A reporter here with Occupy wrote this. It's not our normal style but hey.....We are one. We are one diverse group of totally different individuals with wide ranging perspectives.
The wealth of lessons and wisdom forged by varied pasts and critical thought are colored by the accumulations of experiences that each person brings with them. Because we are here together, on the same page despite some wildly different paths that brought us here, we have all come to the same conclusion. We must work together to ever develop enough allies to ever have any chance of effecting positive change. Confrontory approaches never help to increase understanding among people who agree on ultimate goals. Trust is imperative to crush doubts that motives are pure. I am still learning to ask the right questions after hearing contradictory positions. I am still learning to form my messaging to focus on the point and minimize misunderstandings born of multiple interpretations of statements. I am learning to shape my comments to hopefully resonate with people who don't know me that well. This is way easier with people who do agree with common goals. It is a lot harder with people who don't. Listening won't help if one doesn't understand the pasts that shaped these perspectives. Not listening will help even less. Personal attacks totally decimate focus on the issue being addressed eliminating the goal of finding common ground. This includes friend and future friend. Ultimately, everyone on the same page must be the adult in the room sometimes as none of us are perfect. To leave rather than stand up to leaders who are wrong is not an option. We are all leaders here. That is freedom. Add in respect and we have hope. I don't want to feel that I must be the adult in the room very often as it can compromise my ability to use humor to lighten the load of some heavy lifts we must overcome to effect the changes we need to restore the ideals we cherish. I pray that my ego never intervenes to dominate the options that are being dispassionately discussed. That would be counter productive. I know little, but I am trying to learn so that I may be another effective vehicle on the road to positive change. I have only recently stood up. Many in our group have been standing for a long time already. If we are to prevail many more must feel compelled to stand up too. I hope my influence can help facilitate the changes that so many have been working towards for so long already. I am only an egg. I may some day understand 'The Crack in the Cosmic Egg' that may be occurring. Some of my new friends are undoubtedly way ahead of me. But I can learn. It's past time to but not too late. The American awakening is upon us. I do have a mouth and I'm not afraid to use it. I hope I use it judiciously. XR News takes no responsibility for this content. We include it to be nice as this reporter is not being paid, similar to those at Occupy.
Real news is seldom nice and so am I.