Occupy the Present : Justice & Love triumph at Oakland's general strike

[milascave2]

Folks, why do you keep saying that :sinign Kumbaya" won't work? I didn't hear that song at all in this video. In fact, many succseful movements for change were led by people of faith (Ghandi, King, etc.)

But you don't have to believe in any religion to benefit from the calming effects of meditation and similer practices.

Then, once you have generated calm and compassion, you will be in a much better state of mind when the chaos begins, when the police come, etc. And you may be more effective

[rezdoglatte]

@milascave2 wonderful insight, thanks for sharing!

[milascave2]

@rezdoglatte Your welcome.

[tazru333]

I wonder how long it will take for these people to get Pepper Sprayed too?

I REALLY wish I lived in a Country that did not have that reputation!

[micoforion]

@monchichinom indeed, I' not saying to be violent, the fact I hate anarchists, but to sing kumbaya my lord is not the way, Last time we tried that in 60s everyone depicted peace protests as a hippie movement and license to ignore whole reason why my mom and her generation stood for their right and protests on streets.

Democracy leads to pluralism leads to liberty leads hegemony leads to love leads to peace! Not the other way around. Dictators won't change unless you force them to change ;)

[krahl4]

this is dumb. go back to work and stop creating anarchy.

[hollandapplepie]

sweet peace on love

[rrpov]

Love conquers all.

[lamaddussa]

@rrpov

unfortunately, it does not.

[Temescal60]

Dear Microforion, cc everybody,

Please continue to speak up as an atheist committed to nonviolence. As for me, I have a spiritual path from which I learn deeply, but I certainly know others who (like you) find this spirituality stuff not to their taste.

[grandmachristine42]

As an outsider to organized religion and a solid longtime leftist, here is what I saw happen to Christianity in the U.S.: After 2000 years of struggle, the true church (the people) finally got the church structure types to admit that Jesus had a preferential option for the poor. IMMEDIATELY 1/3 of those who had been committed Christians for 80 generations said "Fk that! I'm an atheist then." So I am as suspicious of atheists as I am of fanatical church types. Love truth, love, and goodness.

[eyepiphany]

Wonderful video and thanks for sharing. I think at this stage of this game of capitalism implosion the key, nearly extinct ingredient to positive change lies in that precious venue of inclusion instead of the derisive, inflammatory, and stridently partisan politicking that, of course, the media laps up and wantonly seeks like Jon Stewart's infamous parody of the "squirrel" obsessed dog.

[jennhx]

Thanks for sharing the (majority) peaceful side of such protests. I'm saddened to see mainstream media focusing in on the violent fringes of protests, when the vast majority strive for peaceful change, as you've shown here.

[kenide55]

this video mad me cry tears of joy. it touched me deeply. the power of sound and meditation is so powerful and beautiful.

[keo2807]

Thank you! I appreciate the video's focus on humanity-merges-with activism, which is fundamental to the 'occupy' movement . I did not perceive this as having a religious orientation, but your video documents broader/deeper (and w/o dogma that plagues much of what we call 'religion') concepts for how we can perceive the world and our lives as humans. (sort of 'world peace begins with inner peace' + soc/pol/econ change takes broad actions.) Thanks! Nicely edited etc!

[pkuhn1]

Great clip, thanks David. Glad to see so many cultivating peace to support action for loving change. There is no "they", only us.

[macbev]

Bravo, David!

Made my evening smile.

So nice to see the joy and enthusiasm - missing from the news.

Thank you.

[Isaracing]

great video

[micoforion]

not sure what to make of this video, i am leftiie and liberal but hate religion, any religion and just didn't like underlining religious tone here.

Are you guys praying for corporations to stoop steeling, or for corrupt police force to stop beating innocent protesters.

Peace and Justice is what everyone wants, how exactly you plan to achieve this peace and justice if you aren't vocal about it, singing kumbya my lord won't help. It was tried before and failed miserably.

[rezdoglatte]

@micoforion Thanks for taking the time to view the piece and comment. I understand having negative experiences with religion. Yet many find cultivating their inner peace through meditation and prayer brings about personal joy, which then spreads to others, and hopefully the world. It can also help bring about insight into the right thing to do. Wishing you happiness on your path.

[micoforion]

@rezdoglatte well that is all fine, I'm A OK if you guys want to pray, be my guest, I am just saying that now republicans and corporations will use this to describe our movement as some sort of a hippy movement and will try to sidetrack whole movement by describing it as such, a hippy movement, don't get me wrong my mom is a hippy (she's 1968 generation) was at the baricades and all that, peace and love, but we need to look at this from pragmatic point, what do we want?

[lamaddussa]

@micoforion

i'm an atheist & i hear where you're coming from. meditating, praying & making paper cranes may comfort those engaging in those practices but they will not change the injustices in the world. if those activities give people the emotional strength and inner peace to allow them to take external, constructive action in the world, then they may have some value other than simply comforting those who engage in them. much in this clip was moving, though i'm also skeptical of some of it.

[rezdoglatte]

@lamaddussa Meditating, praying & making paper cranes will definately change the situation. These are actions of love. Hatred Will Cease Only By Love. This Is An Eternal Law.

[micoforion]

@rezdoglatte lol, sorry ot trying to rude here, but America is than doing a lot of lowing as of late, Iraq, Afghanistan. Only way to to deal with current situation in America (lack of human rights and injustice - the 99%) is to demand your rights, but singing kumbaya my lord ruling apparatchiks will only ignore you, and beat the hell out of you, I doubt love and peace works on them ;) I am all for peace and love, but we need to face a reality, we need to demand our rights!!!

[monchichinom]

@micoforion

If we demand peace but don't practice it, then our "peace" movement will break up. If we practice peace with those around us, then we can create a peaceful community that will attract more peaceful people to join. That's how we will create peace, community by community.

[micoforion]

@monchichinom bit of a news flash, this is not a peace movement, its a movement that wants to right economic injustice in America but also world wide, where 1% control 90% of all assets.

Unless you are still stuck in 60s and 70s, or where were you in 2003 why didn't you demonstrate against Iraq war, this is when we needed peace marchers, now we need social equality marchers, and ppl who want to support social and economic equality i.e pacifist and peace marchers are always welcomed too.

[lamaddussa]

@micoforion

it's both. part of what is bankrupting & traumatizing the world is war, state brutality, violent crime, etc, which all are tied back to issues of democracy & social & economic equity & justice...

[monchichinom]

@micoforion I was protesting against the war in 2003 and prior, full of anger and wanted a revolution. Our anti-war group broke apart b/c we demanded peace but couldn't practice peace with each other. In the 70s, I was escaping a war. I don't think we disagreed on wanting economic justice but how to go about achieving and sustaining it is debatable. We see regimes change around the world but the problem of corruption didn't go away with new parties in power when everyone operates on us v. them.

[ProtestVideo]

great video--sending solidarity from occupy boston

[carolnorris]

<3

[gypsyheart59baby]

Yes, truly beautiful... mankind united for a better world.. The Mayans predicted a Cosmic awakening for 2012 :-) <3 And it is has begun... Thank God... Thank you Oakland .... God bless you all... Love you all <3

[peacemuzic]

nice job, i may add this to the livestream

[peggyforpeace]

beautiful...