cars and in the streets. They're destroying everything around them like locusts. Yet, when these cities move to clean this up, they're met by aggressive hippie wannabes. And the police are the violent ones???? Right.
Thank you jimmyjohn. Many protesters do have jobs or are students who see occupying as another responsibility. I know I work full time and, as one of the 99%, believe it is my responsibility to support the protests when I can. I laugh everytime I read people complaining and talking about people not working , free enterprise, etc. Many, many people hold honest jobs that pay little. The US enterprise system is not "free" because it is so well subsidized by government. I would love to see the government stop all tax breaks and subsidies and any type of taxpayer funded support to the US companies: then maybe we could talk about "free enterprise". There is nobody...nobody in this world that is truly worth a raise of $50 million. That is just being in the right place at the right time while networking properly; not hard work. Schmoozing, not working.
The United States locks up a larger percentage of its citizens than any nation on earth. What was once the "Land of the Free" is now the worlds "Prison Nation".
The United States goes to war more often and for more reasons than any nation on earth.
There is nothing FREE about the United States
It's time for Americans to stand up and demand term limits for the House and Senate (8yrs max), overturning the Citizens United act, campaing finance reform, and demanding a minimum wage that someone can actually live on.
I agree. Too bad thats not what OWS stands for.
absolutely! the union of politicians and corporations is what this is all about, and it needs to go to congress. Write your congressman and tell them about the disgust you feel at the way they do business. This has nothing to do with political party, it is simply a lack of representation to the people of this nation by our elected officials who use their time in office to get re-elected and use their positions for personal gain.
Agree 100%! Term limits is a great place to start. It seems the first priority for most elected officials is to start planning on how STAY in office. Term limits will stop the fiefdoms that the lobbys court for decades and decades. We may not have a queen, king, or other despot, but we've got plenty of little chiefs with their thrones in the Senate and the House.
It looks like the people want their country back. Support the occupiers. Better yet , become one !!
There is term limit. It is the next election. But people like punishment. Why did they vote for the warmonger G W – Cheney ticket the second time? My job is to figure out how to have a decent life inspite of all the criminals in government.
Term limits is one of those sound good ideas that would be disastrous. If you think lobbyists have too much influence now just wait until they are the only ones who know how to write a bill and get it passed. You would have politicians who have a short time to get laws passed for what ever special interest put them there, then they would go back to whoever could pay them the most. You might as well just call them " The Senator From The Great State of Insurance" etc.
Better still, do what the founders of democracy did; choose representatives the way we do jurors, by a lottery system. This is, if you think about it, the only way to avoid corruption and assure equal representation for people from all walks of life. It's interesting to note that at one time professional jurors were tried, but the idea had to be abandoned because the outcome of cases brought against the wealthy was too predictable. That, and the fact that although jurors did not receive much of a salary they all became very rich. Think about it. We could have a real democracy it we went to a lottery system and only let legislators serve one term. We wouldn't have to be inundated with propaganda from special interest groups, poor people would be represented in congress for a change, we'd save all that money wasted on holding elections and we'd have a government that truly was of, by, and for the people.
Minimum wage...so our teenagers, the majority of people who work for minimum wage, need to earn a living wage? I'm sorry, no.
To those who claim term limits are a bad idea and that the lobbyist would be writing the bills. Who do you think do that now?
If they have term limits, they will be elected with specific tasks to accomplish, then they do it. otherwise, the come back to town a liar.
Not only term limits, but we need make it illegal for all government officials to get a job with any corporation that they have worked with or for during their tenure, for at least 5 years after leaving office These officials are running a scam to promote these corporations while in office, so that they get a lucrative job with them when they get out. This has to stop! No monetary gain, better decisions to be made!
I would totally be for camping finance reform. Tents are too expensive. I need my hiking boots to be subsidized.
It's up to the voters to decide what to do. Meantime the police should take care of all that human garbage that do not work, destroy property, and annoy people who do actually work. The best solution: water cannons, tear gas dogs and jail, That will take care of those losers.
They exist because of the types of Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore, Sean Penn, CNN, NBC and other cable news etc that add fire to these 1960's leftovers.
We have term limits. It's called an election.
"...a minimum wage one can live on..." Minimum = survival, as in eating manna, not steak!
I'm retired and old, so I have chores I would pay to have done that don't take a rocket scientist to do, or even someone who can read. But having to live within my means (Social Security), I can't (and wouldn't if I could) pay grunt labor the $7/hr. plus the law requires today.
Who is hurt most by a higher minimum wage? Everyone.
Those who get a "raise" still can't afford the top tier Cable or Satellite subscriptions, or the latest and greatest sneakers, iPods and jeans.
But those hurt worse are on the bottom. They don't have a job and may never have one. Every tine the minimum wage is raised, that rope the young grab to haul themselves out of the ranks of the "living at home and unemployed with no future" is raised that much higher. A lot can't reach it already today.
There is just so much "minimum wage" work, and when the price is higher, you hire fewer or do less. Jobs lost. Opportunity lost. Experience lost. Future lost. Contacts lost. Futures lost. Clear enough?
It is time Americans stop voting for criminals on the theory that only criminals can win.
What good are term limits when Americans will not vote for better replacements.
If you want useful change, vote LIBERTARIAN. Democrats and Republicans are worthless.
Term Limits? Could the average person stay away from their job for four years and expect to get it back at the end of the term? Probably not....unless that person is rich...and in that case the same people who are in office now would be in office then. We have something called elections that serve as a way to limit terms when needed. Too bad most Americans don't vote. Too bad the ones who do vote for what's best for them in the short term rather than what's best for their country.
"Come ON" What are you complaining about! Go to DC and occupy there if you want to! Stop criticizing these people, they are doing what your sorry butt should be out doing!
Well that is happening. There are even more restrictions than any other city. If they did this in front of the White House they would be arrested or shot!!!
We can and will continue to make that comparison as long as they continue to act like that.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." – Thomas Jefferson
Support the OWS!
As usual Jefferson was right
Of course TJ was talking about political dissent that was constructive and NOT detructive, "gimme-ism" focused on where the power is not concentrated (which is DC).
DC makes the decisions, not WS.
WS cannot be corrupt systemically without the permission of DC. Go to DC and demand that the Dems and Repubs do what is right!
You have no understanding of TJ let alone constructive dissent.
Bertold Brecht had once said: "Would it not be easier…for the government to dissolve the people and elect another?”
Well people have the power and they stay. A government comes and goes.
Jefferson would support the "OWS" movement if he were still alive! Policemen have a tendency to be obnoxious.
So, Come On, where are YOU occupying??? Apparently not DC, because if you were you would see there are many others there.
They were occupying DC. They were all rounded up and arrested:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44855382/ns/us_news-life/t/occupy-dc-protesters-arrested-after-unfurling-banners-senate-building/
http://theurbandaily.com/music/ddjames/raheem-devaughn-speaks-after-occupy-dc-protest-arrest/
http://www.christianpost.com/news/cornel-west-arrested-at-occupy-d-c-protest-58374/
http://www.nukeresister.org/2011/10/20/seven-people-occupying-d-c-arrested-at-house-armed-services-committee-protesting-wars/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/13/dc-protests-more-arrests_n_1009009.html
Need I keep posting? The arrests are happening there, but the protest is still going.
Because they were protesting the Government ?
That would be a big Obamanono.. You can only protest the big evil corporations and banks.
Arrests and killing do not stop protests As per Syria, 3000 plus dead!.
Hegelism... at its best...
What rights are these Occupy protesters infringing on. The banks, corporations and wall street. The very same people who have under minded this country. Who are now showing they are the rulers and not the politicians in DC. Why Occupy DC the republicans in the House are not going to cave in and in a miriacle moment make it right again. Heck no they are the servants of the group that have taken over this country. We are the people. We should demand that corporate rule must go. Prescott Bush and his minions tried to take over the government back during FDR's term but one lone American, a true patriot came forward with their plan and stopped it, so now they have worked to steal the government with their hoards of stolen money, money made on the backs of the 99 percent and if any body can not see that they deserve to be crushed under the HEEL OF THE CORPORATIONS.
Give 'em hell Marge. You've got it right.
Oppression always ends with a revolution. Study history.
Right on! Not many people know that these billionaire supported TPs are just a retread of tactics used over and over in our history. They always have some ultra-patriotic name(Prescott's was called the American Liberty Party) but their aims have always been the same, to use wedge issues to use uninformed voters to further the Corpotatocracy.
While misguided, you do realize that for the last 4-5 years, based on when and how you judge power in DC, The Democrats have been in charge right? That no major changes have been made in that time (well positively) and that OWS if it should actually stand for somethign is a complete political flush of DEMS and REPUBS.....
Even if you include the "They broke it" angle, how long do you want your party to take to fix it? 8 years? 20 years? never and just blame the other party? As of right now your leaning heavily towards that last option.
The only thing OWS should be able to clearly agree on is don't vote parties. But it's too late, Obama and the Dem's (aka the ones who haven't fixed anything in their tenure) are courting them and a marriage is soon.
So OWS will just be the dem's tea party. Problem being the OWS are aimless and have no leadership which means they are effective only for headlines. The tea party however is sharpened, organized, and driving change. Ever see what happens when a bullet (tea party) runs into a formless mass like jello (OWS). Hint the Jello doesn't win....
Why is it that when someone feels that America can be better, we're labelled as un-American? Sure, we're better than many other countries, but do you honestly think this the best we can do? If so, that's sad
Hi Jef
I`m dutch And for the first time I do respect American people because now they standup for the right things ows gives back mine believe in humanity I`m an dutch ocupy and grateful for all the people I have met supporting us sharing their thoughts concerns and stories humanity on it`s best there are so manny good people out there just talk to them and feel their love their concern their willingnes to help out others just as we people were destined to be
thank you to Jef
Martin
"In related news, the AP is reporting the potential for widespread famine in the Portland Vancouver area since Michael Moore's visit to Occupy Portland. Reserve stocks of food are being rushed into the area to provide nourishment to local residents until food supplies return to normal. Eyewitness accounts at one local buffet reported complete devastation after Michael Moore wiped out the entire all- you-can-eat buffet in a 10 minute period while employee desperately tried to replenish the food for other customers, but failed to keep up. One patron was quoted as saying "I've never seen anything like it! It reminded me of sucking up a spilled bowl of popcorn with a Shop Vac. I tried to rush my kids to the dessert counter to get them something to eat, but Mr. Moore pelted us with chicken bones & we had to take cover behind an overturned table." Oregon National Guard has been deployed to begin the massive clean up effort.
Occupy Ho Wah.
*Yawn*
Great post.
Changes cant be made in DC when they are controlled/bought by corporations
That is the problem,Dc is owned by WS.It does no good to protest the employees.The OWS is correctly going to the Govt's EMPLOYERS.
So go to DC and help surround the White House November 6. Thousands will be turning out to protest the Tar Sands pipeline proposed to be built from Canada into the US. Over a thousand people were arrested in protests against this nightmare this past summer, including climate scientist Jim Hansen and author Bill McKibben.
Then go to DC and start occupying it. That's the beauty of a people's revolution like this, you are free to express youurself wherever you wish.
At least protest affects change in their countrys....
Actually no, violent revolution is what created change. And it killed thousands of innocent people. Is a lower price on your latte worth a child's life? Protest is a side show and a placebo, it has no impact and simply costs tax paying citizens more of their hard earned money to fund cleanup and overtime for safety personnel.
There are two Occupy DC groups. One is really a Tea Party group.
For those to young to remember , these are the same tactics that Nixon and the republican establishment did to the "kids' during the Vietnam era. For those who were there " Remember Kent State " ! We changed our country then and we can change it now !!!!!! They were wrong then and they are wrong now ! Take action. I am 63 and I am p/oed at this crap they are doing to our rights !
That is true,I was around during the 60's ,protests then DID bring change, with the Govt kicking and screaming all the way.People were hurt and killed,sometimes its necessary to give all to make change.
The public has to take control of how Govt is run.It's past time for the rank and file to realize who works for who.Washington does what big business tells it to.Most any laws that do get thru are so watered down by pressure from big business their useless .
Not many is at DC because its not the problem, DC has become the middle man, owned and paid for by W
Great post.
No one is occuping DC, because DC has become the middle man, owned and paid for by WALL STREET, Banks. Lobbyists, and the very wealthy. They're going to the top which is the real problem, the inequality in income and their influence on politics and law making to their benefits. but OWS will make it to DC just wait. . Jane
I don't know how many times it's been pointed out, but the righties refuse to see it. The government in DC gets its money, power, and marching orders from WALL ST. That is why the protest is based on Wall St. Sure, the DC government is corrupt, top to bottom, both parties. But the seat of that corruption is the 1%, epitomized by Wall St. In fact, we should change the spelling of "corporation" to "corruption". There is little point in complaining to DC, because they only listen to the banks and other corporations.
" WHY IS NO ONE OCCUPYING DC?! That is the only place where true change can be made! Step out of your comfort zone and get to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue! PLEASE! I would LOVE to see some real change!"
It's a bit hypocritical to say why isn't anyone doing what needs to be done. The question is what will You do to change things?, rather then let other people do it for you. I think we all need to get out of our comfort zone on this. That's been the problem.
"Evil Prevails when Good Men Fail To Act"
They are occupying DC. They even have a website:
http://occupydc.org/
If you try this in DC ... you will be shot!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So if you disagree with these peace loving people then you must have been paid off by "the man"? Really? Free thinkers are not allowed to look at these nuts and think they should be arrested? And if they wanted democracy they would work through the elections, but they are a bunch of spoiled brats who want what they want and they want it now.
There are Occupiers in DC.
And there may be many in January at the Iowa presidential campaign caucus.
They are symbolically protesting Wall Street, but they are also protesting the government's lack of regulation of banks and corporations, campaign contributions to Congressmen effectively destroying our democracy, and unfair tax schemes.
At this point, we are approaching a corporatocracy where Wall Street and the government has merged, so when we are protesting one we are protesting the other as well.
Cyberpunk anyone? ha
Don't see the "like" button, so I'll reply "like".
So, are you taking time out of your job and life to go to DC? A lot of those people work by day and protest when they can. Maybe you should be the first to make the stand at DC.
See if National Guard doesn't show up too.
So there it is. The old nationalistic mantra rears its ugly head again: "America is better, therefore you have nothing to complain about, and if you do complain, get out of America!" How ironic! You sound like every other Fascist who thinks that the freedoms guaranteed by the Bill of Rights is something granted to us by the State rather than restrictions imposed on the State. You yourself should try living in those other countries. You would fit right in.
What you talking about? Wall Street is where the action is. If we put enough pressure on them then Washington will take notice. But Washington does need some people protesting there too. Since you are so strong in that favor will you lead a group there?
"Not by refraining from action does man attain freedom from action. Not by mere renunciation does he attain supreme perfection."
Naomi is mistaken by her view "Many protesters insist in remaining leaderless, which is a mistake". Remember, If you cut off the head the body will die. With out a head, there is only a body to target. The OWS body has grown too large.
you are the most retarded red neck i think you should stay in your trailer and leave the big city things to big city people. we know how 3rd world country police brutality is happening in all big cities.
"Why is no one occupying DC??"
You can bet the ranch that if it were a Republican in the White House, that is exactly where all these deadbeats would be.
You are right; Obama gets a free ride.....it is already proven and factual ACORN is behind alot of this.
Come On,
Actually (you have it backwards), Wall Street, Banks, and Coporate tax cut advocate Republicans are the ones should go else where. If they don't believe in America, by putting "their own money where their mouth is", being repsonsible with sharing the pain to pay down our National debt, as they infuse currency from our monetary system by profits while utilizing our roads and security services funded by middle class and poor tax funding.....they should go to some other country, and compare their profits/ Coporate Socialistic benefits there.
Come On,
Actually (you have it backwards), Wall Street, Banks, and Coporate tax cut advocate Republicans are the ones who should go else where. If they don't believe in America, putting "their own money where their mouth is", by being repsonsible with sharing the pain to pay down our National debt, as they infuse currency from our monetary system by profits causing the debt while utilizing our roads, and security services funded by middle class and poor tax funding.....then they themselves (Crooked Banks, Crooked Wall Street Entrpaneurs,etc. should go to some other country, and compare their profits/ Coporate Socialistic benefits there.
ANYONE THAT DOES NOT SURRENDER THEIR NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY TO THE IMF, G20, UN, CFR WILL BE ELIMINATED!!!
"WHY IS NO ONE OCCUPYING DC?! That is the only place where true change can be made!"
That's because these people are not stupid. Elections change nothing when politicians from both parties are on the take. The only way to affect change in a corrupt system is to attack the money. Haven't you noticed that the Tea Party was quickly and seamlessly absorbed by the GOP, but no politician has yet to rally behind OWS? Why do you think that is? It's certainly not because of popular opinion – 60% of voters have a positive view of OWS. In political terms, a 20% margin like that should be wildly coveted, yet not one politician has yet to try to co-opt that support.
The big question is, if politicians aren't motivated by 60% of the population, who pulls their strings?
We have a representative form of govt....if you dont like your leaders vote them out...You cannot compare our system to those of the banana republics. How dare you!!!!
I guess you believe that when the "representative" suprerme court decided the 2000 presidential election that was democracy at its finnest.
We do not have a Democracy we have Republic. Like it or not that is the current systme you can either work with in and change it or bang your head on a wall. I still find it odd that with all the mentin of 99% we still do not have anywhere close to that in voting turnout.
Harvest we have a Democracy and a Republic. They are not mutually exclsuive. We have a democratic republic that employs representative democracy, whereby individuals vote to chose a representative for them.
We can and will continue to make that comparison as long as they continue to act like that.
"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." – Thomas Jefferson
Support the OWS!
OWS come across as "chronic complainers" and LAZY! They want to void all the college loans, minimum living wage of $75/hr; open borders forever; pay no taxes and they hate anyone with money, the banks and corporations. It is just a bit ironic they hate corporations, BUT ARE WILLING to gleefully use computers, Iphones, Ipads....all created and manufactured by corporations. Just a little TWO FACED and HYPOCRITICIAL ARE WE?????
Really? ... Vote them out? That would be nice but they are funded with millions and millions of dollars by corporations and the wealthy. Do you really think those who are voted into power are there to represent YOU? The only time things have ever changed is by protesting. This was true for the Civial Rights Movement, ending the Vietnam war etc.
It's time for Americans to stand up and demand term limits for the House and Senate (8yrs max), overturning the Citizens United act, campaing finance reform, and demanding a minimum wage that someone can actually live on.
"""You cannot compare our system to those of the banana republics. How dare you!!!!"""
Here's some fun facts about a banana republic called Guatemala. They democratically elected a president who WE removed in a coup, resulting in civil war that lasted decades and killed tens of thousands of people.
We forcefully removed their elected president because he expropriated property from an american corporation which owned a lot of land there. A high ranking official in our gov't owned stock in that corporation, which didn't help Guatemala's cause.
This happened back in the early 50s so, as you can see, this kind of corporation vrs the people thing has been going on for quite some time.
LOLLLLL whoa boy, whoaaa !
"""We have a representative form of govt....if you dont like your leaders vote them out...You cannot compare our system to those of the banana republics. How dare you!!!!"""
The problem at present is that we do NOT have a representative government. This is a bipartisan problem so listen up – corporate interests now control or heavily influence decision/policy making at an unhealthy level. By unhealthy I mean it has decimated the middle class and created a massive and unworkable transfer of wealth to the upper echelon.
