Part 1: Take the
Movement to the Next Level: The Arts and Main Street
By
Cathy Pagano
The Occupy Wall Street movement has shown the world that once again, America's police aren't adverse to using force and violence to break up peaceful protest. Perhaps because of this, a broad spectrum of the population agrees with the general principles of the Occupy Movement. We need to build on that support.
We can do that by growing the Occupy Movement in new ways to keep people aware and awake to the issues in a peaceful way. The OWS movement, though only months old, has already taken its first steps, like a hero child who is wise beyond its years. Peaceful protest is a powerful stand to take in the eyes of the world, especially with images of police violence in everyone's awareness.
The great thing about a peaceful revolution is that we can creatively make our points by using our intelligence, humor and artistry. Whereas violence is pretty much the same wherever it is practiced -- hurtful, divisive and destructive -- peaceful creativity is original, inspirational and unifying. As things begin to turn violent, we can bring down this military-industrial complex with creative action.
Our resistance movement can disappear for a time and come back with new and better ways to oppose the system. There's a certain romance to that, one that can capture the collective imagination. The question on people's minds will be, "What will they do next?" and it will keep their interest fixed on the great issue of our times -- who is entitled to the world's wealth.
We need to build support to foster a change in our national and global policies and in the economic system which holds all the other pressing issues of our times hostage. The economic injustice of unregulated capitalism prevents us from moving forward on the most important issues of our times: healing the environment, social justice, war, economic opportunity and poverty.
These are some of many issues that are contingent upon how we deal with the world's Wealth. Should wealth that comes from our common resources be managed and used by the few (1%), or should it benefit the many (99%)? The most important issue we face globally is how we use our great wealth in a fair way to reverse the environmental damage our economic system has created. Because the health of our eco-system is intrinsically tied to our collective health and survival.
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