As a New York State resident I have watched in awe how the movement has grown, and inspired by Nobel's post this morning, I wanted to share my thoughts and see what you guys think.
The LAST thing I want is a political war, so please go gently on the comments I am sick, very sick, and can only take positive ideas, how do you see we can get our country back to health?
Obviously I am not there, I am still very sick, but even if I was not sick I would probably be able to just visit, and I would like to do so because I feel the pain, I smell that something is wrong, very wrong, and just like the movement, I cannot quite put my finger on what a solution might be.
I loved watching Marianne Williamson's talk, whom in my mind is a yogi. (if you watch forward to minute 1 as she changes microphones).
She clarifies things when she says: it is not that we do not understand economics, we do.
I was fired in 2009 (March), and did not find work, lost my home, car, and even my yoga membership. To this date, I have not been able to make much money (see my royalties in previous post), and the re-invention into working on my passion, yoga, takes a while. (this is how I survived it)
The LAST thing I want is a political war, so please go gently on the comments I am sick, very sick, and can only take positive ideas, how do you see we can get our country back to health?
Obviously I am not there, I am still very sick, but even if I was not sick I would probably be able to just visit, and I would like to do so because I feel the pain, I smell that something is wrong, very wrong, and just like the movement, I cannot quite put my finger on what a solution might be.
I loved watching Marianne Williamson's talk, whom in my mind is a yogi. (if you watch forward to minute 1 as she changes microphones).
She clarifies things when she says: it is not that we do not understand economics, we do.
I was fired in 2009 (March), and did not find work, lost my home, car, and even my yoga membership. To this date, I have not been able to make much money (see my royalties in previous post), and the re-invention into working on my passion, yoga, takes a while. (this is how I survived it)
I cannot even imagine if I had children I could not feed. Which by the way, happens to what? 80% of the world?
I can also see clearly how neither of the options at government now or what is coming up as proposed governments make sense to me. I see how lobbyists control things, how money speaks much louder than people who are unemployed, people who cannot feed their children or get medical attention when they need it.
We need to eat, work, make a living, and have medical attention if needed. Those I believe are the basic issues. I do not see an easy solution.
I do see the raising of people as a good sign. Especially when they go to the right places. People working on Wall Street also lost their homes too. I used to live across the street, I saw them every day, those are not the wealthy ones. Of course, symbolically, it is a brilliant starting place. James here explains which places might be more suitable and after that article came out I heard that some protesters were heading to J. Dimond (JP Morgan) home uptown.
I do agree with Sean Corn. We must understand we are 100%. We do need to work together.
I also loved Deepak Chopra on putting our hands on our hearts and asking "what kind of world do I want to live in" and LISTEN
My Humble Suggestions:
1.-I suggest we inform ourselves, I know I am guilty of apathy (to keep it smart)
2.-I suggest abandoning the hatred of rich people and replacing it with a conversation where we listen (to keep it peaceful)
3.-We must come from a place of center, meditate and ponder: "how can I be the change?" Starting right now, with my neighbour and my kids. (to keep it going)
What do you think is a possible solution? How could the USA heal? How can we work together within our capitalist society while making it work for everyone.
Keeping it peaceful :-)
Other Yoga Bloggers on Occupy Wall Street:
It is so great that you are putting your very hard to hold on to energy on the OWS movement. I do not watch television but I read what is written in print and other media, and it is not an accurate reflection of the peaceful assembly that I have seen the two times I have visited. The people who are already there are informed or getting information, their criticism of the one percent is accurate though infused with sarcasm and some pretty strong humor, but it is not infused with hate of rich people, in fact one per centers l like myself are welcome. I consider anyone who makes more than 150 thousand a year a one per center by the way. It makes my head explode when people who make 200 thousand a year call themselves middle class. If you read their very open ended manifesto you see that they follow the advice of your third point as well. Thanks again for using your very precious stamina on talking about this. Off to read Nobel...
ReplyDeleteThank you SF. Good to hear this, from the trenches!
