Occupy LA, Raided

The big night-time raid on OccupyLA is still in the works. I have been watching the livestream for quite some time now, since I was unable to sleep. The occupiers were up in the trees, so the authorities brought out the cherry picker to somewhat safely retrieve people from the trees, before arresting them. The mayor of LA is about to speak on the livestream. It is quite a scene in LA this morning. The Mayor is commending the Police Force as professionals doing their job to what is obviously with his approval. I always wonder what the imperative is causing this reaction to Occupy, over time. Peaceful demonstrators intend to express their thoughts, as is guaranteed supposedly by the Bill of Rights. Well the statements were spoken, it was brief. I guess that is the conclusion of the Raid on OccupyLA. And maybe not, as there are still protesters in the trees. Now the LAPD is bringing in the barricades to seal off the area for future, which will exclude people from the area. Kind of weird.

OccupyOakland, did take back and occupy Oscar Grant Plaza, at the corner of 14^th and Broadway on the 29^th. They erected a teepee, to be a symbol for the native culture that once lived. I personally can not understand the symbolism, though I don't need to.

West Coast Port Shutdown - December 12, 2011

The Next big, really really BIG, day of action for the Occupy Movement is planned for December 12. The plan is to shut down the entire west coast sea-ports to all shipping. Much in the same way that Occupy Oakland shut down the Port of Oakland on November 2, this day's action is organized to shut down the entire west coast in a like way, PEACEFULLY. The entire plan is sketched out in the following link here expressing the need and the cooperation between the Occupy movement and the various local and national labor unions representing the 99%.

Meanwhile, across the continent, Occupy Wall Street has filed a legal suit against the City of New York to be reimbursed for the books destroyed by the NYPD action that removed the people from Liberty Square in the early hours of November 15. The times are exciting.

Follow all the action around the globe by watching the Occupy Livestreams at occupystreams.org

Two other hot spots are Occupy Philadelphia and Occupy LA, both of whom are being contended upon by their local police to leave their respective occupy sites.

Tomorrow, November 29, Occupy Oakland is again going to re-take the Oscar Grant Plaza, establishing yet another Occupy at that location. See their statement on their occupyoakland.org website.

Still Recovering

I am still fighting the virus, and lack the energy to stay strongly informed about what is going on with Occupy Wall Street. Hopefully I will regain my strength and ability to strive in keeping up. Today I did find a very good article in The Nation.com on line edition. This article, written by William Greider will appear in December 12^th issue of "The Nation Magazine." I find the article to be worth the read, found here. I also found a video from November 12, held at "The New School in New York City," and sponsored by "The Nation Magazine. Included in the panel are: film maker Michael Moore; Occupy Wall Street organizer Patrick Bruner; member of the Applied Research Center and publisher, Rinku Sen; journalist, William Greider; and Author Activist, Naomi Klein. This conference was called "Occupy Everywhere: On the New Politics and Possibilities of the Movement Against Corporate Power." It is worth the time to see, or I considered that to be the case personally. The entire panel discussion is found here.

I believe the movement might be taking a short and well deserved recess. There are events planned, and so I believe the movement will again be gaining both strength and participation in the days to come.

WE
ARE
THE
99 %

Shall again ring out through the streets of the nation, because it is true!

Buy Nothing Days

Now for the 20^th Annual Event, please participate!

The image is a link to more information.

I remain feeling pretty wimpy from the virus that attacked my body. Turkey day alone.

Return from illness

The old-school militaristic tactics of violence, used by "authoritarian powers" that be, are lending assistance to the Occupy movement. The idea can not be removed from the psychology and their repression can only further bring more of the awakened to show up

Mayor Jean Quan of Oakland CA. admitted in the BBC to participation in a conference call with the leaders of 18 other cities having similar movements with in their bounds. They are joining to talk up tactics to use that may squash the movement, removing what they see as harmful segments of society from the streets. This is conspiracy in a form to circumvent the constitutional rights of the citizens whom possess the audacity to speak out against inequality, corruption, and injustice.

