tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6679900905356691531.post1614344000007320831..comments2024-03-28T17:26:00.653-07:00Comments on ZZ's blog: Where Does “Occupy Wall Street” Go From Here?zoltan zigedyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09376602245528691381noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6679900905356691531.post-44566986920295723082011-11-06T14:25:38.769-08:002011-11-06T14:25:38.769-08:00Many thanks to Cindy Sheehan, not only for her com...Many thanks to Cindy Sheehan, not only for her comments, but for her passionate activism that served and continues to serve as an example of how determined, profoundly committed street action, by even a few, can dramatically spark a larger mass action. <br /><br />In preparing the article, I had thought to draw the parallel between her defiant action against the war and the current OWS phenomena. Both represent an extraordinary commitment to stand firm and defiant on issues that found many on the left discouraged, complacent, or determined to let Obama do it. <br /><br />In both cases, the result was to spur a popular movement with mass potential and strong public support. That counts as leadership.<br /><br />The question remains: how do we nourish and grow these uncommon actions of sacrifice and dedication into a mass political movement that further challenges ruling class power? <br /><br />This requires immediate and thoughtful attention. Cindy Sheehan points to some of these challenges in her comments. And she is correct to point to the Civil Rights movement as a source for direction. The boycotts were preceded by years of diligent organizing throughout the South that provided a network of activists and leaders who were able to sustain the movement. All studies of the era demonstrate this fact. King and his associates were able to count on this structure as they responded to counter actions by the Southern elites. They had soldiers and they had a plan.<br /><br />Similarly, the drama of the Egyptian Revolution was preceded by over a decade of actions and organization that laid a foundation for the drama that unfolded, contrary to the media portrait of these events. <br /><br />I think we need to begin to focus on creating similar structures to advance the opening we owe to OWS.zoltan zigedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09376602245528691381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6679900905356691531.post-1754198017552575192011-11-06T13:44:24.551-08:002011-11-06T13:44:24.551-08:00I have no quarrel with Daniel Vila's strategic...I have no quarrel with Daniel Vila's strategic suggestions: 1) is certainly desirable, and 2) might be a promising avenue down the road. But the immediate and urgent question is tactical: how do we grow and focus this movement and what are the obstacles to doing so. <br /><br />Expanding the sites requires an organizational network and a plan for outreach that is yet invisible. <br /><br />And a constitutional convention requires even greater organization and ideological preparation. Its important to note that the libertarian right as well as the fundamentalists might also welcome a constitutional convention and would organize fervently to shape it. <br /><br />Without ideological unity and intense organization, they would have their way. That underlines the weakness of spontaneity, the point of my article.zoltan zigedyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09376602245528691381noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6679900905356691531.post-9564304815946459982011-11-05T05:34:32.662-07:002011-11-05T05:34:32.662-07:00I am fascinated by the numerous pundit questions o...I am fascinated by the numerous pundit questions of 'when will the OWS end? They fear that currently many groups expressing various struggles of life under capitalism are being expressed as part of a single unified struggle. Many OWS are expressing the need to pull everyone together. The pundits call this ("they don't know what they want"). One person clearly said "it is a movement and like the Civil Rights movement the Burmingham bus boycott in the 50's was only a beginning since the Civil Rights Act took 10 years of struggle before it occurred along with the violent assassination of its greatest leader (Dr. ML King Jr.). Not to mention that that itself was only the beginning of the struggle against rascism in America which is causing much greater suffering today including attacks by police which make it more dangerous for people of color and immigrants to cavalierly sleep in any park(some of the homeless however, have joined). So Occupying Wall Street is a tactic and is educating, uniting and reaching many young people who are beginning to fight for their future. People of color that are suffering the most have yet to camp out in the streets.More community support and plan to protect our brothers and sisters from harm is needed before they will wave a sign in front of heavily armed police.<br />perhaps the returning Iraq vets one who was already severely wounded will join after they find no future in the country they fought for and the riches made by the "war"corporations they saw daily in Iraq.Cindy Sheehanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08633088440684014346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6679900905356691531.post-81136905072439518772011-11-03T21:40:18.564-07:002011-11-03T21:40:18.564-07:00Greetings: Interesting article. But the question t...Greetings: Interesting article. But the question that served as title is not answered or even considered. I simply propose: 1) that as many "Occupy" sites be established; and 2) at the appropriate moment launch a powerful movement for a Constitutional Convention.<br />Daniel VilaDaniel Vilanoreply@blogger.com