Historically, there has usually been a struggle between true representation and corporate control but lately it's just gone over the top. It's disgraceful.
We the people have lost our voice.
Republicans, of all people, being of individualist mind, should understand this. But they seem to be fixated on bogeymen like welfare recipients or poor people who don't pay federal taxes because of their income status. The system, as is, inhibits every individual's ability to succeed in this country. And that should concern Republicans.
So you do not want to work through the electoral process, meaning you favor anarchy? That is the problem with the protest, there is no viable solution for what they think is wrong.
We do vote them out. They're replaced by the same spineless money grabbers that just got the boot. Face it, right and left mean nothing. They all bow to the same corporations.
Oh yes we can when the our politicans and 1%er have total control of OUR country !
This system has been built up over 2 centuries so that it can be manipulated by the rich. They control who gets into politics by ensuring that there is no public funding for political campaigns, so no one but a millionaire, or a millionaire's lackey, can even think of entering a race. Once they're in, the politicians spend most of their time getting money for re-election campaigns, and they get that money from the rich. They become employees of the rich, who bought their seats.
Then we have the electoral college system, which gave us the appointment of George Bush as President, by the Extreme Court. The electoral college, in conjunction with the convoluted primary process, ensures that candidates can forget the majority and pander to those in "swing" states. If we had direct election of the president, my vote would be as relevant as someone in Florida. But it is not. When people realize this, they quit voting. Voting is meaningless in the case of presidential elections.
This is just a start on what is wrong with our system. Police brutality, private police forces, and having to get permits in order to exercise free speech are also on the list.
Throughout history, when it comes down to people vs. police, the people eventually win. This should especially be true in a nation that proudly declares that "government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not vanish from this earth". One glaring exception has been wartime Germany under the N@zis. Look at who is screaming about the OWS; look at their more-than-cozy relationship with N@zi ideology. Look at their representatives dressing up like SS for amusement. The conservatives cannot stop change, but they will make the process painful, slow, and bloody if they can.
The conservatives aren't in power. Democrats control the executive and half the legislative branch. If Obama was opposed to the police crackdown then the Justice Department wouldn't allow it.
Conservatives, likewise, have control of half of the Legislative branch and the Judicial branch, given the current extreme right makeup of the USSC.
So it's evenly split.
What are you smoking of course they are !
That "control" means nothing when you need 60 to even bring a bill to a vote, and a federal judge just ordered Tennessee to quit making spur-of-the-moment laws aimed only at allowing them to arrest protesters, so it seems that you are wrong and wrong.
Democrats are just as conservative as republicans.
Warped idiots like you are who give rise to fascism, Tex71. Like in pre-Nazi Germany, people needed scapegoats, and a cult-of-personality leader. So OWS is led like sheeple to a nameless faceless scapegoat ("Big Corporations") like the Jews, by the rhetoric of a leader who projects iconography (his image, and his logo) kinda like Hitler and the advancement of the swastika. Nuff said.
You are so right, you see it all over history...
In the 60's black people and treehuggers where led by this greater force into believing "apartheid" is wrong.
We just saw the same happening in Libia, the all where made to believe Kadaffie was a bad man and see what happend with the man.
To compair organisation of a movement with Hitler and what happend to the Jews is just outradges, but how to argue with the disinformed.
You notice that hypocrite CNN is being the sponsor of these protest as they call everyone else extreme?
Apparently you don't understand what "sponsor" means. Google it.
What do you watch for news. The Fox News i bet a.k.a. thev liars club.
Typical 20%'er response. Accuse those they can never measure up to (FOX News) of what they in fact (liberal Media) are guilty of. The criminal organization of democrats watched well over 700 of their cohorts get kicked to the curb in the 2010 Election. Gee, I wonder why?
I saw the wound pictures last night. Rubber bullet wounds look like a dozen pressure sore wounds, which tells me they are being fired from way to close a range. They can easily become severely infected. Right now the manufacturer is sweating.
Thank you!! Well done.
Here's a thought! Maybe a dumb one. We the protesters, should all line up in a single file and march to city hall and arrest ourselves. I'm sure city hall will be more than happy to process 1,000 to 10,000 arrests! I'm down
wow. you're a genius. bet youre one of the busboys that took a $500k subprime mortgage.
And BOB is one of those people who would have fought to preserve slavery and the upper class of the South during the Civil War. Be brave, poist your real name and address so that we know you will stand behind your remarks.
Who is dumber; the busboy who accepts a $500,000 loan or the loan officer who offers and grants the loan?
All who took subprime mortgages were not busboys. Lots of College grads who had high income potential took them too.
Excellent Idea !
Honestly, this is the best idea on this damn blog.
wow, GOOD idea. they'd save their rubber bullets and tear gas. I think its a good idea, not bad at all. Jane
LOWSers without jobs – refusing to look for jobs – will never win a "war" against taxpayers that foot their welfare. And when THESE returning "war vets" come home... don't expect a parade.
Considering that most of them have jobs, what's your point?
I work 40+ hours a week. I pay my taxes, have never used welfare, food stamps, or any other government assistance program, yet I support the change. This government needs a fresh start. Now is the time to pay homage to what our founding fathers invisioned for our country, and hoped for our planet.
Your narrow-minded view of what's happening is saddening. There are people from all walks of life supporting this movement. Perhaps the media (i.e. Fox News) is broadcasting this as some sort of "Hippie" movement, but that is far from the truth.
These "war vets" are not going to "come home." because they aren't leaving home. This is a movement being wrought within our communities, not against a foreign enemy. It is time we stop trying to control the madness of the rest of the world and start working on our own problems.
Try talking to somebody who is pro-occupy and try listening to what they have to say about it. It might sound less crazy than you think.
And what exactly does that mean?
Well-written, Joe. Thank you for not taking welfare.
pub education, libraries, parks, water, sewer... All funded government programs even if they are handed over to corporation management (subsidized handouts). Do you use or have used any of them? Also college... why do you think prices are going up? The government is scaling back college money. We know have one of the word education systems in the world. Welcome to USA
Spoken like a true brain washed republican. Try doing your own research, try to be open minded & think for yourself.
OWS NYC is nothing more than a soupline for a nearby methadone clinic and kids playing hooky from some JC.
I'm not in any soupline, have nothing to do with methadone and I'm not playing hooky from a JC. I'm a 54 year old woman, own my own home, have a middle management job, and have never used any type of public assitance. I paid my children's way through college and trade school. I support the Occupy movment and not just in theory. I have stood out in the cold and held a sign. What I found is people from all ages and economic situations. It a shame that so many people are unable to put themselves in the other guys shoes. If you had a college educated child that can not find a job that offers healthcare or you had a family member who loses their job after the age of 50, perhaps you would better understand the issues.
You mean like the raging grannies. haha. you should listen to the protesters, I heard 2 today, a doctor whose husb is a teacher, out of work, they are barely getting by. Jane
Thank you NYMom
I am a retired Vietnam Vet a father of four taking care of a mother and two adult children that cannot get a job because of the lack of financial policing of these firms and you call me lazy ? I have a seven figure portfolio, seven rentals and a beach home and I am totally behind this OWS. So dipwad find out who you are communicating with before you start your right wing rants !
Thank you for the service to this country, I don't know who these people call lazy, but the majority is not, they want jobs and a future. there are millions of people struggliing to just get by. no extras. and they WORK hard, its called the working poor that used to be the middle class. I have family that works but they struggle to pay their bills and to just get by, they sure can't save or buy any extras, it takes everything they make to get by , My daughter is a widow with 3 children, no one works harder than she does. at a job. none on my family is on gov aid.. Jane
Thank you Scot.
well when the vets come home with no jobs they will be right out there with the 99ers and OWS. some are already. with them protesting. Jane
Ms. Wolf, do you hear the squeel of the pigs? you must have hit the nail right between their eyes.
So the cops are the only ones to blame, so the rock and bottle throwing protesters are innocent .
If there was any of that, as anecdotally reported, then that person can be arrested. Certainly that does not warrant the massive overreach of the Oakland PD.
Yes. It's a classic case of "do as I say, don't do as I do." Some people, like the idiotic Mayor of Oakland who had NO BUSINESS apologizing for the police action, wan the cops to just stand there and be pummeled. The cops are apparently not supposed to do their jobs and ignore what could have turned into a violent riot. Instead, they acted to disperse the crowd who ignored their orders. So any one who got hurt, including Olsen, that is their own fault.
NO, the cops are not the onlly ones to blame, some cops support OWS. believe it or not. as not all the OWS are to blame either, most are nonviolent and are arrested without any problem. if you see them being arresting, most are just taken away without any incidents. I have seen old people out there, grandmas and grandpas. this will just become stronger so the police and politicians should also figure out how to handle these demonstrations without innocent people being really hurt bad. Jane
Won't be long before the cops get laid off and join the movement.
Please, talk and try for change all you want. But, you do NOT have the unlimited right to violate everyone else's equal claim to their rights. If you think that you have such unlimited ability to break the law in the name of democracy, than you have a very misguided definition of democracy. Please stop with your ridiculous ideals of what you think democracy is. Protest, go home, and protest again. But, that park that you are occupying belongs to all of us, not just you, and to enforce the law of curfew is NOT a violation of your freedoms. Please, enter the Big Boy and Big Girl world whenever you are ready; this world ain't just about you.
No. A municipality should not change laws as people lawfully demonstrate. Its unacceptable. Free speech + free assembly are guaranteed. Changing local law is not a game you play.
Free speech and RIGHT to assemble please do not change the words to fit your definition.
It's only unacceptable to you. Who are you to tell a community's elected or appointed leaders what laws they can or can't make?
God forbid that the exercise of the right of the first amendment in this country should spoil your precious, peaceful day in the park.
I hope you never get the type of society you deserve for that statement.
Hard working, family oriented people, need a "peaceful day in the park". I am sure that you fail on both definitions. Again, and your ilk seem to not fully understand this common sense; exercise your rights fully and proudly, but DO NOT violate mine while you do that. You DO NOT need to take over everyone's park to exercise your rights.
I see, Rosie. Let them eat cake.
Retard the park in new york is privatley owned and the owners have yet to file a formal complaint on the protesters. It is not yours or even a public park IT is PRIVATLEY owned
When was the last time you saw a protest succeed when people were protesting from their house?
U retard its privatly owned
You really think the protestors are 'violating' your rights? Are you high? You're still free to walk around the park and do as you please, no one is stopping you...well, except maybe the Oakland Police...
@Come ON – There is an Occupy DC. That only confirms your irresolute understanding of the protests, what has been happening and why they have formed. Ever heard of the PATRIOT Act? There are plenty of other examples as to how the USA has slowly been evolving into a police state. It's not wholly here yet, but if the process isn't grounded, it will expand. The Industrial-Military complex needs to be disassembled. Even a military man named Dwight Eisenhower gave a speech against the maintenance of this system – its on youtube, look it up.
Right on.
The only way foward for change is to vote.
We are the 99%
Votes hasn't worked, its one bought and paid for, for another bought and paid for politician, they all have their agendas for the rich and corporate interests, and could care less abt the rest of us. . Jane
Fantastic Article. Viva La Revolucion.
This is really not about cops. It's not even about poor versus rich. This is about the people versus the 1% greedy elite, human beings versus corporations having undue influence in our politics. It is difficult to be a pacifist when police riot and attack and even attempt to murder protesters, but that is the most public and least important part of the battle.
You know...you lose all credibility when you grossly exaggerate. And "police riot and attack and even attempt to murder protesters" is gross exaggeration.
is it gross exageration? or was the tear canister to the war vets face just a hand shake?
Be truthful, this is about Anarchy, not democracy.
protesting is a right but breaking the law isnt'. It's laughable when these people like Naomi can't see the difference. Passion trumps education. These protestors have been given too many rights the way they have been allowed to break the laws used to protect our parks etc.. They should all be arrested and hauled back to their natural habitat. The Zoo
When you become one of them remember your words.
God bless
The wealthy have broken far more laws then invading a park. I am sick of you people using such lame arguments and hiding behind the "law". If you people have your way, it would be illegal to even look crosseyed at a rich man. Get your weapon because it is coming.
Wow if you believe that the protestors should be put back in the zoo the only animal then is you open a family tree and look at your history this country was found on the right to protest and if you can't appreciate that then the only animal here is you hoarding on something you put nothing in to gain.
Sorry to topple your ivory tower, but the term "civil disobedience" involves deliberately breaking bad laws. The law is a mutable, modifiable instrument which, occasionally, goes wrong: it's then up to the people to break such laws deliberately and refuse to follow them: this kind of protest is doing that.
At this point, the question of who got themselves into this mess (in terms of, was it the bankers defrauding the public with subprime mortgages on inflated property prices, or was it the people for falling for it?) is immaterial: the fact that little to nothing is being done to improve the situation, while the trillion plus dollars handed out to the banks has disappeared seemingly without trace is more pertinent to the issue. If people want to protest this kind of mismanagement, embezzlement and broad-daylight, government-sanctioned banditry, then let them. If this involves breaking a few laws, then change the law. Perhaps then, people wouldn't have to break it.
Dan, you sound like you think "Civil Disobedience" is a right and is not illegal. It is, by definition, breaking the law. And you will be met with the law and with control and you will be arrested and you will be faced with enough force to make you comply with the arrest. That's how the law works and it's the price you pay for civil disobedience.
That does not mean, however, that the police are intentionally harming people. But if you lock arms to resist arrest, some level of force will be needed to effect the lawful arrest.
Civil Disobedience is still breaking the law. You don't to allow rich to do it but you think you can after accusing them of some undefined crime???
Not all laws are good. Not all laws are permanent.
Slavery was once the law in this country. Jim Crow was the law. Black people and white people couldn't marry. Those laws weren't changed until people began breaking them in protest. The Underground Railroad, civil rights sit-ins, the Vietnam Moratorium, and many other actions were required to overturn injustice.
If you can't have your unimpeded walk in the park because of an OWS protest, try to think about the larger issue. What you're witnessing may be taught to your kids someday as an important event in American history.
I'm not so sure slavery was overturned by protests....
But let's use the marriage example. Yes, there were protests. And people were arrested. There was civil disobedience and those committed to the cause were arrested.
Now – when they were arrested they had 2 choices. One is when an officer says "you're under arrest" is to get up and put your hands behind your back. The other is to lock arms and resist. In the end, the former was just as effective and no tear gas needs to be used. Just sayin.
I didn't say slavery was overturned by protest. I said that overcoming all these injustices required breaking the law, which the Underground Railroad certainly did.
Sometimes, it takes people with extraordinary courage to go further than marching with a sign in order to advance social justice. The ones who hold power, which are always the rich, use that power unjustly to suppress freedom of expression. Exercise of that freedom is the one thing that grabs peoples' imaginations and gets the rich scared, so they use their police forces (private or nominally public) to intimidate and suppress freedom of expression. They do that in the U.S. like they do in the Arab Spring countries, and it remains to be seen how far the rich will go to suppress the tide of change in America.
I told you. We are only free within certain boundaries here in the US. But let us try different tactics. It's not us against the police, the police have yet to realize where they are in this battle. When resources get more limited, they'll see how the "bosses" count them as expendable too. Then they will want to side with their rightful home, alongside the same people they brutalized. Until then, people, stop the revenue stream into corporate pockets, a complete general strike of everything will disrupt the flow of profits into corporate coffers and gradually starve the monster. Believe it or not, its the only way to succeed.
God bless
Sadly, the people who would actually pay are the workers who would lose their wages...or even their jobs. That's what happened this *last* time people stopped buying stuff. Or have you already forgotten that pertinent little fact?
Now corporations have collected massive "contingency funds" while Americans still can't find jobs. Want to explain what you have against the American worker? Because it is s/he is who is going to be punished by your calls for a general strike.
So then serve them forever. Cause guess who the "American Worker" works for? Think they worried about y'all? I bet they aren't even on these forums discussing their suffering. Maybe it's all of us who actually get the short end and need to wake up be disciplined and realize that everyone deserves the same quality of life. How about you think that the "American Worker" deserves the same quality of life as the CEO. Stop justifying the rich.
God bless
@NF8 here is where you loose most of us no one deserves a certian life. We all have opportunity to move up, that is if you make the sacrafices it takes to get there. You seem to be under the illusion that everyone deserves a house car, phones, no debt and 2.2 kids. While this is possible its never going to be a right just an opportunity. Until others take responsiblity for their actions and that of their children we will continue to suffer as a nation. While I do agree that changes are in order politically speaking.
NFN8 you have clearly been reading your Marx. Good Job.
Putz.
socalpimp you posted:
We have a representative form of govt....if you dont like your leaders vote them out...You cannot compare our system to those of the banana republics. How dare you!!!!
You mean that our system of government here is not ...banana republic? what is it? avodado republic? I mean, you seriously beLIEve that our government system is that much better than that of those countries? Really? A few clowns paid by corporate thugs to stiff you in every way possible and you think you got a nice governing system?
Am I the only one who thinks that those representing themselves as "the 99%" are really like "the 2%"? I am a middle class married man who lives in a mid-sized city and I still haven't met ONE person who claims to be a member of "the 99%", at least in the sense that these protesters use that designation.
Most americans don't know it my friend. If the average american knew that they have been stiffed by those clowns in DC they would not only claim membership in that 99% but they would have revolted just like it's been happening around the world. But, that's OK. We beLIEve what the clowns say, and the circus goes on with performances to entertain the masses. You know, you and I may be smart, but people collectively are stupid. Americans are no exception (if not the norm) at that.
What I find utterly bogus is how the "99%" includes the people in the top 2% – 5%...who ALSO control much of the wealth, corporations, and politicians. Are we supposed to think that *they* are OK? Or that the top 10% have much of anything in common with the bottom 50%?
It's only a slogan. And, as long as it includes the top 2% – 5%, it doesn't even represent what it claims to represent.
If your in the middle income you are part of the 99% whether you like it or not you dont have to support it but you in that range get over it unless your reaping big bucks your in the smae boat. Say what you say.
The thing that really gets me about all these editorials is in every last one the author speaks in such absolutes as it is fact that OWS represents a majority of the nation. The majority of the USA couldn't give two s***s about what these "freedom fighters" are doing. And that's the rub; you write this article espousing the virtues of democracy but the core of democracy is majority rules, and I will be damned if you and the rest of the hippie apologists can prove you have anything even coming near a majority. Take your movement elsewhere, please, for hygienes sake
Clearly we are on the same page (comment previous) – to use the term 99% is absurd. For the media to use that term and grant those folks some sense of legitimacy by doing so is irresponsible. It would not be "cool" for any of the media outlets to point this out, however, and for them, street cred with hippies is more important that pointing out obvious inconsistencies.
Unless you're part of the 1%, you're one of us. Like it or not.
Sorry, Rilly, but the "99%" is supposed to represent something more than 100% – 1%. If you truly think that the people in the top 2% – 5% are like the bottom 50%...or that they don't have far more in common as regards power, control, and corruption with the 1%, then I've got a bridge in Brooklyn I'd love to sell you.
I'm 59 years old and i'm a 99%. I only wish i was younger and in better health i love to protest corp. greed.
We are the 99 % AND WE VOTE
Nasim,
Stop acting deliberatly stupid. The designation "99%" is clearly meant to signify the growing gap between the 'haves' and 'the rest of us'.
if you don't understand this, then you shouldn't be here. Go away and try reading up on the last 1/2 century of American history (social and economic). Then stop acting willfully stupid.
If that were true we'd have a popular vote. Sorry. Try again.