Out of Commission, Ill

Yuck, Cough, Sneeze, Spit.
I hope to be back with it soon, no energy.

Watching the Visual Friction

I've been out of it for several days, unable to participate in any contact with the Occupy movement. Tonight I checked in (viewing livestream occupynyc). Sadly I see there seems to be a serious divide being spoken of. I also heard talk of things so far outside what I would call near possible that it causes me to question the core of the movement as to, the big if of the staying power within the movement. Then still I had but a brief exposure tonight before the stream I was catching stopped. This leaves me in question, questioning my own understanding as well as my own hope. Time will tell the story, as I continue my wishful hope for a future of change. More later

The Patriot's Dream

It came to my attention through reading an article by Bill Moyers entitled "Our Politicians Are Money Launderers in the Trafficking of Power and Policy" on the website "Truth-out.org". I find Bill Moyers to be one of the most genuinely honest and compelling speakers of our day. His background has brought him to a profound understanding of American societies shaping which we all live today. He clearly understands why the occupy movement has sprung forth and shows an ability to articulate these reasons.

I too have a nearly innate understanding of the reasons for the movement, though my own definition is stated in the single word, "equality". It is the very lack of equality between the classes that has brought this diverse group of citizens out to the streets, for they themselves lack the same living opportunities that we are all taught in our schools and stated as being "attainable by all," through hard work. It has become clear that these supposed opportunities are in truth beyond the grasp of today's common human being living in the United States and beyond.

Bill Moyers closes out his speech by quoting an old song written by Arlo Guthrie. This song can be heard in this YouTube video, though the graphics of this video are very unpleasing to see, the audience can close their eyes and simply listen to the word as expressed by the original artist, YouTube

Patriot's Dream
words and music by Arlo Guthrie

Living now here but for fortune
Placed by fate's mysterious schemes
Who'd believe that we're the ones asked
To try to rekindle the patriot's dreams

Arise sweet destiny, time runs short
All of your patience has heard their retort
Hear us now for alone we can't seem
To try to rekindle the patriot's dreams

Can you hear the words being whispered
All along the American stream
Tyrants freed the just are imprisoned
Try to rekindle the patriot's dreams

Ah but perhaps too much is being asked of too few
You and your children with nothing to do
Hear us now for alone we can't seem
To try to rekindle the patriot's dreams

© 1976 by Arloco Music Inc (ASCAP)

I urge any readers truly interested "in the cause" to read the entire document presented by Bill Moyers in the Truth-out article rather than watching the speech as presented in the page's content. The text version provides some of the background supporting evidence that the actual given speech bypassed. I wish to thank Bill Moyers for his body of work and his dedication to the cause of the real American Dream because I believe, he is also one, living to rekindle the patriot's dream.

Mic Check --> Mic Check

I am watching the livestream this evening direct from the Port of Oakland as I write this. If I can prevent editing this out, you shall see these words, my nonsense scribblings!

There are some beautiful images coming through of smiling faces and road art (chalk on pavement). In the moment there are wonderful interviews of but a few of the individuals participating in the large protest that effectively shut down the Port of Oakland. I personally remain unsure of what will eventually become of the current event as I watch its growth. The people are settling in, seated on the pavement as though they have full intention of staying at and occupying the Port, keeping it closed.

The people of Oakland are incredible in the way they came together today. They remain in peace, making a statement that the numbers within the 99% are 99% greater than those of the 1%. That the 99% can actually stand in solidarity to bring change by their ability to halt the productivity that generates the cash-flow of the greedy.

Slogan of the day, "What kind of pie. Occupy!"

The Day of Shutdown, Oakland

I have had nothing to say of the movement lately. I continue finding it very interesting. Oakland California's Occupy Oakland is on course to make a potential statement that will be noticed by the real world today, November 2. For those who may still be uninformed about what is happening in Oakland, there is a half hour plus in length presentation/press conference I believe from Monday, that explains the plan as developed by the Oakland General Assembly

I can only express my own solidarity with the citizens who demonstrate their disapproval in and with the system. Stay strong and remember to keep it peaceful!

