Yesterday in class, we talked about when revolution is okay. A few days ago, I saw the picture at left, and I wanted to put it on google+ to add to the conversation. I went to find it online today, and along with it I found an article about Occupy Wall Street.
I missed a lot of the Occupy Wall Street movement while I was on my mission, so I did a little research. The reader will probably already know all of what I'm about to state, but I'm going to state it anyway. Occupy Wall Street started because of a Canadian-based magazine entitled, "Adbusters," which encouraged its readers to demand action against the financial crisis. Adbusters created a hashtag #OccupyWallStreet, and soon it was one of the most popular on Twitter. The protests encouraged online centered on Wall Street because in 2008 risky lending practices and mortgage-backed securities led to the Great Recession. On September 17, 2011, the first protest occrured in New York. It was originally supposed to take place 1 Chase Plaza, next to the "Charging Bull" sculpture, but police headed them off, so they relocated to Zuccotti Park. Occupy Wall Street's big slogan is "99%" due to the fact that 1% of the population receive most of the income.
As I've browsed and read several websites and articles about the movement, I'm struck by the fact that Occupy Wall Street is so very internet driven. One author pointed out that Occupy Wall Street is a very decentralized revolution; there is not one charismatic leader, but many voices adding their opinions on Twitter and blogs and all over the web. It's a perfect example of crowsourcing and open access as many people contribute their thoughts and participate in protests, even across the globe. Many nations have jumped on the "99%" slogan and have started their own Occupy Wall Street movements.
But this revolution is so decentralized that even the participants don't exactly agree on the aim of these protests. They want action but what kind of action? The link below leads to the "Declaration of the Occupation of New York City." While witty in that it mimics the Declaration of Independence and even borrows some of the language of that document, it doesn't state what the demands are.
The Declaration of Independence was just that: it declared independence. This document simply states what Occupy Wall Street doesn't like about the American economy, and then declares their right to protest. It never gives any suggestion of what should happen next. The participants in this movement want an improved America, which we all want, right? But what exactly do they want to happen?
The article where I found the quote at the top threateningly reminded the reader of the French Revolution, and also of the more recent Egyptian revolt. And, sadly, I'm afraid Occupy Wall Street reminds me more of the French Revolution than the American. It's disjointed, unorganized, and no one really knows what they want to happen. The goal is change, but the means of getting there hasn't been proposed. President Kennedy said, "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable," and perhaps that's true. In that case, Occupy Wall Street, make peaceful revolution possible. Present a real solution, don't restate the problem.
If you'd like to read the article I mentioned, here's the link:
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