It is this notion that makes you a laughing stock. I am not you and I never will be. I bathe daily for starters. You don't represent 99% of the country. We don't live in a dichotomy. There are other opinions. Better start realizing that.
spoken like a true Fox lover.
I own a buisiness drive a jaguar and own three houses and all politicians suck dick our govt. Sucks dick and people like you suck dick you should really do the whole world a favor and slit your wrists hang yourself and get your neighbor to shoot you in the head
Great story! I'm all 4 Righteous judgment! There are corrupt people running America! Keep the Good Fight! My website:www.cdbaby.com/slug
Or the people protesting could go home at night, and show up the next morning ready to protest again. No one would say a thing. But start occupying public parks for days on end with facilities that cannot support it, you are just asking for trouble.
Last year, at mid term elections, the American public gave a loud message to our rulers about the direction they were heading, and it resulted in one of the largest party turnovers in our nations entire history. I think we can kill 2 birds with one stone and link the Tea Party and OWS and demand a smaller more responsible federal government with stiffer penalties on wall street theives. 2 heads are better than 1.
If everyone left, we'd lose the park.
Do you seriously think that "keeping the park" is the important goal????? How the heck do you think you will change ANYTHING...much less anything of importance...if your main goal is to not lose the park. That's pathetic. We have real problems in this country...and you're worried about losing the park.
I think the key to this is focus and determination. Most American's are angry but are so conditioned to obey authority and afraid to endanger their own situations they are basically apathetic which is exactly what the elite want. If OWS sticks to it's guns and remains a positive force and allows the police state to show it's true colors the rest of America will wake up and then we will see how far the 1% is really willing to go to keep us in slavery. America has not been a democracy for a long time and the elite have had many years to foster support and insinuate themselves into our leaders and lawmakers. Once the Supreme Court allowed companies the same rights as an individual we lost the equality war since a company, which has no moral compass aside from greed and constant growth (which by the way is unsustainable according to Einsteins own laws) could basically lobby/buy any and all laws and lawmakers with their enormous funds and influence. It's up to us to take back our liberty and our happiness so pick a side and stand up or don't and allow your basic rights to be trampled on by the few.
1) We have never been a democracy. We have always been a republic...a democratic republic.
2) Obviously you don't realize that US corporations have had personhood since the late 1800s. And that there are actually benefits to this.
But, hey...facts just get in the way, right?
But, hey, what's a little ignorance, right?
it's people like you who support the 1% just by your own ignorance and wish to argue. You obviously missed the whole point of what I was trying to say so go nit pic someone else or better yet be part of the solution not the problem.
There are 2 types of people in the world those who always want to be right and those who want to be happy which one are you because you cannot foster goodwill by trying to always say look at me I'm smarter , better , more correct, etc...etc than you...
You need to run for the congress. Thats the only way we will win.
We are the 99% and we must vote !!!!!
There is a lot of jobs out there ,ur just NOT gonna make a 6 figer salary.that is the problem with this mess.there is jobs to be had in other states if and only if u r willing to go to other states to work well u get a job.and if u r not DON'T feel sorry 4 u.u r being selfish think of your kids if u have them.go to dakota for a job there is a lot of opp.there right now they can't get enough help there if u really need a job or want 1 if u want to feed your kid most ppl well do anything for them.So get up your a44 and go meet your potential ppl.
Dakota? Go to "dakota"???? Wow. And which state is "dakota"???
Remember when it becomes nessacery for violance rem,ember to aim for there head and neck. there is no body armor there.Freedom has a price that always requires blood. freedom is never free
No good man that will make us look like Tea Party hacks.
You're an idiot. If need be, the parks in which the OWS crowd are gathered could be cleared out in about 30 seconds. All that would be left would be trash removal and hosing away the blood.
I love the protests as it is democracy in action! Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Boston Tea Party, protest against the Stamp Act are all issues that we have as a people protested. There is a fine line between police "protecting and serving" as there is between being a police state. The protesters and the police in each city and state have both crossed the lines of their rights. However, it is great the protests are happening as it is an example of our democratic republic has not died.
Occupy The Fed, not Wall Street. The Fed brews the corruption we see on Wall Street. The Fed is, afterall, a PRIVATE central bank that controls the issuance of our currency and had stock holders from JP Morgan, Chase, Goldman Sachs, etc. Are you surprised that the rich get richer as they buy out your government from under your very noses? Thomas Jefferson, Andrew Jackson, and Abraham Lincoln all warned us about banks, those "den of vipers." Recognize where the true corruption lies and everything will return to common ground. Wake up, sheeple!
Occupy J Street.
Wolf is an idiot
and you are a narrow minded obstructionist go peddle your crap somewhere else where people like you can enjoy each others company and narrow opinions.
Now, lets see some one-percenters do a perp walk!
We the 99% need to organize. If we dont O.W.S. will mean nothing. The only way to get Washington to change is
to make them by your vote
We are the 99% and we vote
While the 99% thing sounds good, I will let you in on a little secret. Don't tell anyone because we don't want this getting out but you aren't actually representing 99% of the people.
Umm – OK who is the 99% going to vote for again?
Well they represent me and I bet they represent a heck of a lot more of the 99ers , than they do wall street.
I don't think OWS claims to represent 99% of the American public. What they mean is that the top 1% is oppressing the 99%, whether all of those folks know it or not. Saying you're a 99%er means that you recognize the oppression of the 1%. It means that you are enlightened about the way corporations own the government.
(You could even say that corporations ARE the government, since all our "elected" officials come from the corporate establishment or are at least funded by them.)
It's funny that the loudest voices condemning the Occupy protests always yell: go get a job. Yet where are these charming folks accessing these forums from? Inquiring minds want to know if they're slacking off belltyaching on company time, or sitting at the kitchen table, venting between job searches.
I'm retired. And I support OWS in principle. But they are driving me nuts with their focus on camping...and their supporters bogus claims and goals based on ignorance.
Its not about jobs or lack thereof. This is about Anarchy and that everything belongs to everybody and they should just be able to take what they need. Don't get lost in the DNC's hijacking of the true message.
I have a job, but I don't live there. I put in my hours and still have several days a week off. I sometimes even get the chance for more hours, I usually say if nobody else can or will work then I will take the overtime, but I don't need it. I have worked hard to get where I am and I am paid well for my work. That is one problem they have where I work, when someone calls in sick or takes vacation they don't have everyone jumping for the chance to earn more money, they take care of the employees and the employees take care of the business. It is a two way street, I don't think the company owes me money and I don't owe them work, the company doesn't think I owe them work and they shouldn't pay me for it. That is how capitalism works, if you can't work for the money they want to pay then they will hire inferior workers and go out of business. If you just want a check and don't want to do the work then they go out of business and you are out of a job. If you get greedy and have your union demand that you make more than you are worth, then the company moves overseas.
The police have had their fill of democracy? The police have had their fill of idiots disrupting the lives of the average American. Thank you officer, thank you for your efforts to serve and protect us from having our rights abused by those that want only for themselves.
The only way to change things is to vote
But then you'd have to leave the park and possibly take a shower! Oh no!
LOL your snide little remarks about the protestor's bathing/hygiene really don't lend anything to this conversation. You should be grateful to them that they put themselves in harm's way for the greater good. I am sure you wouldn't come out of your sad and lonely comfort zone to pursue anything this important. So don't demean anyone who is on the ground, busting their humps for all of us, including ingrates like you. Go OWS!
I call for a general strike of all working people, union, nonunion it doesn't matter. If the elites and the politicians that pander to them started losing money along with credibility it would be a whole new world. They're aren't enough tear gas canisters, pepper spray paintballs, or rubber bullets in the world to stop us all. They can force you out of your home, force you out of a peaceful demonstration, but they can't force you to work for them.
I guarantee you there are enough of those implements to stop everyone. Take your hyperbole elsewhere
so lol you put your name as lol nice to know we have the commenting clown on board
You *do* realize who will suffer, don't you? Hint: It won't be the large corporations with their "emergency funds". So...just what is it you have against workers so that you call for them to lose wages, possibly their jobs???
the oakland bunch were protesting working americans NOT wall street. look up the history of the peal district and you will find it is an area that was run down and decaying and some enterprising entrepreneurs and investors built it into a thriving neighborhood. that's caledl the american dream
CNN SUCK LIBERAL BALLS. How are they even consdered a news outlet anymore? Hey Naomi why don't you lick my taint?
CNN is gay
"The People vs The Police".. CRAP!
Its' SOME people vs the police.
Enjoy your trip the the court system. You deserve it.
Come on, everybody knows the best way to fight social and economic injustice is to protest. And while protesting, why don't you defecate WHERE you're protesting. That's smart, right? That's definitely the 'socially responsible' thing to do, right? Rats don't poo where they sleep, or at least they used to not poo where they sleep. The times, they are a changin'...
"Big, bad corporate officers need to give me some of theirs because I'm too lazy to work that hard for it. I'm too busy being a drain on my local and state economies to look for a job, hence, I protest to try to gain somebody else's wealth."
It is one thing to protest injustice. This is not injustice. This is the left trying to create a communist state.
We've all seen what the current administration has(n't) done. We all witnessed the HoR being culled by the Republicans. What we're witnessing now is the left's response to the Tea Party. Except the Tea Party movement came about because conservative people grew tired of the POLICIES coming out of the administration. You don't see the Tea Party folks demanding that people share their wealth. You don't see Tea Partiers holding anti-semitic signs. No, the Tea Party folks spoke up where it mattered: at the voting booth.
This 'movement', organized originally by a Canadian non-profit then copied worldwide is about anarchy, pure and simple.
If these people were truly peaceful in their protests, why the anti-semitic signage? Why urinate and defecate outside (which is disrespectful not to mention unsanitary AND illegal)? Why throw bottles, paint, rocks?
If you do something stupid enough to invite a rubber bullet coming your way, then you probably deserve a rubber bullet coming your way.
Bravo sir. This post deserves the front page on CNN more than the article we are responding to.
No, you saw tea partiers toting guns, weapons openly and NOT ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT concerns with the armed protestors...THAT is what we saw with the tea partiers. And these people are not asking for a handout, you are sadly mistaken and really showing your ignorance of the issues. Inequality. Government for the top 1% vs. true Representation of the masses. ALL Politicians bought and paid for by the highest bidders, special interests and lobbying. The AMERICANS want our Government to represent ALL citizens, not just the select few with the largest checkbook and bribes.
Show me a picture with Tea Partiers toting weapons, or are you now just painting a picture with a very broad brush? And, if I remember correctly, carrying weapons openly is legal in most places, and there are licenses that allow for it. Using them openly is not.
Oh, and I am not a member of the Tea Party. I claim no political affiliation. I vote on issues and for candidates that I believe in only after I've done my research.
If the OWS folks are so concerned about the government siding with businesses, go PROTEST THE GOVERNMENT AND NOT THE BUSINESSES. The government makes the rules. Not the businesses. The government allows for special interests. But many of them won't protest the current administration because they SUPPORT the current administration, therefore supporting what they claim to despise.
No American politician, Democrat or Republican, has ever left office a pauper. I wonder why that is?
I have a job, and earn my paycheck. It isn't great. It is barely good, and it is earned honestly. And I can't begrudge anybody who decided to climb the corporate ladder for reasons of wealth, prestige, what-have-you and forego that which I have chosen to espouse, which is a relatively normal life.
Lastly, I have to question what business a Canadian firm has in organizing protests of American businesses. And why American citizens feel it necessary to follow a foreign firm?
Well put. If the Tea Party behaved as OWS, they would be run out of town with the likes of Pelosi, Obama and Reid making self-righteous speeches and patting each other on the back.
I think that you are probably relying on something you heard from Beck or Limbaugh about some Canadian non-profit but you did say non-profit. You apparently have no such concerns about For-profit corporations spending millions of dollars to influence legislation beneficial to their bottom line. Making up your own version of a protester in order to have an object to ridicule may amuse you but, as usual, the facts have an unfortunate(for you) liberal bias. The protesters just want equal access.
Funny, but I don't listen to Beck or Limbaugh. I actually read and form my own opinions. On to more important business:
Taken from Wikipedia: "The Adbusters Media Foundation is a Canadian-based not-for-profit, anti-consumerist, pro-environment organization"
Also taken from Wikipedia: "In mid-2011, the Canadian-based group Adbusters Media Foundation, best known for its advertisement-free anti-consumerist magazine Adbusters, proposed a peaceful occupation of Wall Street to protest corporate influence on democracy, address a growing disparity in wealth, and the absence of legal repercussions behind the recent global financial crisis."
When you read, Mr. Harnack, you actually learn. I looked up OWS. I found this information. Which begs the question of all Americans supporting this: Why are you supporting a Canadian firm? Why are you protesting the "For-profit corporations spending millions of dollars to influence legislation beneficial to their bottom line."
The "For-profit corporations spending millions of dollars to influence legislation beneficial to their bottom line" are only playing by the rules set down by the government. If you and other protestors don't like the way the government conducts its business, the protest the government. Of course, since (I'm guessing) most of the protestors support the current administration, they won't very well be protesting it.
And if this – "Big, bad corporate officers need to give me some of theirs because I'm too lazy to work that hard for it. I'm too busy being a drain on my local and state economies to look for a job, hence, I protest to try to gain somebody else's wealth." – is what you call "Making up your own version of a protester in order to have an object to ridicule", so be it. I'll bet dollars to doughnuts that you'll find many of those at each of these protests.
Lastly, facts should have no bias. Facts should be facts. People with agendas add bias.
Why don't the 1% just hire a few 'terrorist' attacks against large gatherings. It wouldn't provide a face (like the police) for us to rally against - and it would scare a lot of would be protestors into staying home. I really am asking - if everythign is as it seems otherwise, why haven't they done this? They have the capability and I doubt I'm alone in thinking their immoral enough. So why haven't they?
I don't think Michael Moore or George Sorrels are twisted enough to hire terrorists. But you never know a person, really.
They are definitely in the 1% of the wealthiest of all...
I read several profiles of OWS participants portrayed here on the CNN website. One participant was "occupying" largely to represent the American Indian Movement. Another for gay rights. Another for the Green movement. What the hell kind of Wall Street protest is this anyways? I don't see any sort of central theme. What this seems to represent is an existential movement against corporate America. Its all very confusing. As far as Blitzer's comment alluding to what he perceives as a police state tactics because authorities are requiring and enforcing permits...nonsense.
Amazing. Signs of life from my America, that I thought was long dead. THIS is what our forefathers intended. Not we have become but what we can possibly be. We DO need to sign up the 99. It doesn't have to be for an established party, or it can be for any party. I don't think any of us are happy with the majority of politicians that we have or the way our desires are carried out. We don't all agree or how this country should be run. But we ALL agree that our country and our future should not be in hands of souless corporations and greedy politicians. Go back and look at how our founding fathers structured their idea of government. It was meant as a model to give a voice to everyone. Of course their idea of everyone was white male landowners, but we, as a people, had the courage and justness to say everyone meant everyone; male, female, black, white (and all colors in between) , factory owner or field hand. We let this grand notion of what we could be get hijacked by those who think having more than you can spend/use in a lifetime (or many lifetimes) isn't enough. That somehow, they deserve more, even at the expense of those who have next to nothing now. Imagine a world where no one went to bed hungry, where all children were educated equally, where you could travel anywhere in the world and be greeted by friends. No war, no famine, hate, no terrorists. For perhaps the first time ever in history, we have a chance to attain that. Bravo Occupy Wall street, Bravo the people of the world, Bravo America.
You sound like a stoned out Johm Lennon. Grow up.
Typical ad hominem response with no substance. Because I guess a debate based in logic is impossible for some of you people.
Maybe your forefathers, but not mine. Anarchy is a pure communist state, the ultimate Ant Colony. Everyone does and gets what they need. But no ruling forces.
This type of hate article is below what CNN normally promotes. Ms. Wolf was arrested because she broke the law. The law was created to protect democracy for everyone, not just the hate filled and filthy demonstrators calling for anarchy and violence. The 99% of Americans who want peace, freedom, prosperity, jobs, and hope for a better world will have nothing to do with OWS.
Wrong. I have promoted peace for over 40 years. I have raised 5 children. I have worked the last 25 years in a good job. I support OWS. The advantages I had are disappearing for my children and grandchildren. People supporting OWS are the only ones who will help.
Excuse please, that's John Lennon,
I am as proud of the OWS efforts as I am of the Tea Party efforts, even though I have serious issues with both of them.
Both of them are grass-roots groups- not political party machinations.
Both of them have a vision of what they want the U.S. to be
Both of them show an anger of the average person with how government and industry are treating them.
Their visions are not too far apart. Both want an end to the corporations using their influence to buy tax breaks and special treatment.
God Bless our democracy where people can voice their opinions and are allowed to hear the opinions of those that disagree with them.
The people vs. the police, my rear end! The police are just doing their jobs like the rest of us. They're stuck listening to their bosses trying to make ends meet too.
Oh, so now it's the "People" vs the Police. Well, here is one "People" who supports the police in that they are following the law and their orders. These "People" who have nothing to do but sit around in public place going "wah wah" or marching around with signs that say ""I'm unhappy" do not have my support or respect. I understand some of their reasons but I cannot understand the behavior. It accomplishes nothing.
If ignorance were money....you would be part of the 1%.
Dear Children of OneGod, my brothers and sisters, even though we have a sense that things `aren't right,' I don't think most of us truly get what peril this planet is in. Individuals, the nations, the haves and the haves not, the educated and those not so much, the religious and irreligious, the righteous and all others, whoever, whether we acknowledge it or not, whether we like it or not and whether we believe it or not, the Truth goes on being true–we have a common Father. And He's trying to tell us, to warn us, that His little blue jewel, Earth, is under assault and has a common threat from an `evil' enemy, an evil `energy,' a `Demon' if you will. It is a most powerful force named Lobha, an epithet for Greed.
BTW, no matter which Name of Beloved God rings your bell, it is folly, it is gross arrogance! to assume that God, indwelling as Love expressing in 2.1 billion Christians, 1.5 billion Muslims, 900 million Hindus, 376 million Buddhists, 23 million Sikhs, 14 million Jews, 4.2 million Jains, 4 million Shintoists and 2.6 million Zoroastrians, etc., etc. is somehow making a mistake enjoying Himself in a `different religion.' God's religion is eternal Love, Truth and Bliss. If that's not your experience, you misunderstood your Teacher, you're practicing your religion wrong or you're not practicing at all. Period.
In a little over fifty years, shortly after God used the indomitable heart and energy of His grand experiment called the United States to help defeat another very evil threat to the world, that very experiment has been put in extreme jeopardy by the deliberate and systematic poisoning of the minds and hearts of the most generous people heretofore gathered in one place.
But instead of showing other nations how to prosper by giving thanks for His bounty and always keeping God first in their hearts and sharing their wealth and maintaining humble righteousness, the bounty itself became the sought after prize. By incessant blaring via media and entertainment, inculcating, teaching and fostering the desire to acquire all for selfish purposes of enjoyment (not difficult, we are human), Lobha has created a pool of selfishness and the power to go along with it to export this disease all over the world. Ego is ego, it doesn't matter where the costume is living. "I, me and mine" are its siren songs and choruses willing to sing along will be found all over the globe.
The problem is the Demon's puppets-the manipulators of currency, goods and services by nations and corporations-are not thinking about one critical element. The very simple truth about fanning the flames of desire with advertising and art and yada, yada, yada–any avenue of the senses you can use to jam the message in–is that desire thwarted causes anger.