Compare This Hypocrisy

The official United States policy doesn't pass the hypocrisy test. It is self evident if one is to look at the specific details surrounding international relations between various parts of the world and the resource extraction favorable to the U.S. corporate owners. The following is a small yet barely detailed glimpse at the two disparaging positions exhibits of this hypocrisy that occurred in separate places on the same day. Both are said to demonstrate the same morality, though the to positions fail in standing beside one another as equal.

Obama on Leno: October 25, 2011
of Gaddafi, "this is somebody who for forty years, had terrorized his country, uh, had supported terrorism, and he had an opportunity during the Arab spring to finally let loose of his grip on power and peacefully transition to democracy, and we gave him ample opportunity and he wouldn't do it and obviously you never want to see anybody come to the kind of end that he did. But I think it, uh, send a strong message around the world to dictators, people long to be free and ah they need to respect the human rights and the universal aspirations of people."
The U.S official position:
Support for the dictatorial government of Yemen
Support for the dictatorial government of Saudi Arabia
Support for the dictatorial government of Bahrain
Support for the dictatorial government of Egypt pre 2011 revolution.
(There is no clear understanding of current U.S. position as to Egypt, post revolution)

Meanwhile at the United Nations, October 25, 2011, The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly voted to condemn the U.S. for its continued embargo of the island nation of Cuba. In defense of the U.S. position, Ronald Godard, U.S. Senior Adviser, Western and Eastern Affairs stated, "For yet another year, this assembly is taking up a resolution designed to confuse and obscure. But let there be no confusion about this. The United States, like most member states, reaffirms its strong commitment to supporting the right and the heartfelt desire of the Cuban people to freely determine their future. And let there be no obscuring that the Cuban regime has deprived them of this right for more than half a century."

Any analysis of the two individual position statements can only reveal the discord between them individually. The U.S. condemns Cuba for the very conditions it supports in Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and potentially Egypt. The difference is, well, there is no actual difference between these dictatorial governments worthy of differentiation. Authoritarian dictatorial governments suppress human rights equally. Though the U.S. gains wealth, and geographic influence through the countries it supports, while condemning those it has nothing to exploit.

In meantime, on the streets of the United States, the people are now unable to gain for themselves what our President intended to highlight as an ability to a right to determine one's own future. The people attempt to assert their 1^st amendment right and are met by tear gas, concussion grenades, rubber bullets, clubs and disallowed to freely take part in peaceful demonstrations on the streets. The warped officials serving out their sworn duty to enforce and protect the laws, and the public, continually show their selves as servants of inequality rather than equality, in spite of their actions being unconstitutional in themselves.

Scott Olson, victim of the police state brutality and the above stated unjust, unconstitutional behavior is now in a medically induce coma in an effort to save his life. The police stand <20 feet away and offer no help to the man they shot in the head with what was likely a tear-gas canister. As other people attempted to provide assistance, they were targeted by a concussion grenade thrown by police into the group attempting to give aid to the critically wounded man.

Yet our President can contend that the countries values as being supportive of the "need to respect the human rights and the universal aspirations of people."

I spent many hours today again reviewing the United States Constitution and its Bill of Rights, to bring the true words back into the forefront of my thought. I continually attempt to understand the legality of my own rights in the face of the current movement. It is good to re-enforce my own understanding with the clarity in that document. We must all stand together, as one within the 99% on the right side of the law, standing in peaceful contempt of our current corrupt system.

Cause of the Movement

Minute by minute the movement grows, as more people find themselves united with the cause. Most are united with the cause though they remain un-aware of the meaning in this cause. Eventually only 1 % of the people will realize their needs are separate from the needs of the 99 %. Although there are no "demand" set out by the movement, as in a list of conditions to be met before these people will go home, the bottom line need is that people in general, are not getting their basic human needs met, within the world's economic / monetary system as a whole. Stuff keeps happening that draws attention to the heart of the cause, raising awareness as the media carefully tries to manipulate the message that people see, little cracks are forming. The police violence is possibly the biggest uniting force for the cause, as they continue to take orders dished out by the power elite. Most people react to brutality. It hurts the consciousness of the human spirit, like a pin prick in the finger tip. Singularly it can be tolerated, though uncomfortable, collectively it causes outrage. Eventually the people will not stand for anything less than true human rights. The rights understood innately and spoken to in the Declaration of Independence as signed on July 4, 1776: ¹

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. ... "
These are the reasons that there are now demonstrations known as OccupyWallStreet and others names beginning with Occupy. It still holds true that we are endowed by our creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. More over these rights are inclusive of justice and equality for every human remaining able to suck air.

