A Deli Incident

Over the weekend, I witnessed something very upsetting; prejudice.  I was at a deli with a couple of my friends and I was waiting for my sandwich when a man walks to the counter.  His complaint, you might wonder?  He said that his grilled cheese was not melted enough.  He gave his sandwich to the cook, who obviously had some Spanish-speaking blood in her.  After the man handed her the sandwich, he told her to melt it more.  She smiled and nodded, but stood where she was, waiting for the man to leave.  It was, though, at this moment that the man decided the lady could not speak English.  He began to speak louder and louder, until he was yelling for the whole restaurant to hear, “MELT!  MELT!”  Then, he decided that speaking was futile, so he started smack his hands together, trying to indicate the melting.  All the while, the cook just stood, smiling and nodding.  When he finally left her line of vision, she immediately went to go and take care of his meal; however, he went to the cashier, asking for someone to speak Spanish because she clearly did not understand.

I was disgusted at this man’s attitude.  What, exactly, did he prove?  I guess he felt it was necessary to make a show for his girlfriend, or maybe he needed to feel “manly.”  Whatever the reason was, he made a false accusation that this woman could not speak English.

How do I know?

When she brought me my order, right after the big blow-up, she said, “Here you go, honey.”

The Battle At Wall Street

I wrote this poem this morning, inspired by the feudalism of Medieval Europe:

"The Battle At Wall Street"

I Feel America rising up and trumpeting a call to battle.

Gearing up for what’s to come; a clash with billy-clubs.

They process the lie that has been accepted

As they dress for war in rags.

Laying siege to the king’s castle and all the king’s friends

And wait until surrender.

Uprising, Uprising, Uprising again!

But this did not uproot these high-caliber men.

Although Project Occupation lost some ground

When they tried to “organize” their passion

The infamous “Battle at Wall Street”

Will never be forgotten.

Eviction of Occupy Wall Street and other Encampments

“The volatile truth of our words must continually betray the inadequacy of the residual statement.”

Henry David Thoreau, father of the concept of civil disobedience (though others came before him) wrote this in his book, Walden.  How true and prudent a statement it is, in light of the recent evictions of Occupy encampments in the past 48 hours.  The quote is passionate and salutes the effort to fight for what is right.  The Occupy movement has a powerful voice which speaks a “volatile truth” against the “residual statement,” the statement we have so long been brainwashed to follow; that we cannot be heard and/or helped, except through the intervention of the 1%.  The most important word in this quote, though, is “continually.”  We must speak the truth against this statement continually.  We must make our concerns known and righted continually.  And we must do so by occupying peacefully continually.  Stay strong all Occupy movements around the globe.  We stand in solidarity!

C'mon Man!

Come on, Occupy Oakland!  Act right.  I support you guys and what you do, but it is unacceptable to resort to violence when the movement has gained so much ground through peace!  "Be the change you wish to see in the world."  You are supported across the country.  We know you're angry.  All of us are.  Don't contaminate Scott Olsen's power and the meaning of this movement because you let your anger get the best of you.  We stand in solidarity through peace!

Lesson of the Occupy Movement - The Ed Show and Hemingway

Last night, I was watching the Ed Show on MSNBC.  Ed had a guy on there who was talking about the 99% movement in terms of us needing to learn lessons from the occupiers.  It made me realize that many of these big name people have not been actively “doing” in the occupations around this country and the world.  I mean, I knew this, but it didn’t really register until last night.  I, on the other hand, have been involved.  I have done something these supposedly very smart people have not.  Why?  For two reasons:

·         First, I care about exhibiting whatever power I can to prove that there is a great injustice in this nation.

·         Second of all, I’m not afraid to “do.”

This second point is extremely important.  Indeed, all of you who need a lesson to learn from the occupiers; how about this?  Get out and DO!  It’s really very simple, but there are a ton of people scared to death of being involved.  At the same time, the movement would not be remotely the size it is today without people who are passionate and willing to march and occupy and, in some cases, be arrested.

I recently finished Ernest Hemingway’s book, For Whom the Bell Tolls.  It was a fantastic war novel which captured passion in both love and war.  Early on in the story, the main character, Robert Jordan is talking with two guerilla soldiers (occupiers) that are helping him out, Pablo and Anselmo.  Anselmo decides to draw attention to Pablo not wishing to fight, saying that he was afraid of the “fox.”  Thus, the man instigated an argument between himself and Pablo.  This is the dialogue which follows:

     “Very little,” said Anselmo scornfully.  “Very little in my judgment.  To steal, yes.  To eat well, yes.  To murder, yes.  To fight, no.”

     “You are an old man who will make himself trouble with his mouth.”

     “I am an old man who is afraid of no one,” Anselmo told him.  “Also I am an old man without horses.”

     “You are an old man who may not live long.”

     “I am an old man who will live until I die,” Anselmo said.  “And I am not afraid of foxes.”

Pablo said nothing but picked up the pack.

     “Nor of wolves either,” Anselmo said, picking up the other pack.” (Hemingway 16)

Therefore, I urge you to reflect about whether you are the fox, clever but without the courage to stand up for what you believe in?  Or are you prepared to fight the wolves?

Occupy Nashville Helps to Spark a Change

Last night, the police threw out the Occupy Nashville group.  About two dozen were arrested.  This came directly as a result of Bill Haslam and his extremely stupid laws that he has now tried to force on the occupiers.  So stupid, in fact, that the judge released all of those arrested and the ACLU is gearing up for a lawsuit against Tennessee.  Keep it up, police.  Keep it up, government.  Because you are about to see what many, capable and committed individuals can achieve.  The movement is still moving.  It won't be stopped until change is made, and action (though peaceful action) is about to be brought against those opposed to both, the 99% and justice.

The Biblical Meaning Behind Occupy Wall Street and the 99%

Now, I know the 99% movement is not a "segregated" movement.  I do not wish to create any boundaries or upset people of different faiths; however, as an accepting movement, we should all listen to each other's beliefs, both political and religious.  I had a bible study with my dad earlier this week and he pointed out James 5 in Bible.  For those of you who do not have access to it, it is reproduced below:

     Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you.  Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes.  Your gold and silver are corroded.  Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire.  You have hoarded wealth in the last days.  Look!  The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you.  The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Almighty.  You have lived on earth in luxury and self indulgence.  You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.  You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you.  ~James 5 (NIV)

To me, this chapter means a great deal.  It shows that nothing has changed in the last 5,000 years, at least!  We still have terrible injustices in the world, but it also shows that there are still people who are unafraid to stand up against this injustice.

A couple of lines particularly stand out for me.  The first is, "The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you."  Isn't that what's happening, hang on, right......NOW?!  So, there you have it.  After all of these years, the same groups still get together in an attempt to keep the filthy rich "honest."  But is the motive the same?  The second line verse that catches my eye is, "You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you."  To me, this holds a couple of different meanings.  First of all, this could mean any innocent person put to death via the death penalty, but it also means the people who have died fighting a war for oil!  It is absolute insanity to die for this.  Furthermore, it is also in response to the people who have died because they were denied medical insurance despite the fact that they had a condition which would, in time, take them from this world.

It doesn't matter that we have separate beliefs.  For many, the Bible is the Word of God, but for many others, it should be taken as a book of philosophy, much in the same way that the world looks at Thoreau's Walden.  Indeed, all religious texts are, first and foremost, philosophies on life.  Some parts are good; others are bad, but all are important in order to understand that the frustrating times we are all going through right now.