#OWS

Strictly shooting from the hip… I think the withering Occupy Wall Street movement has a lot of room for growth. The impact was certainly profound but it strikes me as a profound fleeting moment….like the Y2K scare (sorry if that dates me.) 

It was easy to point to the movement and categorize the folks immediately, especially in New York City. A sea of expensively dressed college students in LL Bean tents and certainly a mix of converging wanderers (and I love wanderers.) 

Throughout the movement, there was a noticeable lack of vision…haphazardly constructed goals, chaos…and all seemingly coming from a white middle class contingent.

When I think of successful American movements, I think of Martin Luther King, Gloria Steinem, Harvey Milk, Robert Kennedy even perhaps Alan Watts, Terrence Mckenna or Ram Dass. They all had very precise goals. They all leaned on orderly peace to send a message. The oppressions they faced and battled were arguably much more palpable than the perceived oppression of those in the Occupy Wall Street Movement. 

The failure, if one could be stated, of the Occupy Wall Street movement is in the egomaniacal impetus of the movement.- Hear us now! These are our demands!

Which is fine, though-

While inner city schools fight for fair educational standards, minorities and women fight for fair wages, gays fight for equal rights, doves rally for the end of war, truth seekers seek to expose the fraud of government - where were you Occupy Wall Street? You were at college. You were safe. You werent there when the ones fighting all along asked for your hand.

Whether you agree or not, I only offer an idea why this movement may be much more of highlight of the year than an impression on a generation.

Movements need vision. Vision is channeled by those brave enough to be leaders. Leaders direct the fight and the “fight” should be peaceful if weve learned anything from the success of our visionaries.

I think perhaps a good next step for the Occupy movement is to disperse into advocacy areas of interest. Join a cause. Support another person’s right. Take what is learned and with a mature perspective….

Then Occupy the World.