Stand Strong, Stand Proud!

Here is a great article about a person who has learned a few key things over the past week in Occupy LA. She gives eight compelling points. I paraphrased the points down below:

1.) People need to do away with the parties in this country. In a country where a two party system reigns supreme, the beliefs of the majority surely will not perfectly align with either one of the major parties.

2.) People are completely influenced by the media, and anything showing opposition is more difficult to prove. She gives the example of the eleven "Occupy LA protestors" who went into a Bank of America to cause civil disobedience. Although, through mass social medias trying to prove that breaking the law is something the movement is against...many people still remained convinced the law breakers were in fact involved with the movement.

3.) Mass political protests and movements lately have been receiving the social stigma of complaining. It once was considered patriotic to peacefully assemble and voice our opinions, now it's just met with mass disapproval and criticism from other fellow Americans.

4.) Police brutality still exists. Still have "faith" in our policemen, there are a lot of good ones out there looking to take down the corrupt and depraved ones. She gives the example of her father being a good policeman.

5.) Protestors should not resent authority. They should still be able to peacefully protest and follow the rules, if the rules are not followed then there will be unnecessary violence.If you are standing on private property and asked to move, you should since that's the law. Move to another public area to still be able to convey the movement's message. Remember look at the grand scheme of the movement, not the small. 

6.) The benefits of a "hippie" are their open mindedness, love,  and peace. Which this country needs.

7.) Banks have not been misbehaving, but acting in a criminal manner. Only reason they are not seen as criminals is because of the media's portrayal of the banks. Banks have admitted on  foreclosing on hundreds of families, even if they had been paying their mortgages. Now, those families are left without a home for doing absolutely nothing wrong. The government is aware of this and are taking their time on investigating.

8.) People of the movement are quite knowledgeable. “We’re not just up against the direct messages of the 1 percent, but an American mythology of success that many people fiercely cling to. To some, it’s like we’re attacking their religion of personal responsibility. Shaking the roots of their whole belief system, which is why people call us ‘losers,’ ‘radicals, ‘anarchists’ and think we hate America.”  They want to better the country and want the legislators to hear. When America shuts down the voices of the majority, they will setup tents to show that they are still here.

I got the points from this article. The quote used in point 8 was directly taken from the original post.

To this I will be playing another Vice Squad song to the Occupiers. Remember to always "Stand Strong, Stand Proud!"