If gradually all the means to acquire goods, in other words, the money, ends up in the hands of the very, very few, the ones without who are still having their desires fanned by advertising and art and yada, yada, yada will have no means to quench that desire. This will cause the birth of many, many fires of desire thwarted. This anger will destroy people and things–leading ultimately to the destruction of the Blue Jewel because there will be a lot more angry people than people to control them. The puppets who now mistakenly think they are the puppeteers and masters of the world will go down with the audience. A puppeteer far more powerful than all of them put together is actually pulling the strings and intends to make sure of their demise, too.
Now youve gone full circle and brought god back to the godless ?
Starve the Beast! Flush the Parasites down the Toilet!
Those fervent anti-protesters who proudly identify with the radical right are only futher reinforcing thinking-America's view of them: that they Love Their Country - but hate its inhabitants! We think, therefore we are; we stop thinking, we become tea-baggers - and deserve all the fascism we get!
Violence is not the answer so people need to peacefully protest and police need to rethink their crowd control strategy. Some good ways to protest is to stop using the products and services these rich corporations and people provide. Cancel the cell phones and cable or close the bank accounts and credit cards and go with credit unions. Hit them where it would hurt...THEIR WALLETS. On a side note a problem I believe we as Americans have is that we think we are too good for certain jobs. Nobody wants to clean toilets or harvest food and everybody wants to live off the government. Get a job and make money rather than staying home making babies creating more debt. If you can't afford to live in the city then move to a place that is less expensive.
i love it when TeaNN goes out of character and allows an alternate perspective to their usual pro-corporate anti-middle class propaganda and banging of plutocratic class war drums. cue the swarms of angry teabaggers quoting their favorite sean hannity and glenn beck flash cards of guttural insults and fallacious talking points (you know, 'debating'). its a breath of fresh air and makes for great theater. thank you naome, and please ignore the insults from the flying monkeys.
This is a well structured plan for the occupy movement. It would however put an undo amount of focus on the individuals chosen as representatives by both sides. The lists the registry have pros and cons and anyone who's read a history book or watched a movie can tell you that. Point in fact to the Black-lists of the 1940-80's. If a registry were put together it would have to be done with the idea that legal recourse would be clearly defined against violations such as targeting people on those lists. So my point is this the People represent themselves as a whole no lists no fear and let those who should be listening, have as little information as possible for them to undermine the goals of the occupy movement. It's common knowledge if you have lived through the past 12 years FEAR is one of the best tools.
The writer needs a new writing job, someone please help
derp
One would think that the Oakland Police have better things to do than to persecute OWS Protesters just because they don't agree with their point of view! Now the police are becoming politicized to the right-wing point of view and in the meantime, our crime rate soars ever higher!!! Besides, the police are not unemployed so they have no idea of what it's like to be hungry and not be able to pay their bills!!!
Anybody who watches 5 minutes of video on YouTube and concludes that these protests are "peaceful" is an idiot. cops getting attacked, pushed off motorcycles, stuff thrown at them, etc. That's not peaceful protest.
Guys with the badges are the cops not the protesters i think you have it backwards .Feel free to prove me wrong.Post a link to footage or pictures or something.But don't waste your time with blog post or "news" articles .Thanks
There will be NO change until the left occupies DC as well and holds their own politicians accountable and quit buying into the spin that Repubs are the only greedy ones. Let's get real here. Quit comparing this movement to the Civil Rights movement of the 60's. That movement had a clear objective, was well organized, and had leadership that other's could look to and follow. OWS has some well intentioned people but is leaderless and disorganized.
The Tea Party was such a movement. They held their OWN accountable and guess what? The Republican establishment was targeted first and voted out of office in 2010. Democrats were casualties of that war. But, the left are mindless and blind when it comes to their own politicians and do a disservice to their own party by ignoring the other side of the coin.
glaring false equivalency. the tea party was/is an astro-turf movement funded by billionaire plutocrats like the koch brothers. a true grassroots movement doesn't have a spontaneous hierarchy.
she's spot on. Neo-cons looking for the protection of a militarized police force are going to be sorry when things finally get out of control. Much blood, much violence because the politicians don't want to hear what the impoverished have to say. Furthermore, to all these morons who like to point out that the protestors are in the minority, they aren't. Many, many who have families and dependents are behind this, many whose children and families cannot go without food for a day are working for less than min. wage and fear starvation for acting out. Is this America? Is this our way? No, we've lot our way. Thanks neo-cons, hope your inflated mortgages are worth the slimming existence you can work yourself to death for in America. Things are changing, if the authorities won't let us protest peacefully, it is they who are bringing on violence.
Gibberish becomes you.
Where does CNN find these idiots who belong in Greece rather than the US? They don't represent the 99%, more like the .000099% and that's probably being generous.
I am old enough to have served during the Vietnam War era and I was also state side enough to observe and be amused by all the protesting while in college. The protesters then were also largely anti-corporate liberals who 40 years hence would occupy most of the space in those Wall Street towers and corporate America in general. I assume that is who the OWS protesters want to put in jail. What did all that 1968 hoopla result in? Some might say the protesting got us out of a military engagement we were unwilling to properly execute but, after that, the protesting had little if any endearing social value. In large part the '68' protesters turned into the "fat cats". Funny, really. People really don't change that much. If you find it necessary to protest it is probably best to turn your analytical eye inwards and objectively examine your own day to day life rather than waiting until things get so bad you think you have to take to the streets.
Nice try. What in fact happened is that the people in the protests could not sell out to corporate greed and politics. Those who tried never went far because they did in fact have principles. Also, it wasn't accepted to "inhale" until a few years ago. So greedy, materialistic, uncreative, unprincipled people who never took to the streets who took those positions and started bleeding the American public. Products of the 60's protests who made it well are giving back to society.
Too big to fail is too big to exist.
"W" and the GOP cut benefits to Vets while giving tax cuts to the wealthy.
Then the GOP lobbied for exemptions so the "job creators" wouldn't have to hire American vets with their tax cuts.
That's how the GOP rolls!!
I'm sure glad there weren't all you nyah nyah nyah don't these people have anything better to do? & oh they are just a bunch of violent anarchist types! weren't around during the american founding reveloution. we would be still (if i said what i wanted to here, my post would be removed)
So says the 1% lapdog.
Do you like being a 1% poser? A wannabe?
dude, read his post again – - you missed the point, he is on our side, making fun of the cry baby 1%'ers.
Policemen are agents of the state. Whenever you challenge the power and/or dominion of the state, you are likely to be confronted with enforcement agents of the state. This is the nature of the state. It does not exist to protect your freedom, but rather to continue to limit it out of existence altogether. By "state", I do not refer to any particular state of the so-called "union" but rather to the general body of coercive force called: government. Whether marxist democrat or fascist republican, these are the reactions you can expect from a statist governmental structure and simply protests, without more, will not change the nature of the state.
Ja woll, mein Fuerher!
Ironically the GOP and their Tea Party lapdogs DO NOT like police unions, firefighter unions, prison guard unions, etc.
Don't be surprised if some of them join the OWS.
Isn't it blasphemy to anoint a corporation as human?
Doesn't that violate God's FIRST commandment?
False gods creating false images?
That's how the "Christian" GOP rolls!!
Who is the Antichrist again??
Islam has always scared me because the great majority of Muslims do not believe in a secular governent. I can now say after reading your post that Christianity is beginning to scare me,
Where is the star spangled banner? Where is the land of the free? They have passed like rain on the mountain, like wind in the meadow. The days have gone down in the West behind the hills into shadow. How did it come to this?
Vote for who can restore your Liberty!
I appologize for my typos. i really am literate. i just just don't spell well when irate.
Why is it acceptable to arrest young liberal weaponless OWS protesters but gun-waving Tea Partiers who are threatening to put their 2nd amendment "rights" into action? What a double standard. And imagine how Fox News would cover the arrests and police crackdowns at Tea party rallies. The police should know better. In the end, the liberals are really on their side. The conservatives sound tough, but they're the first ones to cut the law enforcement budget. We never learn from history.
Stay tuned. These arn't drugged out hippies they're clubbing – unlike the Fox propaganda.
This could get ugly fast. The 1% is attempting a clamp down now – but it's too little too late.
The OWS Genie is out of the bottle!!
The Protestors should elect 'leader' for finite terms???? Just like in DC?? Once people are 'elected' to 'Power', good luck having them 'step-down', LOL
I really don't get the Tea Party folk. Pretty much everything the GOP does harms their own financial well being, and that of their children and grand children.
Is it just hate for our black President? Or, is it because they are sour and bitter that they never made it to the 1%. And, by golly, neither is anybody else in the 99%.
Black President??? Last I heard he was 50/50 – why do you think he 'relates' to one side over the other???
America just loves to throw its own people in jail. We have 5% of world's population, and 25% of all people in prison. The private prison industry is a growth industry, and a growth industry always needs new "customers". The land of the free indeed.
America – the Greatest 'Free' Country in the World – IF you can Afford It!!!
By all definitions we are a police state.
Do the math: Within the 47% the Tea People love to castigate are the 25% in prison!!
Duh!! How are you gonna make them pay taxes?? Ha ha ha.
The only reality worth noting here is that for all CNN's effort to demonize the Tea Party and kiss up to OWS, OWS is far worse when it comes to the type of behavior that requires police to get involved.
Sorry Tea people – most Americans don't like racists. Boo hoo
Occupy Sophia Vergara!
Why does CNN even bothers with this garbage? well, because whoever is running the show (pick one) chinese, russian, communist,etc. wants to create social war. Nothing good will come out of this crap, except swinging more anarchist to the streets. shame on cnn.
Were you trying to convey a cogent thought?
Are the protester cooks still protesting the protest.?.. Dumb and Dumber 3.
Yes, Bob, that was a dumb post.
Does the movement only accept junkies, flunkies, and jealous poor people; or will they accept anyone?
Watching the press manufacture this protest has been a lesson in reality manipulation
Stay tuned. We'll be coming to a gated community near you 1% tools soon.
Better build moats!!
All fun and games until you come on private property
Don't need a moat. We've got expensive arms.
This will be an internet revolution.
And the tech-challenged Tea Party fogies are already losing.
Funny why the tea party protestors never got arrested! Now think switch party controls the media and towns where the police are arresting.
I have to laugh at the myopic GOP trolls who keep ranting "pay your debts" at the protesters.
They sure don't say that to the 300+ banks still dependent on the TARP bailout (only a few big boys have paid up).
But they love their 1% overlords who steal from them over and over.
Those "GOP trolls" are the ones who were against the TARP from the beginning. I seem to recall it being a Democrat who said these companies are "too big to fail". Maybe before you go placing blame you should get facts.
The ideological blowhards left over from the cold war and the Jr. Stalinist they have educated, can't seem to take advantage of the bad economy to swell the commie ranks. Even with FB
What would you do if you had a good friend that stole from you. Not once, but over and over again.
What if he was a millionaire? Is that what makes the difference? It's okay if a Donald Trump takes all of your money and uses it to hire offshore workers?
It sounds crazy to coddle a thief; but that's what the GOP lapdogs do. Over and over.
Why do I want to coddle the people who refuse to get a job and live off of welfare? They are stealing from me by taking the money I earned and using it without earning it.
I wish health for everybody, but in cases like you I hope you get some good struggle, see how you do with your big mouth if you lose all you have couse you got sick and can't afford your treatment or medication anymore.
I think god has a plan for people like you, you clearly have not suffered enough yet......
Wolf's description of the events in Oakland is grossly erroneous. She states: "hundreds of police, dressed in riot gear, surrounded Occupy Oakland’s encampment and fired rubber bullets (which can be fatal), flash grenades, and tear-gas canisters." She is, in fact, conflating two completely different events. The removal of the encampment from Ogawa Plaza was accomplished with a minimum of force – the police simply moved in and arrested those who refused to leave. The use of tear gas, etc. did not occur until the conclusion of a subsequent day/evening of protestors marching through the streets and arriving at the still-cordoned off plaza, with the stated intention of "re-occupying" it. There was no "surrounding" of the protestors; they were moving around freely on Broadway and other streets, with the police in static deployment at the entrances to the plaza. The protestors ignored repeated orders to disperse and warnings that chemical agents would be used, and provoked the confrontation by throwing rocks, bottles and paint at the police lines.
Why would you want to confuse the author and the readers with actual facts? That defeats the purpose of the self important author's point.l
From the videos I've seen it looks like a war zone. Flash grenades, stun grenades, and tear gas canisters exploding everywhere!
I sure didn't see any "rocks" or "spray paint".
Wait for the lawsuits against the city of Oakland. This is going to cost them a bundle.
Keep watching you will get her point soon. In fact the whole world will see just how brutal an American police state can be. During the 60's the same principals existed, just the gear and weaponry were not as advanced as today. History of such a protest in America demands that blood be shed and today's police are well trained in bringing it. Wait and see.
Wow, when you only tell one side of the story it can sound really bad. The Occupy Oakland protesters started throwing rocks and bottles at the police while the police told them to disperse. Only after being attacked by what I presume to be a small number of protesters in the mob did the police take action. You say you were arrested while obeying the terms of the permit, yet you don't say what you were charged with? Are you sure you were obeying the terms of the permit? Have you actually seen the permit and what the conditions are, or did you just take someone else's word for what is allowed? You supposedly support this "movement" yet you say it needs a leader. We have been told time and time again that not having a leader is the point of the protest, so it appears that you don't even know what you are supporting, other than the opportunity to protest. Protesting for the sake of protesting is a pointless exercise in idiocy.
From the videos I've seen it looks like a war zone. Flash grenades, stun grenades, and tear gas canisters exploding everywhere!
What video did you watch??
I sure didn't see any "rocks" or "spray paint".
Wait for the lawsuits against the city of Oakland. This is going to cost them a bundle.
Are those the videos the protesters took and edited prior to uploading? Maybe you should watch more videos, there is one with a news crew interviewing one of the protesters and she admitted to seeing rocks and bottles thrown at the police, and she still thinks the police shouldn't have done anything. Try getting the full story, just like I told the author of this article.
The dual post by "AT" and "Why Use Facts" looks like the work of GOP sock puppet trolls.
Just sayin...
Are it could be people that have educated themselves and learned all the facts are trying to educate more people.
What is it with you people of this mindset? Where have you learned your history or followed your current events? Certainly not in America. What is being described here is TYPICAL for American law enforcement when people attempt to exercise their rights to free speech and assembly. In response to excess agression by law enforcement people "throw rocks and bottles" and the police respond with life threatening tactics. If you want to know how accurate this is put your body on the line and see how it's treated.
The kids and parents protesting together should be euthanized. Save my tax dollars please.
GOP – the party of "LET EM' DIE!!"
and now.... "KILL EM' ALL!!"
Jesus loves you too.
i don't know why else kevorkian's machine is suddenly for sale.?..
There are days I think about joining the occupy protests. However, the comments here prove how pointless that would be. America was nice while it lasted. It is over. The only thing that can rise in this country now is brutal Fascism. The people will demand it. Compare us to a banana republic? We are a banana republic. The tragedy is that most people are too blind to see it.
Don't be too proud America. Eventually people will start leaving. With them will go any hope we had of turning this around. In the next 5 years that will become a major trend. You'll get your wish and you will wish you hadn't.
The issue is many of the protestors are that they cannot follow simple law and order. They spit at the police, fight with eachother, violate ordinances such as parks that close at sunset. They are not being arrested for absolutely no reason. It is a mob mentality and when one person begins to act beligerant that action spreads. The news reports how police have abused protestors but what about those protestors that spit at or threw objects at police maintaining order. The Occupy movement is not a free pass to break laws that have been long established. People need to be responsible for their actions. People also have to realize that police are people just like them, some may even agree with their views; however, if the peace is lost action must be taken.
The issue with most Tea tools – is that they're lapdogs of the 1%.
They spit at police.... Why are the police there? They are the antagonists they show up with weapons. Let's go beat up some kids...
The police are people who are paid by the system to enforce laws that benefit the wealthy. Get it straight. It's funny you have the right to protest but you can't do it here! or there! and surely not over there! Actually just protest between noon and 5pm or you are breaking the law.
They make a law knowing it will be broken so they can get rid of you. No freedom in the USA.
When you listen to fools, the mob rules.
Naomi,
FYI: We live in a republic, not a democracy. Look it up.
Anyway, you've been crying wolf for far too long - remember when you said that Bush and Cheney had us on the road to dictatorship? Are we still on that road or did Obama take a detour?
Seriously?? Re-read whatever book you read that from and i'm sure you find that it really says we are a democracy which is largely influenced by Republic principle. Use your finger and point to each word if you need too.. Don't be ashamed to read out loud to yourself.
It's only called CLASS WARFARE when we fight back.
Thanks to the plutocracy this IS about "class" and it IS warfare!
How can it be class warfare when most of the protester have no class?
You mean like the raging grannies out there, they sure can give it to the police. , I am ready to go and protest with the raging grannies. its time. . Jane
Let the internet wars begin.
The Tea Party fogies are toast.
So how about we change the name to Occupy Madison Avenue? Isn't it consumerism that is at the heart of all this? It's the ad execs making commercials that tell us to buy crap that the corporations make that we who are lucky enough to work for making menial wages keep the system moving. But wait, without that we don't have jobs. And isn't that why people are protesting, because they want jobs with better wages so they can buy more crap? No screw it, lets just dismantle governments, economic systems, get rid of those mean cops and all hold hands and love each other because thats what humanity used to do back in the good old days. And the farmers will work hard to grow food and carry it to us on the backs of donkeys so they don't pollute the environment with fossil fuels, just donkey doo. And all seven billion of us on the planet will divide everything evenly and live happily ever after. The End.
I love your GOP pasty posts under different names. Same topics. Same prose.
GOP trolls – boot lickers for the 1%.
Says the pot to the kettle (in reference to the troll remark.)
Also, can we do away with the smilies? Pretty please?
Actually President Obama took a great detour. Rather than committing our over-taxed troops to Libya he handed it to NATO.
This is great for our troops and all young people!! But, Haliburton and your 1% overlords probably aren't too happy.
They want war profit – forget about the young troops' lives.
Well that was a load of drivel. I defy anyone to point at that and say there was no bias.
Almost 1:00PM.. time to do the junkie-shuffle to the OWS soup line.
Hear the Parasites Screaming bloody murder! Naomi, you hit the nail on their head!
THis ows HAS nothing to do with one person. it has to do with the 99 percent of us, nothing to do with the president , he is part of the problem as is the rest of the powerful in politics, they are too busy collecting money from the big rich in this country and then have to work for their agendas and to pass law that benefits the wealthy. They want to reduce education while giving more tax breaks for the rich, this is one issue, any fool can see that for what it is. Jane
The police in this country always side with the one percenters and would open fire without hesitation if the order was received from the DHS. And if the demonstrations remain peaceful as they all have to date, the DHS will readily supply the necessary plants to escalate the violence. Keep it peaceful, folks, because the vast majority of this country is behind you 100%. They'll see the agitators for who they and what they are – mostly Navy Seals and Blackwater military rejects.
Or the agitators could be the self proclaimed anarchists who started the movement. There is not a government conspiracy everywhere you look. I have worked with many Navy Seals and have yet to meet one who would even consider doing what you are saying. They have way too much class, unlike the anonymous anarchists who started this.
Its not the people vs the police. Lets not forget, as many people have already said, the police are one bounced pay check from joining the protest. Otherwise I couldn't agree more w/ whats being said. Is this number 9 of the 10 steps to a facist state??(The end of america: a Letter of warning to a young patriot)
I know many police officers. Many are very bright, intelligent and professional. But many are bigoted racist fools that enjoy hurting certain types of people. Watch out for the latter; they seem to be in the majority these days.
