I have been wandering the web today in search of something to take my mind off my laziness. And I came across this great youtube video:
I am hopeful that this and other actions will change the landscape because the alternatives are unthinkable.
This action of #OccupyWallStreet will be a difficult one but it may be a prototype of actions to come.
One of the things that will be difficult is learning consensus building.
Consensus decision-making is a group decision making process that seeks not only the agreement of most participants but also the resolution or mitigation of minority objections. Consensus is defined by Merriam-Webster as, first, general agreement, and second, group solidarity of belief or sentiment. It has its origin in a Latin word meaning literally feel together.[1] It is used to describe both general agreement and the process of getting to such agreement. Consensus decision-making is thus concerned primarily with that process.
From Wiki on Consensus
We Americans generally are not used to consensus or consensus building. We hear about the Senate having to come to consensus, but there they horse trade to get to some conclusion. i.e. I will vote for yours if you vote for mine kinda thing. Consensus is more that people who object can block or can accept but also put forth their objections. So this group of people are working to create a new (at least in this generation) path for their efforts.
Roseanne brings up a lot of things in her talk to the group.
1) Coalesce the small ego with the large ego. Put feelings aside. Don't think now is the time to recreate. Use what is available. If you need access to a website, ask if you can volunteer is one of her examples. Another is, you may have great ideas, but don't put down other people's ideas. Everybody has a lot to contribute. Make sure you get every last contribution.
2) Things are not going to get better by themselves. Doing things will be hard. But we don't have much choice but to do some hard things.
3) We need unity with labor and police and firefighters and people who have had their pensions stolen. But there are natural alliances with all these people.
Remember people have done this before and even though heads were knocked we had success. Women and blacks can vote (although the rethugs are trying to change that back!) We did, indeed, create a country. So success is always there. Failure is always an option but not the end of anything.
An elderly Cherokee Native American was teaching his grandchildren about life.
He said to them, "A fight is going on inside me, it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One wolf is evil---he is fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, competition, superiority, and ego.
The other is good ---he is joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too."
They thought about it for a minute, and then one child asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win, Grandfather?"
The Elder simply replied, "The one you feed."