I'm Thankful for Occupy

[davidswanson]

I'm thankful that a growing number of us reject the idea of a mysterious being to which we should be thankful, and for the concomitant growing assumption of responsibility for our own fate.

I'm thankful that there are so many people doing so many things for which I am thankful.

I'm thankful for the best family I can imagine. Scratch that. I'm thankful for a better family than I could merely imagine.

I'm thankful too for better employers than I could merely imagine.

I'm thankful that so many other people have families and friends and allies and bosses and colleagues that facilitate work that benefits us all.

I'm thankful to those who are alone and find the strength to push on productively.

I'm thankful that when friends and allies disagree they can reconcile.

I'm thankful that when activists burn out they can revive.

I'm thankful that there is finally a movement alive in the United States -- in much of the world this is not new -- a movement that uses all the tools of nonviolence; a movement that refuses to be subsumed by a political party, an elected official, a candidate, or any organization that itself obeys any of those things; a movement that does not separate domestic from foreign issues; a movement that does not self-censor, pre-compromise, condescend, appeal to the lowest common denominator, insult our intelligence, or avoid morality or intellectualism; a movement that has -- contrary to a common misunderstanding present even within the movement -- made such clear and popular demands that hostile media coverage has thus far failed to demonize it; a movement that continually surprises us all with its collective brilliance, innovation, integrity, courage, nonviolence, and -- that rarest of characteristics -- belief in democracy, belief even in something better than the ordinary understanding of democracy.

I'm thankful to the corporate television networks, without which nothing. They have given us a movement despite themselves. Soon may they perish.

I'm thankful to Officer Anthony Bologna, and to Mayor Bloomberg and all the tin pot robber barons exposing so colorfully the violence through which wealth and power are concentrated.

I'm thankful that what does not kill us makes us stronger, and that our mayors and chiefs of police do not know this.

I'm thankful to the climate destroyers for the grotesquely warm weather that is making resistance to the destroyers of our climate a little easier so far.

I'm thankful to those producing the new art and music of this moment and this movement.

I'm thankful for the impending failure of the Superconjob and the likely-as-not bumping of further attacks on our retirement and health security until after another election which will also mean bumping it off until after the fine weather of the spring and a massive national occupation of Washington.

I'm thankful to the mic-checking birddoggers of war criminals and pirates and booktouring banksters who have led to a trend of canceled speaking events.

I'm thankful to everyone who voted the right way in lots of referenda around the country this month.

I'm thankful to states pulling out of mortgage fraud settlement fraud.

I'm thankful to Obama for at least pretending to turn against the tar sands pipeline. I'm thankful to those unsatisfied who are wisely striving to increase rather than withdraw pressure.

I'm thankful to those supporting the Occupy Movement in every way.

Most of all, I'm thankful to those occupying public space, many at serious sacrifice to themselves, their lives, their relationships, their well-being, their wealth, and their liberty.

I'm thankful to those who have worked for this moment for many years without relenting who are now a part of it.

I'm thankful to those who are for the first time joining in.

I'm thankful to the homeless turned activist.

I'm thankful to the activists turned allies and assistants of the homeless.

I'm thankful to those police officers who have begun to refuse illegal orders.

I'm thankful to those journalists who refuse unconscionable scripts and restrictions.

I'm thankful to veterans who campaign against war.

I'm thankful to the propagandists for war on Iran for being so stunningly incompetent.

I'm thankful to the Congress for having put initial minor cuts to the military on the agenda despite its every effort.

I'm thankful to those managing to deal lovingly this holiday season with those closest to them, without retreating into the false comfort of private life but, on the contrary, working collectively -- and also here, lovingly -- for the salvation of our society and our natural environment.

Only we can save ourselves, and only together do we have a chance of pulling it off.

[proud2BlibKansan]

1. Thank you David!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

[davidswanson]

3. you

too!

[FirstLight]

2. I may just have to create my own version for this

...and share it at the next family dinner for the holidays... that will be fun, my dad is a fox news lover and my sis & hubby are fundies ;P


seriously though, I am thankful for YOU and the others here who show solidarity and tribe-mentality more often than not

:grouphug:

[davidswanson]

4. this could be a very cool thread if

everybody did that

[Eddie Haskell]

5. Revolting people are beautiful!

K&R

[handmade34]

6. oh yes

see my signature :patriot:

[babydollhead]

7. so well said!

[Desertrose]

8. Thankful for Occupy...and for you too, David!

Only we can save ourselves, and only together do we have a chance of pulling it off.


OCCUPY TOGETHER!!

[Remember Me]

9. David, I love you dearly

BUT, did it ever occur to you that a statement like this:

I'm thankful that a growing number of us reject the idea of a mysterious being to which we should be thankful, and for the concomitant growing assumption of responsibility for our own fate.

is just as offensive to some of us as the in-your-face evangelism of the so-called Christians that no doubt offends you as much as it does me?