We're either in or about to go into another recession; eventually it will be obvious that the system is broken. Unfortunately its going to take a lot more people on unemployment for anything meaningful to happen. Wall Street is way oversold; the Dow was 4000 when Clinton was in office and now its over 11000. This levy will break and soon.
"There's something happening here....what it is ain't exactly clear. There's a man with a gun over there....a tellin' me I got to beware...."
-Stephen Stills 1967
Its not the people vs. the police. Its the people vs. those in power... the politicans, etc. The police mostly just carry out the orders they are given. sure they may make a number of false arrests or assault people, but the truth is they are there in the first place because of their leaders.
A big part of the problem is that the "economic justice" you want usually translates as demanding that people who have worked to earn their way in the world subsidise those who can't be bothered to do so.
A trite, rather smug post. I think you'll find that the vast majority "HAVE bothered to do so..." only to have their dreams and aspirations crushed.
Living in a civilized democratic society is a privilige, not a right. It is earned by taking the responsibility and making the sacrifices needed to pass it along to the next generation. OWS protesters are not into self-sacrifice, they are into pointing out who should be making sacrifices for them.
Tell me what you are willing to sacrifice and what you're for. Then, we'll talk.
Can we trade Obama's freeloading government cheesers for some Mexicans that want to work, raise a family and contribute to society?
The 53% of us who pay our taxes are very sick and tied of Obama's 47% who pay no income tax what-so-ever.
I want to donate too! How about a bunch of jumpsuits, in your choice of orange, or black-and-white stripes?
Could police be the stupidest group in the America? Because all these bills coming up exempt police, for now. The Elitist/Corporatists/Republicans are using the cops to enforce the breaking of Occupy protests, unions, lowering of salaries, evictions, no health benefits, no retirement benefits... and after the cops enforce all this the Republicans are going after the police and fire fighters! You'd have to be an idiot to not realize that!
To be honest, I'd love to see the present government of the US taken down a few notches–but not just to make room for a bunch of "From each according to ability, to each according to need" whiners, which is what these Occupy people seem to be all about.
LOWSers have no self respect or pride.
---Declaration of Independence----
Hey, don't bite the hand that feeds you. Occupy a job, not my street.
GOP took care of not having to worry about getting a job they have stopped any effort to create them . Tea party in Florida has even asked small businesses to pledge to not hire any one until they get what they want ,somewhat self serving wouldn't you say, somewhat Un american wouldn't you say. Somewhat silly to talk about getting a job when the Job deflators have been hard at work wouldn't you say. I imagine you won't say anything until told to do so.
What do the 47% of Obama's non-tax paying government cheesers bring to the common table? Nothing. Nothing . Nothing.
Trade them all off for some Mexicans who want to work and raise a family and pay their taxes.
i think that's why they're camped out near the exchanges. this is the new commodity exchange – LOWSers for mexi's and cheese poofs.
You're really clueless aren't you? Educate yourself on the true makeup of that 47% and you'll find that the number has been selectively used by the right to "defend" the top 1%.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/14/business/economy/14leonhardt.html
That's right. It is actually 100% of the LOWSers that are complete zeroes.
But who will pay for all this when the protestors run out of other people's money?
Actually the economic justice I want is for people like Stephen Hemsley of United health care who can take home 50 mil a year while his health insurance company can deny care to people for the most ridiculous reason, its like literally making bread on the dead, His salery per year is more than most Americans will ever make in 10 lifetimes,so spare me the nonsense about working to earn there way. I don't need no handout,but this just stinks.
Do you give bums and homeless people money every time they ask for your change? Yeah, sometimes I do... but not to the ones who are going to spend it on drugs and booze, which is why I would never give anyone on OWS any of my money.
Try a little introspection and figure out what you want in life and what you need to do to get there instead of worrying about what other people make. There will alwasy be someone who makes more than you. Get over it.
when a bank CEO takes a 100 million dollars retirement bonus is the time to take WS down.....that happened yesterday..
I do not understand how many here post diatriba against people protesting these abuses, and do not see anything wrong with still paying $3.5 at the gas pump when it should be under $2, and how people also protest teachers pretensions of having a retirement fund....lit just brain washing to the extreme.....wake up before you get fired because your salary and benefits are are in the way of a CEO bonus
Why? Because I adapt. This is NOT giving up personally, but you and I can do very little to change things. There are more complicated things besides greed driving these higher gas prices or a CEO making 100 gazilion. Do I get angry? No. I'm not a consumerist either. I don't over consume, I think about the environment, etc. etc., Im not much of a materialist, a gadgeteer, etc. etc. but I dont camp out with flea baggers thinking that will change the world. Any and all change starts with you. Every issue the Tent Party is fighting for, which are too numerous and convoluted to list, seems all ABOUT MONEY. So you're accusing one or several powers of greed and yet, your overall demands are based on money.
There's some serious hypocrisy issues in the OW movement and you also seem like you just don't want to play in the system, its too much for you, too much work, so you want to change it to suite your lifestyles or mentality, but you can't. Thats like Mexicans wanting the USA back, it will never, never happen. I bring that up as just an example of dillusional goals but when the logistics of it hit you, you'll realize just how foolish you were all along, wasted energy, wasted time.
you are the perfect citizen for those in power, the one who accepts defeat and do not stand up for your rights...not everyone has your weak mind and spirit...you can hide and be overpowered by fear and come with lame excuses to not fight...not everyone is a coward
Have any of you ever been to New Orleans? Try seeing how the police act on any given day over there. A coworker was hanging out on Burbon a few months back and he was talking smack about the police. Not to their face, just to a friend of his in the vacinity. His friend told him to be quiet and he said, man forget the cops. (Obviously he didn't use the word forget.) The cops then proceeded to beat him like crazy. He wound up in jail for the weekend and came back to work with a significant beating. For what? Saying that he didn't like police? He wasn't involved in any illegal activity, but the cop beat him anyway. He went to a lawyer and the attorney told him that one of his other client's had their son shot and killed illegally by an NOPD cop. They won the wrongful death case, but the City says they have no money to pay, the cops weren't fired, so he said go ahead and sue, but you won't get anything out of it.
The problem isn't so much the business people, it is the justice system. Look how the Black panthers got off with voter intimidation during the last elections, or how the black people were killed in New Orleans after Katrina. The cops stole Cadillac's and other things, but nothing happened. Justice indeed... Without equal justice, equality will never exist.
Only a fool would instigate a cop. Police are getting pretty fed up with having to SERVE you then getting SPAT on the face.
Anyone that attracts the cops, is upto something, has issues, has criminality written all over themselves. You say something like that, you're instigating a problem. Then you complain when you LOOk for trouble, place yourselves in situations, socially, or just even near or loosely associated with agitators, criminals, thugs and then the police also give you the heat. You look for trouble, you will find it.
There are simply some in society that just have anger because the police stop them from doing wht they want to do. They don't look at themselves, its always SOME ELSE'S fault... like the police.
You want equal justice? Stay out of trouble and create it for yourself, then it will exist.
So if you hear a guy say, "Screw Steven", not to you, but where you can hear, you feel you have the right to beat them senseless and inprison them. awesome you are indeed a great person. And if the cop decides to kill you or someone in your family, then he should get away with it because he is in the fraternal order of police. You must be a cop. Superior rights who demand the public serve them instead of the other way around....
I encourage everyone to re-read the Bill of Rights, especially the 1st (freedom of speech and protest), 9th, and 10th Amendments (those rights not granted to the government ARE RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE). The people have all the rights here, not the government, the police, or corporations. We just didn't know it. It's time to enforce the rights of the people.
Uhh... who makes up the government, police, and corporations...? Aren't they... people and citizens? So you're telling me that these people are not covered under the bill of rights. Or by "people" do you just mean bums without jobs who whine and cry. Maybe if we make them cry enough it will wash away all that grime and nastiness they left on the street.
If a good deal of this is about 1% of the population not paying their fair share of taxes, why are we occupying wall street???? I didn't realize these folks wrote tax law....Should you not be occupying government? and please, can't we make this an internet movement so the costs associated with your disorganized movement doesn't get passed back to us as citiies blow through their budgets....
"The money powers prey upon the nation in times of peace and conspire against it in times of adversity. It is more despotic than a monarchy, more insolent than autocracy, and more selfish than bureaucracy. It denounces as public enemies, all who question its methods or throw light upon its crimes. I have two great enemies, the Southern Army in front of me and the Bankers in the rear. Of the two, the one at my rear is my greatest foe...corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow, and the money powers of the country will endeavor to prolong its reign by working upon the prejudices of the people until the wealth is aggregated in the hands of a few, and the Republic is destroyed.”
– Abraham Lincoln
Lincoln was a RINO.
Before the U.S. civil war. The army of the south was being mostly financed by the slave owners(The Rich). The slave owners who felt that they were being pushed about by the north used the power of there money in support for the military for favoritism and if not for this favoritism the military personnel would be lost and forgotten in capitalistic society.
Have a clear Message. Have a leaded.
Boycott American Companies that make our Products over seas. Bring our jobs back or we will Boycott your Company and Products. Bring our jobs back from China – India -Mexico and others.
Boycott NIKE SNEAKERS AND FOOTWARE until they make the Footware here. Demostrate at the Store and Factories
Boycott ExonnMobil till they bring down the price at the pump. Demostrate at the pump
Boycott L.L.Bean in Freeport , Maine an dat the retail stores and online until they have their products made here -demostrate at all location
If you hit them in the pocket book then they will listen.
If you just walk around – yelling , nothing will be accomplished.
Good luck and see you on Main Street.
Boycott
Yes- boycott them. That's a fabulous idea. Go ahead and bite the hand that feeds you. What happens when you boycott these companies? They have to cut back on their expenses. First expense? Employees. I will take care in your "boycott" but instead, I am boycotting the Occupy Wall Street losers by going to my job, working hard, and paying my taxes. Maybe if you tell your little pow-wow to pay their taxes, you might get something accomplished. Occupy a job, not my street.
Jerk
I have a well-paying job and I support OWS because there are very real problems with the government and the way corporations are currently regulated and taxed. Not all protestors want a free handout, many of us feel that it is the most patriotic thing we can do to try to save our country.
"Occupy a job..." GREAT!
Freedom of speech, our basic right is under fire from scared officials. And boy, do they have a reason to be scared! As Wolf correctly identified the core problem – corporations buying up America, closing up our choices, denying our freedom to be free of corporate manipulations (i.e.: Archer Daniels and Monsanto is trying to control your food chain, our most basic right). The ripples we see now will grow into tremors, then into a wall of force that the politicians will need to listen to.
Your dreams are my nightmares. Go home, sit down, shut up. Tired of seeing you on TV.
Naomi Wolf is disgusting! Most off these cops are veterans. therefore they fought for your right to abuse your freedoms you are now doing! To say that JP Morgan Chase and the cops are working together is like saying you are part of the Talibam
Then why are these former veterans beating up on civilians? Don't they see the irony of it?
"and please, can't we make this an internet movement so the costs associated with your disorganized movement doesn't get passed back to us as citiies blow through their budgets..."
So they aren't protesting the way YOU would like them to or the way YOU think they should be; and because they aren't they have become a bother and a nuisance to you....precisely what the goal is and should be, to make people who think this way uncomfortable enough to start paying attention.
here comes the behind-the-scenes POLICE STATE, compliments of the Paranoid Neo-Con AIPAC members. Chertoff and his Homeland Security posse are making a killing off the security cameras and each arrest....
What is this "movement"? Civil rights had a movement, women's right had a movement, this is collection of several groups who are frustrated with what's going on with the economy, government and their lot in life. However what's lacking is a common vision of how to get from where we are to where they feel we should be. As time goes on and the weather conditions get worse it seem the more aggressive parts of the "movement" become.
What this author failed to realize is this, people have the right to protest, however if the police feel that a protest has become dangerous to themselves or the general public they have the right to break up that protest. If people feel the police are wrongfully breaking up protest, they can pursue that issue legally. If they choose to take a stand and disobey police orders to disperse than no one should feel bad for what happens to them.
MORE obama orchestrated corruption ... as he continues to squander America's hard earned wealth ... and, adds insult to injury, by demonizing those who earned the wealth he's squandering !!!
LMAO!!!
For the comic relief, I thank you. I walk by this ragtag group of LOWSers (NYC) and can't help but to get some great people-watching chuckles out of it.
Many people are stuck in the past. They judge today based on a time not here anymore. I see this in many a comment. I also observe many people simply just angry at authority. Symbols of authority. They point out injustices, what they perceive as unfair or abusive treatment. But they NEVER point out faults in themselves. They NEVER point to themselves as the source of problem making. Its NEVER THEIR FAULT.
Its the police's fault. Its the greed's fault! Its greed! Kind of reminds me of "The War On Terror". A war on an ideology? That makes no sense. This is like that, OWS is fighting an attribute that drives ANY and ALL things one does, from getting an education to finding a job, to committing a crime, to asking for donations, a little of it exists. When its business, its its driver, its inspiration.
Now, as for YOU. What can YOU change so that the police don't place the heat on you? You attract attention, you give off a vibe, you agitate situations, you yell at them, you don't leave when they are coming in in full gear with shields and helmets and tear gas/rubber bullet ammunition, you stick around, you think because you have rights to assemble and yell out what you do, and spray paint anarchy symbols on their cars and businesses that you still have rights.
You don't leave a trouble zone, expect to deal with the risks and possible consequences. That goes for any trouble you find yourself in and around you. Just leave. Leave that mentality too. Because you are like a problem-magnet. And the police will come after you if you are doing stupid sh__t.
Leave. Go home, work on yourselves. Occupy a job. Occupy creating a business, you need the banks for loans... for school... go occupy yourselves with something productive instead of camping out in city streets. Thats what the homeless who don't want to work do. Trust me, 98% of homeless are there because they adapt and want that life. Thats what you are giving out, that same vibe to the world... I know this because I live in the heart of a nasty urban city... for years dodo's.
Change always will, never changingly, starts and ends with YOU. And I don't mean, interneting and thinking YOU can change the WORLD through a comment box which I foolishly also think I am right now. But I know many of you have the time to read every freakin comment for "the truth". I'm giving it to you – work on yourself.
Nice article. I love the paragraph:
Suddenly, America looks like the rest of the furious, protesting, not-completely-free world. Indeed, most commentators have not fully grasped that a world war is occurring. But it is unlike any previous war in human history: for the first time, people around the world are not identifying and organizing themselves along national or religious lines, but rather in terms of a global consciousness and demands for a peaceful life, a sustainable future, economic justice, and basic democracy. Their enemy is a global “corporatocracy” that has purchased governments and legislatures, created its own armed enforcers, engaged in systemic economic fraud, and plundered treasuries and ecosystems.
And the dumb broke hippies are going to win this "war"? Let me call my bookie.
This "war" is JUST LIKE the "war" in Africa when the ignorant blacks killed or ran off the whites that had tamed the land and farmed it successfully (hiring many of them). Today most of those farms sit idle and unproductive because no has the skill, the will, or the incentive to plant and harvest; and so people are worse off and starve.
OWS would make an identical choice here in the U.S. if we, the productive, let them.
I, for one, WON'T!
Ms Wolf overlooks the fact that the Police are representatives of the people. Their job is to enforce our laws and protect us. Our laws allow people to protest in a civilized manner. But, the law also limits all citizens behavior so as not to unduly impact other citizens. Conducting protests in public parks is a lawful activity. Occupying the parks and rendering them inaccessible to the other citizens is, and should not be lawful.
Also her characterization that they have universal support is inaccurate. There are over 300 million of us, and infinitesimal percentage of whom are conducting these activities. Sure, people are unhappy with the way things are, but these people to not necessarily represent us. This is mostly a liberal media driven event carried out by individuals intent intent on provoking reaction by our government
The fact that so many people "don't get it" when it comes to the occupy movement is clear evidence that many people are out of touch with how tough it is for low and middle income people these days- if they have income at all.
That's because (fortunately) "many people", rich or not (so) rich, don't care to whine like these "gimme gimme" LOWSers.
Thanks for reinforcing my point . . . .
Good article. In answer to one post, what does protesting accomplish? Well, for one thing the outrage about
debit card fees caused the banks to withdraw them. It does work. I would like to see these protests continue
and hope that real change comes from them. It is disgusting how money buys everything.
Please. The banks backed down on the debit fees because "free people with money", their present customers threatened to take something worthwhile, their business, elsewhere. OWS sprawls around spouting slogans that boil down to their dissatisfaction with mere opportunity...they want to be financially "uplifted" the fruits of our society that others planted, tended and harvested. OK, I hear you. Now hear me: NO!
The Jack Booted Thugs are alive and well as seen in these articles, the people must be persistent in taking back uor country from the corporations and the wall streeters, people must keep in mind that the democrats, republicans and tea partiers are not there for your best interests but parties that are well funded with tainted money.
Is George Soros not funding the OWS socialist?
The Police should be arresting the schwindlers.
CNN you disgust me. Your hypocrisy makes me sick. You are so far left of center it is obvious. You can blow the Wall Street occupiers all you want but it will still be a socialist movement. How Anti-American can you possibly get
Wait till they start squashing everything you post.People who are stuck on Conservative networks are being backdoored and do not see it coming. This the fourth branch of government.
You think Corporatism/Fascism is a good thing?
Let's not forget that a lot of these 'police' (Oakland PD) are being trained in a foreign country and by a foreign government using military tactics. If the police, representing state control, can violate one person's rights, they can violate everyone's rights.
Totally irresponsible journalism - if you can call it journalism. The OWS movement and the actions of the police in the U.S. can in NO WAY be compared to the totalitarian murder and brutality taking place in countries such as Syria. There is no comparison; only a start contrast between being able to protest freely in the U.S. and being killed in other countries. It's sad that this movement is becoming nothing more than a staged confrontation against men and women (the police) who are just doing their jobs. How much is all of this costing taxpayers?
Come on CNN. This is an actual "news" story? Someone telling protestors how to protest is news? Protestors should make email lists, protestors should have leaders, protestors should model a civil society, etc. My favorite? Protestors should make their own media. CNN should grant them their wish and quit printing advertisements for these people.
I totally agree with the author and the supportive posts. Unfotunately taking BOLD DECISIVE ACTION this is going to hurt not only OWS participants but everyone else for a long while. Do you thing that the GREEDY POWERS are just going to give up? NO, they will use all their resources including the rachettingup the police and military under the guise of "keeping cival order". Have enough of our citizens awoken to the manipulation and control that we are under, AND are we ready to sacrifice..........It's going to HURT PLENTY and get CRAZY UGLY if we are.
Look at what is happening around you.We are about to see another government we do not recognize.A big decision is going to have to be made in a few weeks when tempers get a little shorter.It is going to be interesting especially remembering how CNN praised the violence it took to bring down three countries and we know not what government they will have.However,we the taxpayer helped to fund and fight 4 wars in less than 6 months.
Like it or not, OWS is fighting for YOUR freedom. If you don't understand this, then you hate democracy and you are a moron. If you believe the Republicans and the Tea Party are fighting for their freedom after everything that has happened, you are an imbecile. If you still believe that less regulation is the answer, you are hopeless (and probably don't need life-saving medicines). Unless you are a millionaire or corporate fat cat, OWS is fighting is fighting for you: even if you're too stupid and uneducated to realize you are nothing more than corporate stooge. So get used to it. We aren't going away, were gaining momentum. Things are going to change. God bless those who are making the sacrifice in order to restore democracy in America! The golden age of the Bleating Fart Conservative is coming to a close.
u r so wrong...