ReplyDeleteAs per the 150k I hear you, however, I never think is so simple, for example, take a family with 3 children living in NYC, where the cheapest rent for a two bedroom would be at least 5K-8k....add cost of raising 3 children, clothing etc etc..
Suddenly they are not really 1%... It depends on where in the country the holder of the money lives....among other factors...
As per e energy yeah, I hope to heal, I get so jealous reading about everyone's practices....but at least is good jealousy the kind that goes worth love
Great post, Claudia. Like sereneflavor, I also want to thank you for using your precious strength and stamina to write about the OWS movement. I believe you are inspiring many people (or at least getting them to think for themselves :-)).
ReplyDeleteQuentin, I have the following to say about your interesting suggestions:
ReplyDeleteWith regard to #1, If you are even a little informed about what happens within the military, you will know that basically, only two things can happen to young people who join the military today:
(1) They serve in Iraq, Afghanistan, or some other war zone that we do not even know exist, and wind up either killed, severely injured, and/or discharged from the army with skills that are often not readily translatable into other areas of civilian life. Which means their post-military career prospects are gloomy, to say the least. And while duty, honor and country may be admirable qualities to have (or not), I do not consider these to be translatable skills.
(2) If they somehow manage to not get killed or severely injured, and choose to stay in the military and rise up the ranks, they end up perpetuating the same military-industrial complex that is responsible for (1).
As for your other suggestions, #2 to #5 are not mutually exclusive with being involved in some way or other with occupy wallstreet. I mean, surely one can have a job, try to pay off college loans, have haircuts and showers, educate oneself about the Constitution, AND still be involved with Occupy Wall Street. Why does it have to be one way or the other?
I'm sorry to hear that you're still fighting the disease, sending happy, healing thoughts to you.
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with your 3 suggestions, they're broad and inclusive and do not pit one against the other. The problem I'm seeing in the media is the division, the portrayal of the OWS protesters as a bunch of dirty, unwashed hippies (ref Quentin's #4) who have nothing better to do than 'whine'. I'm sorry, but if fighting for equality, for a more just system that doesn't leave families living off food stamps, that doesn't bankrupt people who need healthcare and that actually gives every kid the education they deserve is classified as 'whining', then I'm happy to be a whiner. A proud, progressive, socialist whiner at that.
LOVE THIS!!! Thank you so much for these wonderful words.
ReplyDeleteQuentin,
ReplyDeleteSince I am all for the OWS, I guess you are talking to me. And I have a different view, I respect your point of view, but I think differently
1.-I would never join the military simply because I do not want to get killed. I feel no war is ever justified. I never want to see a 19 0r 18 or 25 year old come back from a war with no face. No matter what the thought process behind. Wars do not work.
2.-I had a job and for 13 years payed more than my share of income taxes, always have.
They took 35% of my hard earned salary every month. No fun.
I lost that job, there was never another one. And they would not hire me on other things cause once an IT TRaining Manager, the US, or NYC tends to "pigeon hold" if you know what I mean.... 3 years have gone by. I lost the home I had bought (my American dream....) but I paid the mortgage till the end. Did not owe Wells Fargo anything.
3-I paid for my college education at Hunter College myself and as I went along. Got my BA in Economics although I took more math than eco.
I paid with those hard earned dollars and after paying full taxes... and working full time.
You know ? being a new citizen of the United States I always loved this country and always wanted to pay whatever I was told needed to be paid... then I learned about how the big Corporations pay zero.. Enron, GM, they pay zero, I pay 35%....it made me angry,
so I understand the anger I sense behind your #4 where you send me to cut my hair and get a shower.
I am with you on the shower, although I confess lately, without the practice, I have found a strange and almost perversive pleasure out of not showering for a whole 24 sometimes 48n hours... I remembered how I smell! had forgotten that, since I was a kid!
#5 The constitution, yes I was surprised to see how little do we respect it.
I had to read it before taking the citizen test, but I agree, I should read it again.
One that knows it very well is James, he recently wrote a post in which I found out that we have not declared a LEGAL war since 1941 (WWI) , since the president is NOT allowed to declare war, following the constitution....
Maybe all 100% of us should re-read the constitution.
