The beginning is near: Five busloads of MA Nurses Association members and 50 Northeastern Students join with occupiers to march the streets of Boston Wednesday. Photo courtesy of D. Markus Witt.
(But It’s Not Exactly Unclear Either)
The Occupy Boston Movement and the other Occupation Movements nation-wide are being portrayed in an often negative and inaccurate fashion in the mass media currently, if at all. The movement is frequently attacked for not having a clear message or clear list of demands.
The argument that there is no clearly defined, unified message for the movement is somewhat valid. However, there are some clearly defined themes, such as unity and democracy, that unite us all. This unity and commitment to the democratic process is at the core of what is bringing people from all walks of life together to participate in and learn more about the Occupy Movement.
This Movement is a beacon: it is an example to our neighbors on how to actively participate in our democracy, to our government on how democracy is supposed to function.
The first step in this movement was to unite the 99%, to get the word out to join the in the democratic process of the Occupation. There was no singular message for the Movement, because the goal was to gather a large enough group to participate in formulating the message, and the action plan thereafter.
This is an ongoing process, and at times like we saw at the Wednesday evening General Assembly, this process can be arduous and frustrating. But it’s important that we take the time to listen to all the voices, points of view, and counter-points if this is to be a true democratic process that we hope for our leaders to emulate.
Selective interviews and media sound bites cannot contain the full message of the Occupy Movements. To get a fuller picture, join in a General Assembly. Tell the group what you think and what you want. This is your chance to be heard, and to help form a Movement you can get behind. We are the 99%. You are the 99%.
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