William Blum
When the Vietnam War became history, and the protest
signs and the bullhorns were put away, so too was the serious side of
most protestors' alienation and hostility toward the government. They
returned, with minimal resistance, to the restless pursuit of success,
and the belief that the choice facing the world was either "capitalist
democracy" or "communist dictatorship". The war had been an aberration,
was the implicit verdict, a blemish on an otherwise humane American
record. The fear felt by the powers-that-be that society's fabric was
unraveling and that the Republic was hanging by a thread turned out to
be little more than media hype; it had been great copy.
I mention this to explain why I've been reluctant to
jump with both feet on the Occupy bandwagon. I first thought that if
nothing else the approaching winter would do them in; if not, it would
be the demands of their lives — they have to make some money at some
point, attend classes somewhere, lovers and friends and family they have
to cater to somewhere; lately I've been thinking it's the police that
will do them in, writing finis to their marvelous movement adventure — if you hold the system up to a mirror the system can go crazy.
But now I don't know. Those young people, and the old
ones as well, keep surprising me, with their dedication and energy,
their camaraderie and courage, their optimism and innovation, their
non-violence and their keen awareness of the danger of being co-opted
their focusing on the economic institutions more than on the politicians
or political parties. There is also their splendid signs and slogans,
walking from New York to Washington, and not falling apart following the
despicable police destruction of the Occupy Wall Street encampment.
They've given a million young people other ideas about how to spend the
rest of their lives, and commandeered a remarkable amount of media
space. The Washington Post on several occasions has devoted
full page or near-full page sympathetic coverage. Occupy is being taken
increasingly seriously by virtually all media.
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