It has come to my attention that there are likely many people who have not seen or heard of the video shared on YouTube, of the former United States Marine in New York City ridiculing the NYPD for the injustice he knows to be true. An interview with the former US Marine Corps (USMC) Sargent, Shamar Thomas was posted today in this YouTube Video from an RT program. Shamar Thomas knows what it is to have these unalienable rights defended, as he served in the USMC in Iraq, as his Grandfather did in kind during WWII. I was also a member of the USMC in a time when it was not accepted amongst the general public as "the good cause", post Vietnam. I too understand what it is to see our rights tread upon, by our own law enforcement officers. It is a disdainful condition just knowing of their contemptible behavior.

For anyone who would like to see Shamar Thomas's interaction with the NYPD, here is the YouTube Video.

_____________
¹ - The complete text of the Declaration of Independence is at this link Declaration of Independence.

Horizontal With Hope

Happy Birthday Mom!
I have to say that hear, because I have no way to contact her in real life :(

On to the Movement, #OWS, a subject worthy of writing in a blog. As any readers may know, (of which I feel I may be the only one currently reading) I have been following the Occupy Wall Street movement pretty much since its inception. In late September I found and started watching the livestream from Liberty Plaza, NYC, where I became enthralled. Watching the General Assembly (GA) allowed me an understanding that does exhibit democracy at its best among the people participating. It is small scale democracy, though it is powerful as used by the movement. They use a system that is horizontal rather than having traditional leaders. That means that all decisions that effect others and the movement is done through a method of consensus, rather than attempting to manipulate and gain the approval of a leader or having a leader dictate any course of action. This method allows all individuals to have a voice. This is something that is missing in our current (USA) form of government. I could copy correspondence between myself and all of my current federal representatives, demonstrating, a total disconnect. Their responses are generally non-germane to the subjects that I write them about. It is as though, what I write is not even read. It seems like they use computer programs that filter for key words, so they respond to the key words with their party line from that, rather than really even attempting to understand the communication's content. In other words, they don't care. Thus my last response to one U.S. Senator, I had to call him on it, and actually said he is disgraceful. This then is a problem.

I am therefore even more drawn to the Occupy Wall Street movement. My voice is not heard by my representatives, causing me to feel left out. I, as all humans, have an internal need to feel accepted and heard. The need to be heard promotes an understanding of, clear, conscious, communication between individuals as the result of communication. Thus because of these kinds of examples, the people seek out a way to have these needs met causing the movement to grow. As it gains support it is continually morphing into something bigger. I want to say it is getting better, though of this I am yet to be convinced. I hear calls for leaders, from outside sources, yet I agree that leaderless has its own virtue. It is different to do it this way, and as we all should know change is slow. Change is a process. The process has known and coined parts as it develops. I can't seem to bring to mind the three (I think it is three) names. One of them is acceptance. Our society is not yet ready to hear that leaderless is even a viable option. Individuals are always resistant to change because as creatures of habit, our habits become ineffectual. We resist going to the unfamiliar that peals back the habits, the things which we have grown to trust in life. We tend to trust the leaders of our systems, what ever the system is, be it club, political group, tribal community , or family head. Breaking out of that habit is new, hard etc. In the pattern of change, it is and shall be slow. In this time of wanting "instant gratification", I hope those in the movement don't loose their will to keep up the fight. The fight is going to be slow. Democracy is also slow and messy. The old habits of retreat back to everyday life, with the known and dependable have the potential to come back as dominant.