Just keep it at home, brother, where it belongs! One's religious and spiritual beliefs are private and should stay cloaked in privacy.

I also reject the inherent negative judgment about those who are religious and/or spiritual. I am not myself religious, and in fact in my heart am pretty anti-organized religion, but I do recognize that it's an important part of many GOOD people's lives who, just as I do, take full responsibility for their lives. So I cringe when I see across-the-board anti-religious bigotry here at DU. I'd not have expected it from you.

Many people who are agnostic, atheist or just anti-religion have been spiritually abused by religious institutions or people. I can understand that. Hell, we all have been spiritually abused because these religions have taught us we need to look outside ourselves (to a priest or other intercessor) for our spiritual sustenance and well-being, and have taught us other lies about ourselves and each other (anti-woman lies, anti-homosexual lies, lies about the true nature of life on earth, etc.).

So I'll respect your beliefs (even the one expressed here), and wouldn't try to talk you out of them, but I will ask you to be more respectful of mine and not voice your judgmentalism. Adopt the sane and sensible approach from the Great Spiritual Traditions of the East that believe that proseletyzing (and/or shaming people) about their religious beliefs is counterproductive because it's only when people have attained enough spiritual maturity (and yes, over many lifetimes, not just this one), that they begin searching for better answers.

[davidswanson]

12. "Did it ever occur to you ... ?"

is the most arrogant method possible, of course, of beginning a "stop being arrogant" rant :-)

I disagree with some things that have occured to me, including this one. I think religion is very dangerous and needs to be opposed even at the price of offending some people. Opposing trickledown economics offends people too but still needs to be denounced.

Peace,
David

[Remember Me]

15. Well, I didn't accuse you of arrogance

but thanks to your response I can see now that I may have overlooked a thing or two.

Look, I could understand and even support (in some ways) your "religion is dangerous" notion, but not your unwarranted too-wide a brush slam. If you're against religion because it can be dangerous, go after the parts or ways that it is, not after everyone who holds religious and/or spiritual beliefs, if for no other reason than you lose supporters that way --

like me.

Not that I expect that matters all that much to you. Nope. I'm not THAT arrogant.

[Divine Discontent]

17. I always read David's posts. Nearly always agree, but I +1 your comment.

I'm as passive as anyone I know, have never started a physical fight, am quite antiwar, help the homeless to the point of being mocked/harassed for it, and defend everyone's right to believe/disbelieve in a creator, and so do many of the close friends/family I have that are believers in a faith - and think it's not a positive comment to say religion itself is dangerous - it causes many to turn off the messenger. It's people that are dangerous. Jesus Christ is not dangerous. His message is love, and teaches nothing but. People can twist anything (regardless of the subject) into an argument or judging point to subject others to ridicule, or submission, and I believe that is where fundamentalism comes from - it is what is dangerous, and people of faith (whatever each person's may be) needs to call it out.


Get it now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[Demeter]

10. Yes, we have a lot to be thankful for this year

Especially for the map out of this labyrinth.

Perhaps we can truly say: "This is the best of times, this is the worst of times," instead of just being stuck on "This is the worst of times".

[Zorra]

11. Excellent post.

Love ya, bro.

Solidarity. I'm in all the way, forever.

Peace

[fascisthunter]

13. K&R (nt)

[Uncle Joe]

14. Some Police Chiefs do know this.

http://articles.philly.com/2011-10-07/news/30253823_1_protesters-demonstrators-ramsey

Police Commissioner Charles H. Ramsey has a message for those taking part in the Occupy Philadelphia protest at City Hall: The Police Department is here to help.

At roll call Thursday morning, to coincide with the official start of the protest, Ramsey had the First Amendment read in all districts, as a reminder of the department's role in protecting that right.

The exercise will be repeated until officers in all districts have heard it, Ramsey said.

In addition, police dispatchers have been regularly reading the amendment and a message about treating demonstrator respectfully over police radio.

Or in this case a Police Commissioner.

Thanks for the thread, davidswanson.

[malaise]

16. I am thankful that I can read

Davidswanson posts :yourock:

[Divine Discontent]

18. I'm thankful that this year, I broke through finally to my former boss who is a Republican

and got her to finally cave in an email and say they've really disappointed her. My mouth dropped open because she's been a hardcore GOPer as long as I've known her. She's one of those who send every negative Obama email they receive. She's finally seeing some of the light, primarily from my replying to her because she surely isn't getting the truth from Faux Noise!


Get it now, or one of a million other designs! http://www.zazzle.com/republicans_2012_keeping_millions_out_of_work_bumper_sticker-128659602907896843?rf=238107662556833486

[lonestarnot]

19. K & R! I'm thankful I can still be fucking pissed off!

[bertman]

20. Couldn't agree more. REC. Now, EVERYBODY go out and OCCUPY!!! nt

[Enthusiast]

21. kr....Me too..........NT