Mickey Z. -- World News Trust
"The movement to me represents a growing awareness that we need a free and sustainable future, built of peace, love, unity, and respect for each and every living creature and the planet." --John Eustor, OWS drum circle
Apr. 6, 2012 -- In opening lines of a Mar. 31, 2012 article, New York Times reporter (sic) Michael S. Schmidt indulged in some corporate media wishful thinking:
"Six months after the Occupy movement first used protests and encampments to turn the nation?s attention to economic inequality, the movement needs to find new ways to gain attention or it will most likely fade to the edges of the political discourse, according to supporters and critics."
A few paragraphs later, his reportage (sic) morphed into an attempt at self-fulfilling prophecy:
"With less visibility, the movement has received less attention from the news media, taking away a national platform."
Mic Check: The Times is correct when it reports that Occupy's platform is not national, but not because the movement is fading "to the edges" of anything. Its platform is not national because, well... it's global.
Anyone relying on the corporate media for accurate OWS updates is missing out -- and that's where it's our job to step up and fill the void.
Case in point: Occupier Julie Cramer.
Recently, while in her Italian class, Julie asked the teacher how to say "to protest" (protestare) and this sparked an impromptu discussion about Occupy Wall Street (OWS).
"My teacher asked what OWS is fighting for," says Julie, "and before I could open my mouth, someone said 'No one knows. I don't even think they know.' I quickly responded with an: ACTUALLY WE DO KNOW!"
It was then that Julie realized she once thought the same way:
"Before I got involved," she explains, "I knew nothing about what was going on and because of mainstream media, I too thought OWS had no real cause. But once I went down there and engaged in conversation with the people, it all just smacked me in the face!
"I met so many informative people and had the most intellectual conversations I've ever had.
"I immediately became passionate about OWS and started researching anything and everything I could (and I still am). I have decided to write my own short essay introducing the idea of OWS for those who are uninformed and include resources to find information on the issues.
"I am currently working on this essay now and will be distributing it to my Italian class next week. My goal is to encourage people to educate themselves through firsthand experience, interacting with others and the Internet, and becoming aware of what is happening.
"I believe that if one does not support the movement, then one must really know nothing about it."
Julie sez: "Spread the knowledge."
"Now, each of us has his own special gift/And you know this was meant to be true/And if you don?t underestimate me/I won?t underestimate you." --Bob Dylan
So much about OWS has been underestimated: its vision, its endurance, its motivation, and yes, its youth. As Jack Slater might say: Big mistake.
Sure, OWS is the general assemblies, the working groups, and the long hours spent on the nuts and bolts of nurturing a revolution. But it's also the creativity, passion, and stamina of the younger occupiers on the front lines since September 17. These are not media-created, materialistic mall rats.
Underestimate them at your own peril...
I've spoken a few times with artist Steve Shryock -- a regular at both Liberty Square/Zuccotti Park and now Union Square Park -- about those we've both met at OWS:
"When I saw those young women get pepper sprayed back last year," he said, "that's what got me off the couch and down here."
Since then, he (like so many others) has been blown away by how well informed, dedicated, and imaginative the younger generation of occupiers is:
"My friends try to dismiss them as wannabe hippies," says Shryock. "That's when I tell them to come down and see for themselves just how politically savvy these kids are."
Mic Check: Open your mind, visit your local occupation, and use your unique gifts and skills to participate.
From there, listen to Julie and spread the knowledge.
And if there's something you don't like or something you feel is missing, don't gripe and snipe on someone's Facebook page. Get busy and create some change. This is not a time to indulge in litmus tests and purity assessments.
"Culture is being jammed and paradigms are shifting -- whether people like it or not," says Winnie Wong from OWS Sustainability. "In the future, we'll look back on this and be glad we could put our differences aside to work together and create a better world. One that is fair, sustainable, and fun to live in."
As Winnie sez: "It's now or never."
#OccupyYerStory
It's time we counter the media misinformation and 1% propaganda with a dose of reality -- the hard work, the community, the solidarity, the creativity, the innovation, and the durability behind the OWS banners.
Send me a few lines about your experiences, etc. so I can continue writing The Voices of #Occupy.
Together, we can stop the underestimating and help spread the word that this is the Global Spring and the 1% should fuckin' expect us...
#OccupyYerStory to me: mickey@mickeyz.net
***
Mickey Z. is the author of 11 books, most recently the novel Darker Shade of Green. Until the laws are changed or the power runs out, he can be found on an obscure website called Facebook.
? WorldNewsTrust.com -- Share and re-post this story. Please include this copyright notice and a link to World News Trust.
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