I have hope in this movement, mostly because I lost hope in the old way. The old way is now a non-inclusive system. It leaves the 99% of us citizens feeling used for our money, without fair representation, and living where equality is but a meaningless word, rather than a way of life. We all need hope, just as we have need to feel heard and understood. Thus I intend to continue my participation in this blog, as an exercise of maybe sharing hope and or bringing another person into a better understanding of what the Occupy movement is all about. I will continue watching the livestream also. I watch it with the hope of its morphing into something bigger and better than it now is. I want to see it become a full-time quality vent of expression that supports the movement and its meaning. I want it to catch on to help promote the truth of the movement to, and for the 99%.

Trusting Monday For Change

Saturday night it looked like a police state at Time Square. I find it appalling when I see the police abuse their so called power, which in effect circumvents the laws of the land. In a country where the rule of law is supposed to prevail, their acts against freedom of movement is pretty blatantly wrong. They block off the streets telling the protesters to "stay on the sidewalks" then they themselves occupy the entire street, preventing all movement of private and commercial traffic.

There is no rational in keeping the streets free of pedestrian traffic if vehicles are not allowed. These are public streets. Again I hope someone brings this fact to the appropriate people in the legal system, maybe the National Lawyers Guild can take some action as to the unconstitutional behavior in the police state.

I heard something this morning that can help us all to spread the word and express personal solidarity with the movement. Make your own window sign to put in the window of your house, that says "I'm in the 99%" or "We're in the 99%", something like that! Personally since a window sign in my home could only be seen by me, I will have to make an outside sign to install by the roadside. Another chance to be artistic, while expressing my own solidarity with the OccupyWallStreet movement.

I believe the events of Saturday and Sunday confirmed this to be a movement. This movement has a lot more growth needed. I mean growth in numbers, as the message is clear, at least to me.

On another front, Dr. Cornel West was arrested yesterday for refusing to leave the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Building, in his stand of solidarity with the movement. Before he was arrested he spoke to the OccupyDC people. This talk can be seen on this YouTube Video. The man is outstanding, as a human working for the better good of all, through his teaching at Princeton University, in his speaking clearly to the people, in his writing of books, in his spirit!

175 arrested in Chicago over the weekend for participating in the Occupy Movement. This song is once again relevant Chicago, by Graham Nash Chicago again needs the support of the people in the cause of freedom, as does the rest of the world.

FYI The livestream team of #OWS is going to present an interview with Noam Chomsky supposedly about 5 PM EDT today.

Day Two, It's A Global Revolution

Yesterday I spent the entire day watching the global activities of protest on my computer screen. From across the planet, humans joined in solidarity with the movement to create a better society for all. Most of the mainstream media continues to rebuke the cause because their sponsors are the reason for the unity. They are dictated to by the 1 %. These 1 percenters are expressing the same kind of fear-mongering that brought about the War on Terror, the dismantling of the Constitution with the Patriot Act and an establishment of the Department of Homeland Security. Although, barring the potential for instating martial law across the world, the cat has been taken out of the bag. We all know cats can't be herded and now with so many cats and kitties occupying public places these few (1 %) are going to find they can feel the majority. Now the New York Times, a sort of quasi independent voice has somewhat crossed over. Yesterday they published a rather good article about the movement, Article.

Last night I spent a bit of time reviewing to myself the events I saw in the day which I had not previously written about with the intent of writing about what I knew for me to be highlights. Now I have mixed feelings as to taking that avenue because it is all done now, in history, in as in the past. I would rather be alive in the moment as to reviewing yesterday. There is opportunity for professionals to write up the stories of yesterday. I also know that the media group of #OCW are compiling good data in video form that can do a much more accurate job of expressing the events that occurred, as they are on the front lines, with their video feeds, cameras and qualified history tellers.

I do continue my own solidarity with the movement, because "We Are The 99%", deserving of a fair opportunity in equal human rights. I am gaining a better understanding of why, police brutality and unjustified behavior, is taking its place highly emphasized among #OWS's everywhere. It is because a majority in the police are acting as mindless puppets, acting without personal consciousness while dealing with their equal counterpart in our human society.

Here is a link to all the