Getting arrested can be expensive. If arrested, some people might not have money for bail. Some may be in contempt of court, because of this, and then spend more time in jail ? Bob Hart was among the attorneys assisting Occupy Columbus. For at least a few weeks, in October and November of ’11, the progressive establishment in Columbus took Occupy seriously enough to step forward with some funding, attorneys, and other resources. What happened ?
But whether I or we call what we’re participating in Occupy or something else, figuring out the various various details of doing civil disobedience seems a good idea.
What are the various components of public engagement positive social change requires? Folk with Occupy DC and Occupy Columbus at respective gatherings on streets and sidewalks called out to passengers-by and onlookers, “join us.” Relatively few of them did, as far as I could tell. Why didn’t they ? How much does Barbara Ehrenreich’s book Fear of Falling apply?
I intend to judge situations, not people, as I’ve said many times. That applies to socio-economic status. Joan S and Eugene B come to mind. They are at least solidly middle class or perhaps upper middle class. They use some of their money and other resources, including their time and energy, to support progressive causes.
As for the ‘fear of falling,’ coming to terms with that may involve in some cases, allowing it to happen as a way to divest one’s time and energy from ‘the system’ and invest into in social movements. But this process of coming to terms with that fear of falling could also involve using one’s material status and other resources to support ‘the movement’ for changing our social systems.
As for Occupy’s focus on the corporate abuse of power, in collusion, of course, with federal, state, and local governments, my guess is that corporate rule isn’t the only problem, though it’s a major one. Ecological crises would continue even without corporate rule, though those problems would–all else being equal—be more manageable.
But it might be the case that corporate rule is a major impediment to our world more eco-sustainable and just.
As for the general character of Occupy, it seems to be more fun, inclusive, creative and loving than the Tea Party. But it’s still important to note that our social movement, whether it’s called Occupy or something else, should be based on love. Anger, fear, jealousy, and hate can motivate us in the short term. But I suggest the longterm viability of a social movement can’t be based on them.
Our love for the world can give rise to an intense, enduring determination, whereby we persist amid adversity, seeing our way thru to our goals despite a long succession of short-term defeats, perhaps transgenerationally. It’s something we can do with humor and exuberant intelligence and creativity.
Would it be unfair to well-intentioned, grassroots parts of the Tea Party to say that basing a movement on love, instead of fear, anger, and hate is what might distinguish Occupy and its offshoots, on the one hand; from, on the other hand, the Tea Party ?:
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