I have been half asleep. Half asleep in the sense that I know we have been getting fucked, but still closing my eyes and ears and heart. I have been pretending it is not as bad as it is, buying into the barrage of propaganda, too busy to notice, too lazy to fight, too overwhelmed by it all to know where to start, too focused on a few key things to be bothered by the rest.
I live the personal is political, and in all sorts of individual ways act according to that theory. So what I eat, things I grow and make, where I spend my money, how I am of service, who I engage with, what I give, why I take the actions I take are all important to me. I'm a firm believer that it starts in my own backyard, figuratively and literally, so doing things that make a difference add up when we all do them, and that includes living by principles and valuing each other. These personal actions have grown and accumulated slowly over the years, to where I am now mostly aware of what impact my actions have on the world around me, and act responsibly towards it much of the time, but still have room to grow. It has seemed the best way to make a change for the better. And hopefully not get righteous about it in the process.
However, I have all but abandoned my collective activist spirit. Before Occupy, I can’t tell you the last time I was at a rally or in a march, protesting something. I think it was probably before the new millennium. I used to be very passionate and engaged in planet earth this, peace that, equality for all, making art and demonstrating those beliefs alongside others. I think I quit thinking any of that really made a difference, that resistance was futile, the tasks were too daunting, that my voice didn’t make much difference to the collective whole, and I should just hunker down and be conscientious in my personal day-to-day life. I protested in the past, but the feel good didn’t last. The loggers still cut down the redwoods; the Iraq war started up again; people had the audacity to not believe in climate change (or at least that humans had anything to do with it); homophobism, racism, classism, sexism (and all the other crappy -isms) still existed; addicts were still put in prison for having a disease; nuclear arms were still traded; politicians were still bought and paid for. Or I just got selfish and wrapped up in my own world. Whatever the case, I neglected collective activism for the human race and planet earth, and I’m sorry I left for awhile.
The Occupy movement has lifted my spirit and called out to me to do something, to stand up, to speak loudly, and to act out, to be a part of. Because I don’t feel alone in the struggle and there are enough of us standing in this revolution, I am compelled to stand alongside others who have been screaming out all along and those that finally have come to their senses, like me. Come to our senses. Yes, I can feel the spirit, see the action, hear the voices, smell the rage, and taste the good food. I am wide awake again. This world full of greed, profit, insensitivity, uncaring machines -watch out -now you have us to contend with. We are joining forces in great numbers all over the world and won’t be deterred by tear gas, permit squabbles, cold weather, general assembly growing pains, arrests, mace, rubber bullets, discrimination within our camp, or disagreements in our individual beliefs. Because our collaborative outrage and belief that we can and will make a change is so strong, we will overcome the roadblocks and stand unified. We are filled with love and cooperation and courage. I saw a quote last week from Henry Ward Beecher that stuck with me: "Any man can work when every stroke of his hand brings down the fruit rattling from the tree to the ground; but to labor in season and out of season, under every discouragement, by the power of truth...that requires a heroism which is transcendent."
I want to thank those heros that have labored in every season. I join you now. And to those that are watching on the sidelines, not sure what to make of all this, do you think resistance is still futile? Or is there a chance that we will make a difference? I’m not going to sit back and risk not finding out. Join us.
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