And you can't write a coherent sentence. The defense rests.
Is there more of what you're drinking? Pour it down the drain...it's gone bad!
The people of a community elect local officials who hire police administrators to direct officers to enforce the law and protect the citizens and property of the community. An outside "occupying" force descends on a city and holds it hostage (transportation, business, etc.), and the electorate demands a return to normalcy. That is when the police act.
This is a perfect example of democracy, Miss Wolf. You have been misinformed.
Can't believe all the haters. Peaceful protesting is "whining"? Protesting is VERY American. We wouldn't even be a country without it. I guess those hating on the OWSers would prefer we were still a British Colony!
As we are living in the present, we are referring to THESE protesters as whiny little LOWSers Not protesters, generically, throughout time.
It is incredibly arrogant for people to unilaterally decide that their right to free speech gives them the right to trespass and the right to disturb and inconvenience others. It is also quite hypocritical for them to expect police to behave in a civilized manner when they do not do so themselves. They hide behind the veils of "peaceful" protest and the "majority" and are completely unwilling to recognize, as any mature adult should, the way their behavior affects others.
Agreed. Emily Post would never protest.
Wolf; The occupiers are not the people. i am working today and I am the people. They can just dry up!
we'll see if you still say that when you get laid off and realize there are not any jobs out there, except being a clerk at Walmart w/ no benefits. Keep your head in the sand, it's safe in there
why so snobby? is being a clerk at one of America's largest companies below you?
I am one of the people. I will retire soon from a middle management job. I support OWS! I know I am one of the lucky ones to have a job that pays the bills. Had I entered the job market a few years later, I would not have had the same opportunities.
Democracies are shortlived and destroyed by Liberalism. No one in history has ever been able to stop the progression of such. The more Democracies we force around the world the weaker we get.Now you know why the jobs are gone.We help create the same conditions we loved so well before the destruction started after WW2 in the early 60's
The United States locks up a larger percentage of its citizens than any country on earth. The United States also goes to war more often and for more reasons than any country on earth. The United States may have been a free nation to be proud of back in the early 1970's but it is no longer. The Baby Boomers voted away our freedom and transformed the "Land of the Free" into the worlds "Prison Nation".
Whatever the United States once was, it is now just another police state. What a shame
The United States locks up those who, by their own personal choices and actions, are NOT part of the "civil population".
We lock them up primarily when they prey on the productive or the defenseless. By and large these are people who grew up without leaning the necessity or the meaning of the word "NO!"
This is the method of last resort to convey the lesson that "you will either learn to get along in society or you will be removed from it". Not perfect, but better than any other real option except capital punishment.
WTB – The next civial war ! people vs police
I know how to fast pitch canisters. Yeehaw.
This woman is dangerous!
Is this nonsense news. Sounds like a 60's radical. Times have been good for so long that people like this believe they are owed something. The generations from the 20's, 30's, 40's, 50's, 70's. 80's, 90's ...all expected to work hard and be rewarded. Go to Russia and tell the government you deserve something...go ANYWHERE in Africa and do the same. Tell us how that works out for you. Europe might help,..but wait,.. they are just starting to realize that placating to the "gimme" philosophy is bankrupting them right now and the party is over....
OWSers don't want handouts – they just don't want to be ripped off. They're willing to work, but all the manufacturing jobs of the 1920s-80s have all been shipped overseas. Even with a college education, there isn't much good work out there. We can do much better. And just make the corporations pay their fair share of taxes – we can talk about tax rates all we want, but they have soooooo many tax credits that they don't really pay any tax at all. Why don't corporations have an AMT like everyone else?
"People's Revolution"? BULL!
I'm one of "we, the people". Just one, but one of many. One not camping and complaining before the camera with my hand out for freebies. These "occupiers" DO NOT REPRESENT ME!
America provides opportunity everywhere, from public education, soup kitchens, food banks, Goodwill, the Salvation Army, student loans, free school lunches (even in summer), public housing, etc.. The problem is people don't appreciate what they have. They want to be given success, like as in school everyone gets a trophy.
America's exceptionalism springs from making choices. From good choices and bad choices come experience and, over time, success and failure. For everyone who is above average there is someone below average. That's life. No one can change it, so get used to it and ;earn to make your choices good ones and succeed.
So you don't mind if large investment banks make big gambles with your money, and if they win, they get filthy rich with no real contribution to society, but if the gamble fails, we are forced to pay their debts with our tax dollars?
Those who "gamble" aren't me, because the F.D.I.C. covers MY risk when I deposit. If the bank makes good investments it deserves the rewards that follow. If it makes bad investments and is bailed out by Congress, getting mad at the bank is about as logical and useful as getting mad at a zebra because YOU don't like stripes. You don't "fix" that by camping out abd singing "Kumbayah". In our system, you elect people who will change it. It ain't perfect, but it's how it is. Get used to it and get off my television.
Sorry you're just one of the sheep. This movement is not about handouts. It's about jobs. It's about honesty. It's about improper taxation. Its about political sellout. Its about corporate greed. Its about things at such a higher level than you think.
Sorry, you're just one of those kids raised to expect a trophy for just being a kid without any accomplishment. You don't understand the worth of the many opportunities available everywhere you look in the U.S. You want to receive the fruit of someone else's accomplishment that pulled THEMSELVES up out of the muck to become "above average". Don't hold your breath.
were those clowns marching in the west village nyc last night part of the protest? they sure looked like friendly clowns. the other marchers though look like dirty angry clowns. some clowns get good genes, some got bad ones i guess.
Why are you so intent on mocking protesters? Do they threaten you or your pro-corporate lifestyle? Is there anything wrong with making this planet a better place to live in?
i mock them for comic relief; the same reason every late night talk show host does. don't worry, i certainly won't quit my day job though. i don't believe that they do (or will) threaten my pro-corporate lifestyle. but why ask that rhetorically unless you, too, don't believe the angry clowns will have any effect?
OWS has lost its purpose and is hurting only the little guys now.
It's to bad the message is becoming lost and the story now is how long we will tolerate glory seekers that have little respect for anthing or anyone outside of themselves!
The Police of this country are TERRORISTS by definition!
terrorism[ter-uh-riz-uhm] noun
1. the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes.
I just want a place to get a good burrito on Saturday
It's OK. We will make a better world,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
Occupy K street! Thats where the corporations flex thier might against you 99%
We only need to replace the 535 heads that keep oppressing the vast majority of the country. No elected official should be allowed to hold the same office for more than 8 years total. After that they must be removed t the private sector.
Further there should be capital punishment imposed on all elected and appointed officials that are convicted of corruption.
Lastly it should be a capital offense to be a lobbyist whether or not there is payment made in advance of, during, or after their activities as a lobbyist.
Every politician on the national level commits treason with regularity. They accept their bribes from the corporations and do their bidding at the expense of everyone else. Don't expect the politicians to agree that the should pay the traditional price for treason when they can get away with it with impunity.
As the corporations put more and more pressure on their political puppets to crush these protests, I wonder what they're going to say to justify it when they start beating and killing the protesters like they do in the mid-east ? How long until they try and claim the Occupy protesters are "terrorists" and start persecuting them using the Patriot Act crap ?
This is going to get much uglier before we see any improvement in the situation.
It simply will not come to that, despite your histrionics. The people in the middle east are fighting violent oppressors, hoping to secure a freedom that has eluded them for their entire lives. They are doing it as much for their children as for themselves. The OWS protestors couldn't be any different. They just want free stuff. They want somebody to give them a job, and, man, these student loans are a bummer too, dude! These rich dudes could, like, give me some money! It wouldn't kill them! And, uh...corporations! Man, they're...bad! LMFAO
This is a big load of bull pucky. The protesters were given multiple warnings to disperse. They were informed in plain english what the law was, and how the police intended to enforce it. There were no rubber bullets fired; the police fired tear gas into the confrontational crowd after rocks were thrown at them.
The protesters have the right to free speech. They have the right to assemble. Once they become a public health issue, they become subject to the appropriate laws. They DO NOT have the right to assault police. So from Ms. Wolf–whom I'm sure mistakenly considers herself a serious journalist–we get misinformation and murky references to "provacatuers". As long as these protesters and their sympathizers feel they can choose their own facts and their own laws, they better get used to the taste of tear gas
Rapists, thieves, felons now live omong OWS
GOP sent them,,,,,,
OMG! Do you mean the Corporates and Congress have left their office to join? Great news!
This explains everything.
youtube com/watch?v=5BJ_RPu4Hws
don't forget the period "." after youtube.
This explains everything.
youtube.com/watch?v=5BJ_RPu4Hws
When OWS gets some real leaders, develops a political platform, and comes up with some real solutions, Americans might really start supporting them. Right now, OWS has just been disorganized and has offered up no real solutions to America's problems. I sympathize with OWS's anger. There are many problems with Wall Street paying off politicians and the disparity in wealth in this country is alarming. However, OWS has just been wasting America's time by sending out a lot of angry hot air without offering any real solutions to these problems. I for one, hope they will develop some solutions, but I am slowly losing patience with them and a desire to listen to them.
These protesters are not "the people". They are a small group of mal contents who are breaking laws to indulge in some kind of temper tantrum that is being heralded as democracy in action. They are loud. They are receiving media attention. They are gaining support from other loud mal contents with a plan. The vast majority of "the people" won't like the outcome of the plan. These people do not represent me or anyone I know or anyone I want to know. This is a dangerous movement that looks innocuous, even heroic to some, but is nothing like who they say they are.
I am sorry that you live so ignorant of the true American way. It is people like you who hurt this country more than the OWS attendees. At least they are trying to make improvements and steer this country back to where the forefathers invisioned. Go back to history class. Go to ethics class. Heck, go get an education about anything non-materialistic.
please. the LOWSers are junkies, flunkies and dumba kids that contribute zilch and take up time and money.
It seems the slander of OWS by the right and uniformed is rampant and supported by the Corporate media. I support keeping Corporate money out of elections and I want to end the lobbying that is wasting about half of our tax dollars before they leave Washington. The funny part is that I am a REAL FISCAL CONSERVATIVE!!
The funny part is that even a clock that is stopped is right twice a day.
Occupy a jail cell
im protesting for free frozen popsicles for the kids of the numnuts at LOWS.
Hilarious.
"America’s politicians, it seems, have had their fill of democracy. Across the country, police, acting under orders from local officials, are breaking up protest encampments set up by supporters of the Occupy Wall Street (OWS) movement – sometimes with shocking and utterly gratuitous violence."
The author ignores that Oakland's mayor initially fully supported the OWS movement protesters. It also ignores that before the police used ANY violence against the protesters, they hurled rocks and bottles.
Don't let facts get in the way, eh Naomi?
I appreciate your revelation of getting arrested in the second paragraph. You have no credibilty, you are a partiasan, and I think it has become obvious that every single act the Tea Party was falsely accused the OWS is actively and gleefully participating in with a big humdrum sigh from MSM.
When y Lybia and Egypt the people revolted and started at times to shoot more in Lybia than in Egypt and hundreds of thausands met the US said good and everyone was cheering for democracy. In the US 20 of us meet in a park or in streets we need a permit and if aproved we can be in a place designated but it was okay to try to overthrow those government and even when shot at the governmets did not have the right to fight back. He we are beatten and put in jail and if the number of meeting people get over 100 or more then tear gas. Jail and other things aproved in Lybia but here our democracy don't allow us to proyest freely. Nice democracy we live in. We should be proud of murdering ghadafi and putting terrorist in Lybia. Nice job US
Are you a product of the American "educational establishment" or are you naturally this lame mentally?
LOWSers cannot assimilate into society. Darwinism 101.
Isn't Naomi Wolf the "adviser" that told Al Gore to wear "earth tone" clothes?
I have a great suggestion for anyone who is a part of OWS...if you really want to change what is going on in this country, grow up and run for office and work to provide a RESPONSIBLE solution.
OWS tent town: More skidmarks than 1-95.
(go ahead, trademark it)
OWS Day 40. My drawers are 99% brown.
Speaking as a conservative, I certainly hope that this is the campaign message the Democrats run on in 2012. Hate the police. To hell with your ability to live your life as you see fit. The ability of society to function is secondary to my need to camp out and squat on land that is not mine so I can make some point that no one ever seems to grasp. (I'm not even going to try to guess what OWS wants, because any time someone does, they are laughed at by OWS supporters for "not getting it." Though OWS and its supporters never seem to clarify what it is, exactly we're supposed to get. For instance: Signs throughout the rallies say "End Capitalism" or some variant thereof. But when we say this movement is dangerous because it wants to end capitalism and replace it with who-knows-what, we're told that's not true, because no one actually wants to end capitalism. Reason is not their strong suit, it would seem.)
If the Democrats run on this platform, conservatives will sweep to historic victories in 2012. Why? While few out here love Wall Street, and all of us recognize the rampant cronyism and corruption, the majority of Americans don't want to see their society fundamentally altered to resemble some quasi-socialistic utopian wet dream. And, if push comes to shove, we're going to side with the police and in favor of law and order, not chaos.
Do you really think the National Guard was created to "Sand Bag" during floods? No. It was created to protect the rich people when the "real class warfare" starts. And EVERYONE posting here will be on the same side. The "Poor" side. It's just that some people are too stupid to realise it yet.
Ho, hum, another predictably angry radical leftist rant from has-been, divisive writer. How surprising that she sides with a violent, street-defecating group of largely upper middle class white children with strong Anti-Semitic leanings.
Ah, Naomi.... No mention of the skein of anti-Semitism running through OWS. What's the matter? Self-loathing got your tongue?
Naomi Wolf is so left her eyeballs are blue like the people in "Dune". She is incapable of relating anything with any semblance of a balnced view. She has a completely underserved reputation. She is a farce.
We have an occupy movement in our city that is camping out with out a permit. Does it bother anyone else that some groups of citizens are made to obey the law, while others are allowed to break it? I fully support every Americans right to protest, but not to break the law. I called the mayors office to complain, but was told to email my complaint instead, that way their would be a public record (must have been conservative:)). If you feel that equal protection under the law is an important principle of American life, please email the mayor of your city and respectfully tell them you expect the same rules to apply to all people. Free speech – yes, lawlessness – no.
outstanding article.
i totally agree!
This is not the people versus the police. This is the weenieboy gamers and Obama's government cheesers, the 47% of Americans who pay absolutely NO income tax versus the 53% of us who pay our taxes.
Let's trade Obama's 47% government cheesers and their weenieboy gamer allies for some honest, hard working Mexicans who are willing to work, raise a family and pay their taxes!
Can we include all the corporations that don't pay any taxes too?
We should most definitely include the corporations that don't pay any taxes. Let's start with General Electric.
Did you know Jeffrey Immelt, Obozo's job czar, was GE's CEO? Did you know he shipped thousands of US jobs to China? Did you know that there are families tonight whose breadwinners are still unemployed because little Jeffey sent their jobs to China?
How's that hopey changey thing workin' out for ya now?
"...people around the world are not identifying and organizing themselves along national or religious lines, but rather in terms of a global consciousness..."
Sounds like a delusional state of mind, similar to that of the most leftist protesters around the late 60s and early 70s. They actually believed that the people of the US were ripe for revolution – all they needed was a little more "consciousness raising" and a spark to set them off. Probably the result of only talking to each other – plus a large helping of wishful thinking.
Around the world? I haven't heard of any protests in Asia – not any that have any kinship with OWS, anyway.
Not identifying and organizing themselves along national or religious lines? The future direction of the revolts in the Middle East (the most significant recent protests) is far from clear – the returns aren't in.
As for "global consciousness," can anyone even define what that means?
It's probably true that a (probably vast) majority of people in this country are angry and, at least partly, at the same people/organizations. I don't see any evidence that a majority share many, or even a few, of the OWS protesters aims, goals, or ideas (which still haven't been defined in any coherent way, though a general notion can be discerned).
Wishful thinking is one of the many enemies of reason – on the left, on the right, and anywhere in between.
" America’s politicians, it seems, have had their fill of democracy. " What, precisely is "democratic" about the OWS?
what we can curse on this post?
Wow.. I wrote a very good post but all that energy is gone. short but sweet. basically saying Steve Meme was full of S#*T – the people that are against this are millions world wide and obviously they're working on themselves if they're working to better the country – @Steve Meme
What sort of deluded fool calls this mob action 'democracy'?
Support the 88%!
Stop non-union job busting NOW!
This is all about the DO NOTHINGS versus the DOERS. The DO NOTHINGS simply want some of what the DOERS have DONE.
This is about the 53% of us who pay our incomes tax versus the 47% of Obama freeloader who pay NOTHING and want EVERYTHING!
it isn't about individuals that still have jobs vs the ones that don't. It is about the system that will evenutally take your jobs too.
About half my posts are getting displayed – I guess the censor is getting the others. So much for the liberal media...
The police aren't people too? Hey there just part of the 99%. Their the part of the 99% that get up and go to work, earn their way through life, and pay their taxes. The Author is part of the 10%. The ones that feel like the people who are productive should have to redistribute their wealth to those in the 10% who suckle off the government.
"...for the first time, people around the world are not identifying and organizing themselves along national or religious lines, but rather in terms of a global consciousness and demands for a peaceful life, a sustainable future, economic justice, and basic democracy."
How many people, Naomi? A hundred thousand? Less?? How many of the occupations have made friends with their neighbors or inspired others in meaningful numbers to join them? The answer to that is: none. They've become laughing stocks, objects of derision, public nuisances. As winter sets in, they will dwindle to a few stalwarts and the homeless and be looked upon as mere oddities.
Naomi Wolf, still ditzy after all these years.
This is a witless article written by an even more witless activist. This is a huge display of ignorance forever committed to the printed (albeit electronic) word.
They don't need the police to clear out these squatters. Just pass out handbills saying there's free weed two blocks down. Gone in sixty seconds!
Oh Naomi, you are just soooo controversial.
Occupation for the Hell of It.
naomi is an idiot, that's what she is. nothing more.
The last time I heard from this chick she was advising Al Gore that the way to win the Presidential election was to wear an "earth-tone" wardrobe.
Isn't Naomi Wolf the freak that Al Gore hired for $10,000 a month to teach him to be more "manly"? Just a sec ....
Why, yes she was! Google for "naomi wolf al gore campaign 2000", and you, too, can wonder how the "Al Gore Support Center" managed to be the first site listed.
The people vs. the STATE.
fixed it for you.
Occupy members;
Be kind to the police. Tell them kindly why you are concerned. Persuade them to help Occupy and use dialog to convince City Mayors and lawmakers to serve the interests of the people instead of those of Big Banks and Corporations. Bribery has corrupted our Governments- Banks and Corporations are bribing Mayors and congress people and police to oppose the people. Organize, find lawyers, sue cities for accepting bribes and deals from banks and corporations to oppress and ignore the complaints of the people. If the courts ignore the people. It's time for all people to come together and reestablish our Democracy.
OWS wants the same thing that Wall Street crooks want: The government to give them taxpayer money.
Peas in a pod.
