Not So Wild In The Streets: Revolution 2011

(WINDSOR, N.H.) - Some of you might be old enough to recall a “silly” 60's movie titled “Wild In The Streets”, a Hollywood toss out starring Shelley Winters, Christopher Jones, Hal Holbrook and Richard Pryor (additional cameos by Ed Begley, Army Archerd, Melvin Belli, Gary Busey, Dick Clark, Pamela Mason, Bill Mumy, Bobby Sherman, Peter Tork, Barry Williams and Walter Winchell).

The premise of this fantasy was a takeover of the United States by teenage “Hippies” who sent adults to LSD camps for “reeducation”. In every city in the Nation, teens rose up against their parents and the Government, finally succeeding in taking full power and control. The revolutionary teens then made a series of absurdly naive laws and eventually witness their coming fall under the revolt of elementary school kids. Silly as it was, it was a fear mongering message given a lavish Hollywood production.

As a young man, I laughed when I first saw “Wild In The Streets” in the theater ('68) but not when I heard it being said the movements I worked for and supported were based on its “message”. Nothing could have been further from the truth. 40+ years later, I am still supporting movements... and none are fantasies.

Today, in the real world, we are witnessing (hopefully participating) in what is now a global revolution inspired by the brave citizens of Egypt, Tunisia, and other Middle East/African nations. In the United States, students, workers, unemployed workers, homeless, unions, NGO's, returned GI's, mothers and more are standing up and occupying stretches of public land within the cities in which they live (or traveling to join other occupations). As of October 5, 2011, over 470 cities across the globe are either actively occupying and protesting or are solidifying their plans to do so.

People laughed when the process began for OCCUPY WALL STREET in NY. The media was convinced it would be just a handful of scraggly hippies screaming slogans and waving signs for the day ...and it would be over by sunset. But the following day, more people arrived and they were not all “hippies”. Still the media persisted in their belief it was not worthy of their note.

Being owned by the corporations that these protestors were railing against was no small consideration in their determination to marginalize the protest. Suddenly, within just a few days, the numbers were so large the media thought they should probably “look into it” and sent a few crews. Too, a number of cities across the US, like Seattle, Chicago and Boston announced plans and began occupations. Something was happening.

Much of the footage taken was never used, likely just intelligence gathering operations... know thine enemy. And then a large arrest... and more cities, over 100, announced their protests. Papers like the NYTimes began half-assed defenses for some negative police actions and FOX, CNN and some local stations began their attempt to cast false impressions of a group disorganized, shoddy, sans recognizable leaders or messages, etc.

Hampered by petty and ridiculous laws designed solely to limit legitimate and lawful protest, the rapidly growing crowd adapted again and again flustering their oppressors. The strongest example being the “Human PA System” where the crowd repeats each message so that all are aware at all times. Media detractors have asserted that the lack of recognizable leaders demonstrates the occupiers are chaotic and naive.

Instead, the occupiers use general assemblies to decide, democratically, what actions to take and how to respond to situations predicted and imminent. Again, detractors flaunt the seeming absence of message. This, more than anything, shows how genuinely dishonest is the corporate media. They know what this revolution is about... WALL STREET and its takeover of the US. They are all instruments of the takeover and of its maintenance. They are not stupid or naive.

Now they ask “What are your demands?” A clear signal the powers are feeling the rumbling beneath their feet. As more Unions and worker associations enter the occupation, as more and more cities become involved and as social media and the net overcome the cloak of silence from the corporate kind, the thieves who have enjoyed a sense of immunity for the vile crimes they have committed are now beginning to sense some lynchings in the offing. Even the NYTIMES has conceded this is no longer a minor anomaly at their door. Their doors and windows are shaking and their writing has taken a smarter tone.

No anomaly, this... and, though the media might want you to think so, they are not a bunch of naive teenagers a la Hollywood running “Wild In The Streets”.

Remarkably non-violent in the face of ever present threats and harassment, the “disorganized” occupiers across the globe are supporting each other to stay calm, cool and collected. They are not making silly demands, not seeking to alienate their parents (or even the police) and are not planning LSD reeducation camps.

These are incredibly intelligent citizens seeking to incorporate anyone and everyone who has had enough of a Government that harbors criminals, invites them into office, and showers them with our hard earned money so they can increase their personal wealth while continuing to find newer, more sinister ways to steal even more of our hard earned money, ships our jobs overseas, rapes our Constitution and our hard fought for safety nets, forecloses on our homes after shilling corrupt mortgages, sends our kids to fight false flag wars that serve only to fatten the pockets of corporations, WALL STREET, ISRAEL and a band of psychotic neo-cons, supports despots globally who are oppressing and killing our brothers and sisters and children and I can go on and on...

I urge all to gaze at this map and consider what is really happening and whether you can find a way to support it, make it grow, and make it succeed. http://1.6s.qg.sl.pt If you are not a part of it, if you do not stand up for yourself and your fellow humans, if you are of the 1%, you will likely feel the consequence. If you are afraid, know that we are all afraid but we have to face that fear ...and we do.. as humans we have an innate ability to do so.. and when we think about fear, we realize it started with birth and we worked our way through that and a thousand more fears to get where we are today. It is time to stand up and realize you are the 99%... WE ARE THE 99%... THIS IS OUR WORLD and the 1% can no longer govern us.

Today, as I write this, students across the world will be walking out of classes in solidarity. Tomorrow, the occupation of Washington, DC begins. This week, over 470 cities will be occupied globally. By the end of the month, over 1000 cities across the globe are expected to support the global revolution.

In solidarity and with the deepest love for my oppressed families in Palestine and with the people of Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, Greece, Italy, Iceland, Germany, France, England, Poland, Somalia, …....... all victimized by global corporate greed and corruption...

To view the current list of cities taking action, go to: http://1.74.hq.sl.pt and follow @OccupyTogether.

M. Dennis Paul, Ph.D. is a Counselor and Conflict Resolution Specialist/Consultant (Mediation/Arbitration/Facilitation) (20+ yrs).

He is the Creator of Thought Addiction programs (Lectures Seminars & Workshops) (Intensive 21 day Addiction Recovery Programs designed for Artists, Actors, Musicians & Industry Leaders) residing in New Hampshire (US). (The Website for M. Dennis Paul, Ph.D. is currently under reconstruction) Contact: mdp54@gsinet.net 1-603-478-1544