A View of Occupy Wall Street (OWS) from across a lot of ocean (think east of wherever you are Stateside)

[Jon Quackenbush]

What kind of nation is it that spends far more to kill enemy combatants and Afghan and Iraqi civilians than it does to help its own citizens who live below the poverty line? What kind of nation is it that permits corporations to hold sick children hostage while their parents frantically bankrupt themselves to save their sons and daughters? What kind of nation is it that tosses its mentally ill onto urban heating grates? What kind of nation is it that abandons its unemployed while it loots its treasury on behalf of speculators? What kind of nation is it that ignores due process to torture and assassinate its own citizens? What kind of nation is it that refuses to halt the destruction of the ecosystem by the fossil fuel industry, dooming our children and our children’s children?

Chris Hedges is a liberal, proud of it and I just love him for that.  I find that I agree with almost everything that he says, and he has given me hope and drive that positive revolution is possible, attainable and within reach if we hold true to our convictions. 

The moment OWS is co-opted by the Democrats is the moment I just ship.

[Heather Smith]

Thanks for posting. I will read these, although I am falling into despair regarding the overwhelming hurdles we have as a people if we are to gain control of our political system again. Regarding, OWS…I see this as a chance to do something, the more of us that become engaged the better. If we don’t do it now…when will we?

[Heather Smith]

I know I am on occasion a frequent poster…but wanted to respond to something I hear again and again from people that don’t get OWS. I hear, “what good does it do to stand outside with a sign?”. The fact that people are willing to sleep in inclement weather, stand outside in the cold, be pepper sprayed and beaten…yes, this has happened for peacefully demonstrating is indicative of the crisis we are in. I have a friend that has joined our protest in our small Northern Idaho town whose mother asked how long the protests would go. She replied, “As long as it takes mom.” Her mom said, “It is going to get cold out there”.  It will get cold out there…and we will still stand out there. Our protest has representation of parents, students, children and the disabled. We do not camp out but do meet at the same time everyday, on Main Street…holding signs asking for justice from our government, asking for an end to the corporate funding in politics, asking that our fellow citizens at least LOOK at what is happening. We get the occasional nod of disapproval…the digs suggesting we are un American. Day in day out…we are out there…supposedly fools for wanting accountability. The fact that these topics are now talked about in the mainstream media say we have already made a positive impact. I would say to anyone that doesn’t feel the movement represents themselves…go down and represent yourself. That is the point…this movement is about all of us…and will become what we bring to it.

[Tanya Olson]

More later on OWS – but first….you took the job! I remember you trying to decide whether to take the leap or not….How is it going? Weren’t you supposed to report back about what your experience is working in China?

[Trace One]

agree with Tanya – landplanner – you are ‘somewhat east’ ??

How is the spitting and the air  pollution? If I cause enough trouble in my present job, I may see you out there!

tell, tell.how is China!!

[landplanner]

Hey Mr. William Davenport (a.k.a. Ayn Rand automotan or cretin) read any one of these great citations, get brain chemicals (or whatever other ones you take) and by all means respond !!

[Author]

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