I'm a taxpayer sets me apart from most corporations, your a taxpayer I assume if so sets you apart from most corporations. Hey did you hear the one about the ceo who receive a 100 million dollar severance package, that equates to an hourly salary of $1600 per hour for 30 years what a joke.Oh wait it wasn't a joke happened just the other day. Yet you take the time to complain about the only people with the backbone to stand up against corporate abuses. Seems like your priorities are a little mixed up. By the way I wonder if he'll pay any taxes on this package probably not the accountant will fix that Occupy -General Strike
Still the fact remains it's not your money and none of your d**n business. He will have to pay taxes on it, if he doesn't or refuses to then there is an 85% chance he's a democrat. By the way, nice class warfare and hate speech.
Occupy-General Strike
This piece was propaganda from start to finish. You lament the brutality of the police but seem to forget the bottles hurled and the police. Perhaps you didn't notice the paint spattered helmets of the riot cops. What about the officers pushed to the ground and the squad cars vandalised. Is that part of your ideal "democracy"?
OWS has made some valid points, as middle class America shrinks so follows the changing values. The President is already promising to help the college students. I believe the Democrats are the best hope for the OWS movement. The GOP and Tea Bag parties have also made it clear where they stand. If it continues to hold firm the OWS movement can change the face of the 2012 elections.
Here is Austin, somehow, OWS believes it is their "just right" to cause the city a few $$million in extra cleaning, extra police, extra city services-ALL in the name of free speech. This is a city that was $30 million "in the hole" for last year's budget. Also, OWS has proven itself to be just as greedy and UGLY and anyone else: they want to police to "shoo off" the homeless that want their food and shelters and all the other goodies the city is doling out to these LOSERS! There is nothing patriotic about OWS--they are chronic lazy complainers demanding "something free forever"; they absolutely SHUN working and earning their way
The LOWSers at the methadone soup line in NYC (aka Zuccotti Park) are getting lucky with this great weather. There you go, some free sunshine.
Mr. Dobolino, Mr. Bob Dobolino ZILCH!
I grew up watching the Monkees.
Is this author really serious? Or was this cut and paste from the Onion. These “peaceful protestors” that’s the author speaks of are the same ones defecating in public, burning police cars, throwing bottles, looting, starting brawls, but its ok, its in the name of some lame hippy movement so anything to counteract that MUST be facist and “police state” right?
what a bunch of morons. These are just a bunch of spoiled brats who never worked a day in there life and they reason why they have no job is because they have no interest in ever working.
Btw you want to talk about greed? These OWS hippies are the definition of greed. They want something without actually working for it. Maybe they should protest themselves.
anyone who supports the OWS is a complete moron. Period.
also, forgot to add. If this country wasnt as "free" as you claim it to be. do you really think you would have been a. released or b. allowed to post your experiences online? Get a life loser!
Well said, steve!
I hope any middle class liberals will come to realize that class war is ALWAYS war on the middle class.
"The way to crush the (middle class) is to grind them between the millstones of taxation and inflation" V.A. Lenin
Sound familiar?
The people versus the police? And just who are these "people"? Socialists? Communists? Anarchists? Anti-semites Neo-Nazis?
Idiots all.
obviously there are people here who have not been affected adversly in these last few years...i guess they dont see the copramerica is the true leader....blame obama lol even though he did nothing to put us in this position...hell why no go pull ol G dubyah out of his hole along with his cronies???.....ask clinton what happend during his last term!!!!!......me personal i believe that thru physical force we will take our country back otherwise we in for one bumpy ride!!!!.....i say every person who is involved in seedy dealing which affects your monetary value and your freedoms be physicall removed from their office and forced to answer to the people....its more of us than them so why are they still in charge??????? 2000 should have told you something....this aint yo damn country your just a renter with dreams of ownership.......i say go ows
OCCUPY WALL STREET is stupid. Compared to the rest of the world, they are the 1%....
2012, YEAR OF TAX REVOLUTION. Interest rates are insignificant. Everyone start keeping putting aside some cash reserves. On January 1st, 2012, start the tax revolt. All those who believe we need a new government just keep filing tax forms and returns, but do not submit the money, or only a very small portion of it. Yes, this will incur monetary penalties if the revolt fails. The governments are already on the edge and cannot sustain this situation for a long time. And I doubt the top 1% will bail it out.
Everybody keep doing this until the government fails. And watch how the reacts. This is not treason. This is a tax revolt.
That actually sounds like a good idea. But most won't do it. Manipulated by the government or well to scared to lose all they have.
It's been tried before, but it doesn't work too well.
Ask Wesley Snipes.
I agree.. America is broken and needs to be fixed
We'll fix it next November.
Nobama 2012.
End the malaise.
Get the people off the sidewalks and into the private sector.
HOW CAN WE ATTACK IRAN- part 1 of 10 parts.
I USE USA FORCES IN AFGHANISTAN INCREASE THE JETS FIGHTERS IN THAT SIDE.
2- KEEP SOME GOOD FORCE IN IRAQ AND KUWAIT TO DEAL WITH THE SHIIA THUGS WHO WILL SUPPORT IRAN FORM the Iraqi evil government side.
3- keep tanks and jets in Kuwait
4- improve the bases in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and uae
5- ask Qatar to not help or involve with Iran
6- increase USA sea base and naval strength in Bahrain
7-prepare the submarines in the red sea, Mideastern sea, and the Arabian sea
8- close down the straight of hermoze and increase inspections on Iranians boat and ships
9- keep forces in Turkmenistan north of Iran ,and the turkey borders.
10-keep economic bloc-aid
11- attack with multi nations France, Germany, Italy, holand, and UK ,use every thing you got to finish the mission
12-help with money and arms the resistant ( KURDS, ARABESTAN, LOURS, TURKS, BAHA'I, PERSIANS, BELOOSH, SUNNIS , CHRISTENS , ASSYRIANS GROUP AND MUJAHEDIN KHLAQ FIGHTERS ) use every means of propaganda TV, radios, news and secret short wave radios to teach the masses what to do and where to get weapon and money and how to attack the enemy and destroy the enemy war machine and infrastructures,
13- use virus to attack Iran computers and army computers, destroy their satellites, command and controls, nooks sites,
and attack QUM as the mullahs will hide at their shrines and use it to make fatwas .
14- freeze all Iran assets, stop them from immigrations or coming here as most are using USA and Canada to send money to Hezbollah and Iraqi thugs, stop Ahmad AL jalabi and arrest him as he is one of Iran spies
15-help Dr ayad alawi to take over Iraq as he won the election but Iran put AL maleki instead, Al maleki pretend he is with USA but he is a lire,
16 control the Iran Iraqi boarder and Syria Iraq border by using drones so no shiia can cross to Iran from Iraq and Syria
17- Iraqi kurds can help from north Iraq, the Sunni can help from west Iraq and the resistant can attack from inside Iran
18-Israel can take care of Hezbollah and leash hell if those terrorists Hezbollah attack Israel , that's why we must get red of Syrian regimes now to cut Iran arms before attacking Iran
I will write part 2 in detail on how we can do it .
في حرب الخليج الأولى وبعد دخول العراق الكويت ومجيء القوات الأمريكية للخليج العربي عام 1990، انقسم الشارع الإسلامي انقساما حادا حول الموقف السياسي من الوضع الجديد، وتبعه انقسام بشكل أقل بين النخب القومية والعلمانية والليبرالية، ولكن انقساما جديدا أخذ منحى آخر بعد عام 2003 بعد إسقاط النظام العراقي من قبل أمريكا وبريطانيا، وإحلال حكومة البعث العراقية بحكومة تحكمها الأحزاب الشيعية الدينية العراقية، والتي تملك قسطا من الولاء لإيران، ولم يكن تأثير الاحتلال على العراق فحسب، بل أدى الاحتلال إلى بروز عدة ظواهر جديدة طالت التيار الإسلامي والنخب القومية في الدول العربية والإسلامية بل طالت هذه المرة إيران نفسها.
فقد ظهر التشيع على السطح من خلال الفضائيات الشيعية([1])، وكشفت محاولات نشر التشيع والتغول الإيراني الواضحة في الدول العربية والإسلامية والأفريقية والآسيوية، وتبين قيام الأحزاب الدينية الشيعية في العراق بالتعاون مع المحتل الأمريكي من أجل تصفية السنة في العراق بالقتل والتهجير، ومحاولاتهم تغيير ديمغرافية العراق عامة، وبغداد بشكل خاص، مما أدى إلى ردة فعل عند عدد من الدول والنخب العربية والإسلامية ضد إيران والتشيع.
لكن حرب حزب الله مع إسرائيل سنة 2006 أوجدت مناخا مغايرا لمناخ سقوط العراق وربما ظهر نوع من التعاطف مع التشيع وإيران من جديد، ومن ثم جاء إعدام صدام حسين فأوجد حالة معاكسة، وهكذا أنتجت هذه التفاعلات والتغيرات والمواقف مناخات متغيرة وسريعة التقلب بناء على التفكير السطحي الساذج، كالجدل بين أبناء الأمة في المواقع الألكترونية، وفي الندوات الخاصة والعامة، فالعراقي يلوم الفلسطيني على علاقاته بإيران، وهي تساهم في قتل العراق والعراقي، والفلسطيني يرى أن العراقيين خُدعوا عندما نسوا العدو الأكبر: إسرائيل وأمريكا!
وآخر يقول: إن أمريكا خُدعت وغُرر بها عندما صنعت من إيران عدوا وهميا، وعراقيون يختلفون بينهم أيهما أشد عداء: أمريكا أم إيران؟ والنقاش حول حزب الله في حرب تموز سنة 2006، والنقاش حول حزب الله هل هو عدو أم بطل الأمة المقاوم؟ وهل إيران هي العدو أم التشيع؟ وهل العرب الشيعة مخلصون لأوطانهم وأنهم جزء من الأمة وأنهم لا يتبعون إيران؟!
ولا بد من دراسة علمية لفهم هذا التغاير في المواقف مع تغيرات الأحداث؟ وكيف نفرق بين الأعداء المتغيرين والأعداء الثابتين؟
هذا المقال يهدف لفهم بعض هذا التغاير والتذبذب في المواقف من أعداء الأمة.
أعداء الأمة الإسلامية بعد سقوط الخلافة العثمانية:
بعد سقوط الخلافة العثمانية سنة 1924م اضطربت الأمة العربية والإسلامية وأصبحت دويلات متفرقة تحت وصاية استعمارية؛ ولم تعد الأمة العربية ولا الإسلامية أمة واحدة بل دويلات متفرقة، محتلة من قبل الروس والانكليز والفرنسيين والإيطاليين والإسبان وغيرهم، وشرعت الدول العربية والإسلامية في مرحلة التخلص من ربقة الاستعمار([2])، وكان هذا منذ بداية القرن العشرين إلى بداية الستينيات من نفس القرن، وكان عدو الأمة يومها واضحا وهو الدول الاستعمارية المحتلة. ورغم أن الإسلاميين هم المشاركون الأوائل في حركات التحرير، إلا أن الدول العربية بعد التحرر دخلت في المشروع القومي العربي، وتبنّت أكثر الدول منهجاً علمانياً سواء كان منهجا اشتراكيا يساريا قوميا أو ليبراليا غربياً، وشهد العالم الإسلامي والعربي حركة نشطة ضد الإسلام وحضارته بنشر الماركسية أو الرأسمالية، بل ومحاربة الهوية الإسلامية نفسها.
أما في فلسطين بالذات فإن احتلالها بعد نكبة 1948م من قبل اليهود الصهاينة، ومن ثم حرب 1967م جعلت الكل من حكومات وتوجهات إسلامية وقومية تعتبر القضية الفلسطينية القضية المركزية للأمة العربية، وكان هذا شعار الستينيات والسبعينيات بل حتى الثمانينيات، وأصبح أعداء الأمة هم اليهود ومن يساندهم كأمريكا وبعض الدول الغربية؛ كفرنسا وبريطانيا.
في عام 1979 احتل الاتحاد السوفياتي أفغانستان([3])، وأصبح هناك حركة إسلامية جهادية دُعمت من بعض الدول العربية والإسلامية، وتحول جزء من بوصلة العداء إلى الروس- الاسم الحقيقي للاتحاد السوفياتي- كعدو جديد، إلا أن التيار القومي العربي رفض هذا العداء، وذلك بسبب علاقات التبعية للاتحاد السوفيتي؛ كما زاد العداء للروس بعد أحداث الشيشان عام 1991، ودعم الروس للصرب ضد مسلمي البوسنة والهرسك سنة 1992.
وفي عام 1979م أيضاً هناك حدث مهم؛ وهو سقوط شاه إيران وبداية حكومة آية الله خميني الشيعية الإمامية، وبعدها اندلاع الحرب العراقية الإيرانية بين سنتي 1980 – 1988، مما ولد وعياً جديدا عند فئة قليلة إسلامية وقومية عن بروز عدو جديد للأمة وهو إيران الشيعية وسُمي العراق يومها من أجل ذلك بالبوابة الشرقية للأمة العربية، ولكن هذا العدو لم يتنبه له جمهور الأمة.
لكن دخول العراق للكويت سنة 1990 جعل الأوراق تختلط من جديد، فسقط الفكر القومي وفكرة الوحدة العربية، وذهلت الأمة العربية وتفرقت وتمزقت على مستوى الفكر والسلوك، وحصل ما ذكرناه في مقدمة هذا المقال.
نستطيع تلخيص أعداء الأمة بما يلي:
1- الدول الاستعمارية مثل روسيا، بريطانيا، فرنسا، إيطاليا، وغيرها من دول أوروبا ممن استعمروا الأمة في نهايات القرن التاسع عشر الميلادي وبدايات القرن العشرين.
2- اليهود الصهاينة.
3- أمريكا بسبب دعمها لإسرائيل.
3- الاتحاد السوفياتي (روسيا فيما بعد).
4- إيران.
5- أعداء محدودو التأثير؛ كأثيوبيا للصومال، والهند لكشمير وباكستان.
الفكر اليساري والشيوعي وانتشاره في الأمة:
بعد الثورة البلشفية في روسيا سنة 1919 ظهر الفكر الشيوعي الذي أسسه كارل ماركس، رداً على الفكر الرأسمالي والإمبريالية العالمية، كانت هذه الأفكار وليدة مشاكل وأزمات أوروبا، واستهوت عقول كثير من النخب والمثقفين من المنهزمين من أبناء العرب والمسلمين رغم اختلاف الظروف، ومع سقوط الدولة العثمانية المريضة سنة 1924م، وظهور حركات التحرر من الاستعمار قدمت الأحزاب الشيوعية نفسها على أنها حركات تحرر، وركبت موجة الفكر العروبي حتى لم يعد عروبيا بل قوميا نتيجة تزاوج اليسار بالعروبة.
لذلك ظهر حزب البعث والناصرية وغيرهما من الأحزاب غير الشيوعية لكنها تبنت الفكر اليساري كمنهج، وأصبح الفكر الاشتراكي اليساري هدفا لكل مثقف متنور!! حتى تأثر بعض الإسلاميين وبعض الحركات بجزء من هذا الفكر، ولأن الغرب وأمريكا يمثل العدو الأول للفكر اليساري والشيوعي، فقد عملت هذه الموجة على توجيه العداء كل العداء فقط نحو الغرب وأمريكا (الإمبريالية) مع إسرائيل المحتلة لفلسطين وبعض الأراضي العربية، واستثناء روسيا ومَن شايعها من التصنيف كعدو أبدي، وفي حالات كعدو ثانوي!!
ساعد على انتشار هذا التفكير حتى عند بعض الإسلاميين أن كثيرا من الدول العربية حكمها الفكر اليساري والشيوعي والذي تمثل بظهور دكتاتوريات ترفض أي فكر آخر وتضطهد الفكر الإسلامي والحركات الإسلامية والتي وصفتها بأنها حركات رجعية تابعة للفكر الرأسمالي (وفق التفسير الماركسي للدين).
هذا الفكر السائد آنذاك – وليومنا هذا – حالَ بين الأمة وبين معرفة أعدائها بشكل حقيقي، وأن الأمة لا تواجه عدوا واحدا، بل عدة أعداء متفرقين ومختلفين كما أخبرنا النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم: "ستتداعى عليكم الأمم كما تتداعى الأكلة إلى قصعتها"، فهم أمم وليست أمة وأكلة وليس آكل واحد! وهكذا وقعنا في خطأ حصر العدو بجهة خارجية واحدة فقط، وخطأ التغاضي عن أعداء الداخل!!
حصوننا مهددة من الداخل:
داخل الأمة العربية والإسلامية – وفي كل أمة وليس أمتنا فحسب – توجد أفكار وجماعات وأقليات تساعد العدو على السيطرة على الأمة من داخلها وتُستغل من قبل الأعداء، وقد كانت هذه الأقليات والأفكار مدخلا للدول التي حاولت تقويض الدولة العثمانية في أيامها الأخيرة ونجحت في ذلك. إن موضوع الفرق الإسلامية كالشيعة والدروز والإسماعيلية، وموضوع القوميات والعرقيات (الإثنيات) من المواضيع التي يلعب بها الغرب وغيره لإضعاف الأمة.
ولمّا كان الشيعة الإثني عشرية (الإمامية) فرقة تملك في أدبياتها وأفكارها رغبة في حكم العالم بواسطة المهدي المنتظر، وعندها رغبة بالتبشير والانتشار مستخدمة كل الوسائل لذلك المشروعة منها وغير المشروعة، بخلاف بعض الأقليات والفرق المنغلقة التي لا تقبل التبشير والتوسع من خارجها مثل الدروز والإسماعيلية والبهرة، كان خطر الشيعة (الإمامية) أكبر وهو متجدد كلما سنحت لهم الفرصة.
إيران والتشيع:
وما ذكرناه ليس وليد القرون الأخيرة، بل هو شأن قديم؛ فإيران كانت دولة سنية قبل خمسة قرون، وقد حوّلها الصفويون التركمان إلى التشيع بالحديد والنار، وكذا منطقة جنوب العراق كانت سنية إلى ما قبل قرن ونصف، لذا فالتشيع الإمامي مرشحٌ دائماً ليكون خطرا داخليا في الأمة أكثر من غيره من الفرق، وتاريخ الشيعة قديما وحديثا يبين استعداد هذه الفرقة للتعاون مع أعداء الأمة الإسلامية والعربية، لضمان السيطرة عليها لمصلحتهم ومنفعتهم الخاصة.
فتعاون الفاطميين (وهم شيعة إسماعيلية) مع الصليبيين كان واضحا حتى أن صلاح الدين لم يستطع أن يحرر القدس إلا بعد أن قضى على الفاطميين في مصر، وكذا مساعدتهم في سقوط بغداد على يد التتر (من خلال خيانة الطوسي وابن العلقمي) سنة 656هـ، وكذا معاونتهم الصليبيين ضد السلاجقة في نهاية القرن الخامس الهجري.
وكانت إيران حتى قبل سيطرة التشيع عليها (الدولة الصفوية) من الدول التي ظهر فيها من يحمل حقدا لغياب حضارته الفارسية بعد فتح الصحابي الجليل سعد بن أبي وقاص بمعركة القادسية سنة 15هـ؛ لأن سقوط الدولة الساسانية لم يكن هينا وسهلا على أهلها، فقد بقي قسم من الفرس يحملون حنينا إلى الماضي وحقدا على العرب الفاتحين (لأنهم نظروا للعرب كشعب وليس لِما يحملونه من إسلام).
لذا تولدت في الدولة الأموية الحركة الشعوبية وظهرت بشكل جلي إبان الدولة العباسية الأولى، وعملت فكريا في أمة العرب والإسلام حقدا وتشويها ودسّا وتفريقا، لكن مع مرور الزمن ضعفت هذه الروح (الشعوبية) لكنها بقيت جمرا تحت الرماد، ومع ظهور الدولة الصفوية (907 هـ/ 1502م) اجتمع في إيران شر الشعوبية القومي مع شر التشيع، هذا المزيج أظهر مكنون التشيع الحقيقي وهو التشيع الصفوي الحاقد.
