Sunday, February 12, 2012

RE: OCCUPY Oakland- My Response to Those who Justify Violence

http://hellaoccupyoakland.org/city-hall-intentionally-left-open-for-vandalism/
(This actually applies to those who insist on violence as a tool anywhere.)

Posted 2-12-2012 8:22pm PST

Peaceful ? OCCUPY Oakland. Non Violent?

I am reading Dr. King's letter from Birmingham Jail. Everyone should read it.

The Civil Rights Movement was and stayed a non-violent movement with dignity that rose higher than the violence that came at it and it still inspires the world-- despite police dogs, bombings and horrific violence conducted upon protestors by police.

From Dr. King's letter: " Mindful of the difficulties involved, we decided to undertake a process of self purification. We began a series of workshops on non-violence, and we repeatedly asked ourselves: 'Are you able to accept blows without retaliating?' 'Are you able to endure the ordeal of jail?'...."My friends, I must say to you that we have not made a single gain in civil rights without determined legal and non-violent pressure".etc. etc.

I have been to several Bay Area Occupy Camps and I have witnessed many people leading in peace and there is also many arguing for their right to violence. The OCCUPY movement broke down with loosing a spiritual (not religious) center. Setting up to take care of the homeless and poor is noble but using the plazas to also at the same time fight "police" is splitting the focus. Fighting City Hall? A Mayor? What is OCCUPY about?

The Civil Rights, The Anti-Apartheid , the No Nukes Movements had goals and all used a variety of non-violent and peaceful approaches -- and they all achieved their goals with diligence .

Life is a journey - new generations and new issues come and go -- nothing remains static and I still believe OCCUPY can regain its place only through non-violence and coordinated respectful and focused goals. OCCUPY cannot cover every issue under the sun. OCCUPY will not win with violence be it words that hate police or smashing property.

The General Strike in Oakland was an example that had many issues crying for attention -- the two free speech
microphones that were set up were in constant use with many causes asking and competing for justice.

Eckhart Tolle in his book "The New Earth" refers to much of what we bring along in our lives....This could be a handbook for OCCUPY-- in what Dr. King refers to as a self purification...and in relation to what Tolle writes about is our recognition of "pain" that controls our thinking and how to release from that as a step in the evolution of consciousness on our planet . And I believe that has to happen ALL over the planet -- A GRAND Awakening where the daggers and bombs and smashing and killing and drugs and abuse and sexual slavery etc. stop everywhere.

As Tolle mentions... we are a society that pays to see violence as entertainment (Films, Video Games) and thinks that is ok.

There may a come a time when we cannot stomach the pain that drives us to shameful acts of violence and we will wake up to that. I hope to live long enough to see that happen.