Admittedly, I haven't been following what's been happening all that closely, nor do I completely understand it. It hasn't been taking place in our parks so it's quite easy to dismiss it all, but now months into it, I have to ask, aren't things being carried just a bit too far?
Events basically started on Wall Street as a protest against economic and social equality and now, while officials have been doing their utmost to quash the initiative, the Occupy Movement has grown to international levels taking place in over 95 cities across 82 countries. Essentially, large groups of people are gathering in parks and public places, setting up tents and taking up residence with one simple moral message on their minds: "It's wrong to wreck the world. It's wrong to wreck the health and hopes of others... America is a tale of two economies: one serves Wall Street, and the other is accountable to the rest of us. Which one will we choose?"
Given the current state of the American economy I can see where these people are coming from and the rational behind why this all started, I really can but what began as a peaceful, attention grabbing protest has fueled fires across the globe and it's evolving into something different. At what point do we draw the line? NOW, believe many officials. Occupy movements have been dismantled in Calgary, Quebec City and Victoria and this week police are on site in Toronto. Protestors have been talked to, reasoned with, and asked to voluntarily take their belongings and leave but the scenario keeps dragging on. What was once a serene, family type park setting in Toronto, is now cluttered with garbage, tents and debris. The thing about this too, is that a lot of the people 'occupying' the park likely don't even know why they're there. People like to be a part of something so basically they're wandering in and staying. Everyone is drawn to an energized rally. But what's the focus? And what will be the outcome if this continues to drag on?
Don't get me wrong, I believe in standing up for the things you are passionate about. I believe that unified, people can, and do, bring about change. And I think the originators of this movement have struck a nerve but with that said, it's time for them to regroup and to come up with new ways to create change. When people start getting hurt and property starts getting destroyed, it's time to develop a 'Plan B.'
"My friends, love is better than anger. Hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we'll change the world." - Jack Layton.