وهنا فُصلت إيران من جسد الأمة، فأصبحت خنجرا في شرق الأمة الإسلامية يقسمها جغرافياً، ويكيد لها، تعاونت إيران الجديدة المتشيعة مع الاستعمار البرتغالي ضد المسلمين العثمانيين، ومع الفرنسيين ومع الإنكليز ومع الروس، وفي بداية هذا القرن ضعف التوجه الشيعي ليظهر آل رضا بهلوي بتوجه علماني قومي يحمل حقدا قوميا على العرب، وكان بهلوي يخطط لانتشار امبراطوريته فسرق أرض الأحواز من العرب بالتعاون مع الإنكليز ليضمها لإيران.
وقد كانت وصية (رضا بهلوي) لابنه (الشاه محمد رضا) هي مطالبته بالهيمنة الإيرانية المباشرة على الضفة الشرقية العربية من الخليج العربي فقد ذكر رضا شاه في وصيته: (لقد حررت الشاطىء الشرقي للخليج من العرب وعليك أن تحرر الشاطىء الغربي)!!
وفي الهند تعاون الشيعة مع السيخ والهندوس والإنكليز ضد المسلمين، وتعاونوا مع إسرائيل والنصارى في لبنان ضد الفلسطينيين في الثمانينيات من القرن الفائت.
وأخيرا توّجوا هذا كله: بتعاون إيران الخمينية مع أمريكا ضد أفغانستان والعراق بعد أحداث 11 سبتمبر 2001.
هذا هو تاريخهم قديما وحديثا فهل هؤلاء إخوان في الداخل أم أعداء؟! الإجابة متروكة لكم.
نعم.. إن جبهتنا الداخلية مهددة من الداخل، وفيها مواطن للضعف تؤهل العدو لاختراقها، وهذا العدو الداخلي لم تحسب له النخب العربية والإسلامية أي حساب مع الأسف؛ لأنهم لم يطالعوا التاريخ بجدية، ونسوا قول الله تعالى: (قل سيروا في الأرض..) فلم نقرأ ولم نسبر تاريخنا وحضارتنا، والتاريخ يعيد نفسه؛ لأن الآخر لا يتعظ بالأول لذا هو يعيد نفسه، وقد غيب بعضنا – مع الأسف – مخاطر هؤلاء بجهل أو تجاهل أحيانا، مرة بدعوى وحدة الأمة الإسلامية! ومرة بحجة: أن شيعة اليوم غير شيعة الأمس! ومرة بأن النعرات الطائفية تخدم إسرائيل! ومرة بدعوى الوطنية والقومية ولمّ شمل الأمة! وهكذا استفحل خطر التشيع وهاهم اليوم يقتلوننا في العراق، وسوريا، والبحرين، وفي إيران (سنة وشيعة) بسبب جهل وسذاجة نخبنا!!
ما هي الأسباب وراء جهل الأمة بالتشيع والخطر الإيراني:
هذه الغفلة تجاه اعتبار إيران في خانة الأعداء مردّها – حسب وجهة نظر الباحث- إلى أربعة أشياء أساسية:
الأول: الخطر الإيراني لا يدركه إلا من عايشه وكابده وذاق بعضا من مرارته وويلاته، وأدرك شيئا من مخططاته ؛ مثل الدول المجاورة لإيران كالعراق ودول الخليج. ومع هذا لم يُتحسس للخطر إلايراني- بشكل جلي- إلا في السنين الأخيرة من القرن العشرين، أما في بداية القرن العشرين فقد استشعر بعض أصحاب التوجه القومي والعروبي هذا الخطر مركّزين على الجانب الشعوبي في إيران مهملين الدور الديني، وشاركهم في ذلك الإهمال غالب الإسلاميين في بداية القرن العشرين لأنهم اعتبروا الكلام على إيران يحمل نزعة قومية مرفوضة، والتكلم على التشيع فيه تفريق للأمة. لذا كان بعض القوميين هم الذين يركزون على الخطر الشعوبي لإيران.
الثاني: خلو كتابات المنظرين المصريين سواء كانوا علمانيين أو وطنيين أو إسلاميين من أي تحذير من الخطر الإيراني، ومعلوم أن مصر في بداية القرن العشرين كانت هي رائدة وقائدة الوطن العربي والإسلامي في كل المجالات؛ ولأن مصر بعيدة عن إيران والتشيع لم يكن هناك شعور أو تدقيق بهذا الخطر، والأدهى من ذلك هو أن حركة التقريب المخادعة بين السنة والشيعة ظهرت في مصر، وهذا ما زاد الطين بِلّة.
وعلى هذه الغفلة بهذا الخطر والانخداع بالتقريب بين السنة والشيعة سارت الدعوات الدينية السنية خلف الفكر المصري، والذي ساهم بشكل واضح في تغييب الخطر الشيعي والإيراني، فالفرد العراقي مثلا أو الخليجي من الإخوان أو حزب التحرير يقرأ أدبيات مصرية لا تحتوي شيئا عن التشيع، وكذا اليمني والسوري أو في المغرب العربي وغيرها، ولعلي أحمّل حركة الإخوان المسلمين مسؤولية المشاركة الفكرية في تجهيل الأمة بهذا الخطر؛ لأنّ أدبيات حركة الإخوان أصولها مصرية 100%.
وبسبب هذه الغفلة لا تجد في كتابات المصريين المحذرة من الأخطار الداخلية والخارجية للأمة ذكرا للتشيع أو إيران، لا من قريب ولا من بعيد؛ فهذه كتابات الكاتب الرائع محمد محمد حسين صاحب كتاب "حصوننا مهددة من الداخل" وبقية كتبه لا تشير إلى خطر التشيع، ولا كتابات المفكر الإسلامي أنور الجندي، ولا الشامي عبد الرحمن حبنّكة في "أجنحة المكر الثلاثة" وغيرها من كتب الفكر الإسلامي. والغريب أن مفكرى جماعة الإخوان المسلمين العراقيين مثل محمد أحمد الراشد (عبد المنعم صالح العلي) الذين يعايشون الخطر الشيعي غاب ذكر التشيع وإيران عن تنظيراتهم للأمة؟! فما بالك بغيرهم!
والسبب في رأيي هو المنهج الإخوانى المصري الذي جعل من التبشير، والعلمانية، والشيوعية خطراً داهما، وأغفل وتغافل عن خطر التشيع وإيران، برغم أن محمد رشيد رضا ومحب الدين الخطيب اللذين يُعدان من قدوات حسن البنا، مؤسس جماعة الإخوان، حذّرا من التشيع بقوة كما حذرا من التنصير والعلمانية والصهيونية، فلماذا تم الاقتصار على بعض تحذيراتهما؟؟
الثالث: ربما كان عذر الجميع (دولا وحركات، إسلاميين وقوميين) أن الحركات الشيعية وإيران لم تبرز خطرها بشكل واضح إلا بعد ظهور ثورة خميني سنة 1979، وهذا مقبول نوعا ما، لكن ما بالهم لليوم حائرون، وقد فُضحت أفعال إيران بلبنان والعراق وسوريا؟
وما بالهم لم يتعظوا بما فعله حافظ أسد بالإخوان في أحداث حماة سنة 1980؟
ومن قبل ذلك اجتثاث السنة من الجيش والأماكن الحساسة بالدولة السورية منذ الستينيات والسبعينيات؟ وكذا التيار القومي البعثي وغيره لا يزال مدافعا منافحا عن النظام السوري الذي يستحي أي منتم للإنسانية أن يدافع عنه!
إن هذا الشعور المتأخر بالخطر الإيراني و الشيعي كان بسبب غباء وسذاجة أنظمتنا ونخبنا، فقد كانت الأحزاب الشيعية كحزب الدعوة وغيره في فترة السبعينيات والثمانينيات تعمل وتتحرك في الدول العربية بكل حرية، بل لقيت دعما من بعض الدول العربية، فهذه حكومة البعث الغبية في العراق دعمت الخميني لسنين لأنه كان ضد الشاه! والخميني أثناء وجوده في العراق دعم الشيعة في النجف وكربلاء، وخرجت آثاره في مدينة كركوك وتلعفر بعد ذلك، لكن حزب البعث لم يكترث لذلك ثم أصبح خميني أكبر أعداء العراق بعد سنة 1979م وهذا هو ضعف التصور القومي وقصر النظر.
وفي الكويت والبحرين والأردن كانت الأحزاب الشيعية تسرح وتمرح دون رقيب، وتؤسس للخلايا الشيعية، وتشكل دعائم اقتصادية لها وتستفيد لوجستياً وماليا من هذه الدول دون أن تتنبه لها هذه الدول، أما سوريا فقد كانت تدعم الخلايا الشيعية طوعا، لتشابه الأهداف بين النصيرية والإمامية. وحتى لو دققت في نشاطات الحوثيين لوجدتهم كانوا يؤسسون لوجودهم متنقلين بحرية في الدول العربية.
فهل كانت دولنا بأجهزتها الأمنية تعي ما يحصل في بلدانها؟ وهل في حركاتنا الإسلامية والقومية من أدرك الخطر الإيراني الشيعي مبكراً؟!
اليوم فقط عرفت كثير من الدول ما هو حجم الخطر الحقيقي الذي يتهدد البلاد والعباد من إيران وخلاياها.
الرابع: أن كثيرا من التوجهات الإسلامية والقومية والعروبية ترفض توصيف التشيع وإيران أعداء للأمة مهما كلّف الأمر بحجة أن إيران مستهدفة من الغرب، وأنها جزء من العالم الإسلامي، كما أن كثيراً من المفكرين في العالم الإسلامي وبعد سقوط الخلافة سواء كانوا إسلاميين أو غير ذلك تأثروا بفكرة التحليل الأوروبي للتاريخ، فقاموا بتحليل التاريخ الإسلامي وفق إسقاط أفكار علمانية حديثة على تاريخنا؛ ومثال ذلك أنهم جعلوا الصراع العثماني الصفوي صراعا سياسيا وليس دينيا، وأن العداء بين السنة والشيعة من الأخطاء التاريخية التي مزقت الأمة، لذلك بدأ هؤلاء بإسقاط شخصيات عظيمة في التاريخ كالصحابي معاوية بن أبي سفيان رضي الله عنه، وذموا الدولتين الأموية والعباسية، بل وصل التهور ببعضهم إلى اعتبارهم أن الدول الإسلامية وحضارتها ليست إسلامية، باستثناء الخلافة الراشدة.
والحديث بتلك الطريقة من التفكير والتحليل الخاطىء مهّد لقضية إعادة النظر بقضية التشيع المعاصر وأنه لا فرق بين السنة والشيعة، وأننا جميعا مُستهدفون.
ثم كان ظهور الصراع الإسلامي العلماني، بين السنة الإسلاميين والشيعة مع العلمانيين، وقبل ذلك الصراع بين الإلحاد (الشيوعي) والإيمان (السني أو الشيعي) كانت هذه الأمور قواسم مشتركة ساعدت على تغييب الخطر الشيعي والإيرانى.
ورغم أن الوضع بمرور الزمن تغير إلا أن أقسى امتحان مرّ به العالم الإسلامي هو بعد قيام الثورة الخمينية فقد فرح المغفلون من هذه الأمة بها، ولم يقتصر الفرح على الإسلاميين فحسب بل سرت العدوى للقوميين والثوريين واليساريين.
لقد غاب وعي الأمة وقتها عن تاريخها، وكأننا أمة من غير حضارة، أمة جديدة من غير جذور، أمة تريد تجريب المجرب، وليس لأحد استعداد – إسلاميا كان أم قوميا أم يساريا- أن يسأل نفسه: ما هو تاريخ هذه الطائفة؟ ما هي مواقفها؟ ما هي إيجابياتها وسلبياتها؟
إنها فرقة كانت موجودة منذ أربعة عشر قرنا وبقيت ليومنا، فلماذا نغيّب أبناء الأمة عن تاريخ هذه الفرقة (الشيعة) أو (النصيرية)؟ هذا السؤال يحتاج إلى شجاع ليجيب عليه، لأن تجهيل الأمة بأعدائها ومخططاتهم أمر مأساوي، تقشعر منه الجلود والأبدان، ويؤشر على أزمة مزمنة وعقول لم تفق بعد من سكرتها.
لعل هذه الأسباب الأربعة الأساسية لتغييب الأمة عن فهم إيران والشيعة.
تنوع أعداء الأمة:
أمتنا اليوم أمة ممزقة بل هي أمم، والأمة تمزقت قديما بعد العصر العباسي الأول، ولكن ليس كمثل هذا التمزق الذي يشبه مرحلة عصر ملوك الطوائف في الأندلس، لذلك تنوع عدونا، وهذا ليس شيئا عجباً أو جديدا، فقد ذكر ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم في الحديث الصحيح (يوشك أن تداعى عليكم الأمم من كل أفقٍ كما تداعى الأكلة على قصعتها).
فأعداؤنا كثر والأمم متداعية على هذه الأمة، فتوحيد العدو أمر غير صحيح ولا واقعي شرعا أو قدرا، وقد فطن لهذا مفكرو الغرب فهذا (أرنولد توينبي) في كتابه "الإسلام والغرب والمستقبل" يقول: (إن الوحدة الإسلامية نائمة، ولكن يجب أن نضع في حسابنا أن النائم قد يستيقظ). وصدق فينا قول الشاعر:
أنى اتجهت إلى الإســــلام في بلـــدٍ تجده كالطيـر مقصوصـاًجناحــاهُ
نتائج حاول هذا المقال أن يؤصل لها:
أولا: أن أعداء الأمة كثر ومتعددون، والتعامل معهم ليس على طريقة واحدة، فالفلسطيني يرى أن لا عدو أشد من اليهود ومن يساندها للبقاء كأمريكا ومن ثم أوروبا، فهؤلاء عنده هم العدو الحقيقي، وصدق؛ لذا فهو يتعاون مع العالم كله من أجل قضيته.
والعراقي بعد الاحتلال يرى أن أمريكا وإيران هما العدوان، وأن إسرائيل اليوم ليست عدوته الأولى، وأنه عند الإنسحاب الأمريكي سيحول عداءه تجاه إيران ومن يساندها من الأحزاب الشيعية الدينية. وأنه كعراقي غير معني إلا بمن يدمر بلده، والسوري يرى أن النظام البعثي الدموي الطائفي النصيري (العلوي) هو العدو الأول، وكذا الليبي لا يرى عدوه الأول حاليا إلا نظام القذافي([4])، واليمني كذلك.
لهذا نرى أن مصلحة كل شعب ورؤيته مقدمة على غيره وهذا صحيح غير متناقض شريطة أن يعذر كل شخص سلوك الآخر ولا يناقضه أو ينقده أو يخالفه أو ينصر عدوا لإخوانه في بلد آخر، رغم أني أقول هذا مؤقتا ومرحليا حتى تعي الأمة (ودون اختلاف) الأعداء الحقيقيين لها.
ثانيا: أن أولويات فهم ترتيب الأعداء أمر مطلوب وقديم، ففي هذه الآيات (غُلِبَتِ الرُّومُ * فِي أَدْنَى الْأَرْضِ وَهُمْ مِنْ بَعْدِ غَلَبِهِمْ سَيَغْلِبُونَ * فِي بِضْعِ سِنِينَ لِلَّهِ الْأَمْرُ مِنْ قَبْلُ وَمِنْ بَعْدُ وَيَوْمَئِذٍ يَفْرَحُ الْمُؤْمِنُونَ * بِنَصْرِ اللَّهِ يَنْصُرُ مَنْ يَشَاءُ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الرَّحِيمُ) وموقف الصحابة في نصرة أهل الكتاب على الوثنيين منذ العهد المكي دليل على وعي الأمة المبكر بمعرفة ترتيب الأعداء، ودليل على أن المواقف تتغير زمانا ومكانا، فالشيوعي الملحد أشد عداء لنا من الأمريكي الكتابي؟ هذا هو المفروض، فهل فعلنا هذا أم صالحنا الروس ورمينا أمريكا وأوربا بكل أنواع العداء؟ واليوم أدرك العالم الإسلامي مقدار حقارة موقف الشيوعيين الروس والصين وشافيز (فنزويلا) وكوبا (كاسترو) بمساندتهم للقذافي والأسد!! وكذا موقفهم من صربيا في محاربة مسلمي البوسنة والهرسك.
ثالثا: كرامة وحرمة المسلم عظيمة، ودم المسلم في الدين شيء كبير، لذا فإن من ساهم بقتل أي مسلم من عدو داخلي أو خارجي فهو مجرم أيا كان توصيفه، وكلما كثر القتل زادت العداوة، لقد قتل الفرنسيون في الجزائر أكثر من مليون مسلم خلال مائة عام، ولكن إيران والتشيع وأمريكا قتلوا مثل ذلك في سبعة أعوام فقط، قتل اليهود من الفلسطينيين 150 ألفاً منذ الاحتلال لأرض فلسطين وخلال 80 عاما، ولكن القذافي قتل خمسين ألفا خلال ثمانية شهور، وقتل النظام النصيري في سوريا أكثر من ثلاثين ألفاً في مجزرة حماة سنة 1982، ثم يتعاون إخوان الأردن وحماس مع دولة الممانعة سوريا ونفس النظام ضد إسرائيل التي لم تقتل مثلهم، والسؤال أننا مع الأسف لا نزال لا نحترم دماء المسلمين. تتعاون حماس مع إيران من أجل قضية فلسطين، والشعب الفلسطيني في العراق تقتله (ميليشيات جيش المهدي وبدر) وفي لبنان تقتله (منظمة أمل) وهي تتبع إيران؟
والروس قتلوا مئات الملايين من مسلمي جمهوريات الاتحاد السوفياتي، ولكنهم لم يتحولوا إلى عدو إلا بعد احتلالها لأفغانستان، وكم قتلوا في أفغانستان؟ إن أمريكا قتلت أقل مما قتله الروس، لكن ما تزال أمريكا هي الشيطان الأكبر وأما روسيا فلا وألف لا؟
وفي الختام مطلوب منا أن نعيد تقييم الأعداء من جديد بعد الربيع العربي
yaba daba ali kazoo. achmetttttt pflemmmmm bakaka kudzu.
Ironic how the brutality is at it's worst in these liberal cities. The "anti-establishment" politicians who were once themselves beaten by police in the 1960s have felt the power rush, and it feels good. Now they're using the cops to beat down the very liberals who supported them.
Funny how the police didn't have the nerve to beat down the tea partiers. Must have had something to do with the police knowing the tea partiers aren't afraid to use the 2nd Amendment.
Rash statement from some one who can't spell.
Did anyone else see a similarity with Mitch. His full name was Mitch Wilkinson. The guy who assassinated Lincoln was John Wilkes Booth. Mitch was looking to give something to his family's name as well. But he had a lot of clues and artifacts from his family that just any historian would have found it hard to come by. I think there is much more behind Ben's lines of ,"You need the treasure. I know you do."Also as far as the Queen reference and wondering if that had anything to do with page 47. When Ben refers to the fact he read it in a book I don't think that was a reference to page 47. That was just the same information Mitch had in his letter. It was read on the same page as the pitcure of the wooden scripture from the desk stating of how the desks came to be and where and why the clues were hidden in them
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