Occupy Wall Street-- Athens Style

It rained all day and the temperature dropped slightly, showing signs of fall. No walking, no cycling and the day was perfect for staying inside. At 11 pm, the scarce light surrounding the UGA Arch was dim and fuzzy, it being influenced by the, misty evening.

They were there, just as reported. If someone believes strongly enough to be out in this, then someone should be paying enough attention to report on it.

“Who do I speak to for an interview?”  The question asked.

“Anyone, we are all leaders, there are no leaders.” The answer given.

The group, as a whole was migrating to the Holmes/Hunter Academic Building. It seemed to be a good place to interview or take a little footage. It is interesting to note, this footage was shot on the very steps that in 1961, Charlayne Hunter-Gualt and Hamilton Holmes, were escorted up, to become The University of Georgia’s first Afro American students. Mrs. Gualt went on to be the first Black graduate from the school.

No definable leader was making it hard to tape; the lack of light was also a problem.

“Just turn on the camera, it’ll be fine,” someone said, I did.

It was clear as soon as the camera started that this movement has no proclaimed leader, but is rich in leadership. A group of forty, possibly more, all young, recited their mission statement simultaneously and then each added their own personal contribution. None ridiculous, extreme or ignorant and none rooted in the general political stupidity our country seems to be suffering.

The only concern about being leaderless, is that, if there is a vacuum, someone will fill it and that someone might not be a good someone. While the media has been trying to mostly ignore this movement, the rest of the nation and world are paying attention, via the internet.

The unions seem to be embracing it, no surprise; they need a new movement to keep them busy. Again not necessarily a good thing, but politics or freedom makes for strange bedfellows. Any country with strong hatred for our country is all over it. After all, they want to cause us as many problems as possible, no surprise, but that cannot stop our system from working. Where is Jesse Jackson in all this? I’m just asking and wishing I hadn’t.

The general concept, as I see it, is they are trying to wake up the ninety-nine percent of Americans adversely affected by the manipulation of our government by the one percent with enough money to influence it. They believe the American Government is wearing a leash and the people who control Wall Street are firmly holding that leash. In effect they believe we are dead horses and Wall Street continues to beat us as we bleed in the streets. Is it possible that our burden as tax payers has strangled the life from us as we slept?

 Will we eventually find puppet masters hiding somewhere in the stage curtains? We may, but at this moment the movement seems to have diverse supporters and detractors. It seems the world holds an interest in the outcome and indeed it does. Pay attention there may be a test, as people and organizations scramble to associate or disassociate themselves with this cause.

When our enemies are this excited about a thing, it might change our minds. When people so completely support or condemn something, it might change the country. When 780 people will be arrested for a thing, in a matter of days, it might change the world.