I did not know that
http://www.jamesaltucher.com/2011/08/abolish-the-presidency-its-a-useless-job/
All in all, I sense there is anger in you. There is anger in me too. On that we relate.
I feel it is in the alchemy of all of us talking to each other without the anger that miracles are possible. I feel we need to work on ourselves first, on our own anger first.
As per what can I do right now, which is what I always ask myself, maybe I can clarify my respect and appreciation for you and your comments. We just disagree on this.
Nobel, on the comment you directed to me, thanks! I appreciated reading your post too, and that you opened the door :-)
ReplyDeleteSavasanaAddict, that, THAT is exactly why I love Marianne Williamson's speech! Because of course the media will do what they might... especially FOX, but we the people have the right, in this country, to eat, have medical attention and feed our kids and work... There is plenty of money.
I also do not feel that "forced" re-distribution of wealth would work... This is where I find myself trying to come to grips with what would be a good solution. Forcing anyone to anything never works...
It is a conversation, I am so glad we are keeping it peaceful and going...
Rebecca, Thank you, good to hear from you!
Thanks all for the good wishes on the health front. This morning I am up at 1:30 AM, answering comments.... guess my rythms are a little off... but I trust healing is coming. I am still doing my practice although it may look slightly differently... :-)
Love you all you guys!
Thanks for the post Claudia. I'm in support of this movement.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry you are so sick. Where do you think you picked up the Lyme tick? Truly scary. Get well...
Ho Dawg :-)... me too. Thanks, it is an epidemic in the village where I live, upstate NY... I am working at recovering now...
ReplyDeletehi claudia-
ReplyDeletei'm also in support of this movement - even though it's a little nebulous. its seems to me that financial greed plus the speed with which that greed can be sent in motion given today's technological advances is what is concerning.
i'm hoping to get educated a bit more on lyme disease. my in-laws place is out in the woods of santa rosa, california, where i believe they have a number of deer that run through their acres of back yard. the official statistics in santa rosa are only nine people per year get lyme disease (though true number is more due to mimicking nature of disease) wondering whether you think it's better to avoid woodsy areas with deer altogether or is that being paranoid? hoping to learn more about this as i know very little.
also, thanks for the dedication to the mat. pretty inspiring. keep restarting.
Hi Anon, thanks for your comment
ReplyDeleteI would never trust the local stats. There is a lot of politics around Lyme.
As per avoiding the woods, thaat is not necessary but I would be very careful, you know? like wear long pants, wear white, put your socks outside your pants so there is no way they can reach you... there is a lot of prevention tips online if you google it... might be good to read it, I dont wish this on anyone!
:-)
Hello,
ReplyDeleteI'm just a random passerby and have to say I enjoyed skimming your blog. You seem balanced :)
So...with regard to OWS....I saw the following and found it to be rather ironic and perhaps a must read for those who "occupy". I imagine most voted for the same guy:
Obama is supporting the Occupy Wall Street 99% anarchist group:
http://www.businessinsider.com/white-house-draws-closer-to-occupy-wall-street-says-obama-is-fighting-for-interests-of-the-99-2011-10
I am a millionaire, but I never held a real job in my life.
I went to Harvard and Columbia.
I have one of the biggest private jets htat takes me wherever I want.
My wife wears $44,000 diamond bracelets.
I play golf every weekend and stay at the most expensive resorts.
Goldman Sachs gives me millions of dollars.
When retired I'll get paid millions $ in speaking fees by big companies.
I'll make millions more as board member of the corps you are protesting.
MY NAME IS BARACK OBAMA. I AM THE 1%.
Matthew, I totally agree with you. Obama is AS responsible as the banks, he has made changes that scare corporations into hiring more people (even though they now have the money through the stimulus).
ReplyDeleteSo yes small businesses are scared to hire now and corporations hoarding money, and that is thanks to O directly. Wonder when we will see the occupy the White House...
In the end, deep inside I only believe in change that comes from each of us individually.
I found your website the other day and after reading a handful of posts, thought I would say thank you for all the great content. Keep it coming! I will try to stop by here more often.
ReplyDeletefamily
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