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for what its worth - stephen stills/1966

There's something happening here
What it is ain't exactly clear
There's a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware

I think it's time we stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

There's battle lines being drawn
Nobody's right if everybody's wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind

I think it's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side

It's time we stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

Paranoia strikes deep
Into your life it will creep
It starts when you're always afraid
You step out of line, the man come and take you away

We better stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, hey, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, now, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down
Stop, children, what's that sound
Everybody look what's going down

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...peace...

If participants in Occupy Oakland behaved like some CD posters the police could just stand back and let them fight among themselves. Fortunately, the Occupy people seem to be united against a common enemy.

By all means, let music and humor help us in these times; both are powerful methods of helping spread the message and keep the utter seriousness of all this (and it is, very, very serious) somewhat in balance with our mutual desires to enjoy this precious experience of life.

We are extraordinarily fortunate to have this opportunity to help make the world a better place. How many of us "older progressives" have lamented the apathy and the waste of human spirit that modern America largely became - and now, at last, we see a whole lot of angry, desperate, fed up people from all walks of life standing up in quite vocal and pointed and spirited opposition to the thugs who have hijacked our country and our liberties (and those of the entire world). If you believe in the spirit and the sacrifices that gave birth to America, you cannot help but be moved.

How must the veterans of Iraq, Afghanistan and other imperial, pointless, destructive American wars feel to see one of their comrades lying in critical condition, shot by *some* cop merely for exercising those very rights that he just got done fighting for (in theory) overseas? Does it make them feel that the real fight for freedom has been here at home all along?

God bless Scott Olsen and sincere prayers for his recovery. Thanks to the many American marines and other armed forces members for their sacrifices. Although I don't believe in any of these wars, I never blamed the warriors for them. They are just doing the job they believe they are charged with. Many of the best advocates for peace are retired Marines. I hope this is even more the case now after what just happened to their brother in arms.

Those responsible for the atrocious police attack in Oakland must be held accountable. This may not be Kent State, nor the Boston Massacre, but it certainly is a provocation that ultimately could have repercussions at least as profound as those events.

I absolutely do not advocate violence, as I agree it will merely provide the excuse that the powers that be "need" to attack the movement and the protesters. But neither do I advocate allowing such abuses to go unpunished. Shut down Oakland for a day, as is being called for. Such mass actions are peaceful but potent methods of demonstrating that "It's time to know there's a time to fight, we've got the numbers, we've got the might."

I have just returned from a visit to the West Bank where I was taken to see the town of Bil'in which hosts a gathering of peoples every Friday to protest the existence and expansion of the Israeli apartheid wall. On one of those Fridays past, young American Tristan Anderson was a part of the non-violent crowd of protesters when he was hit in the head by a tear gas canister ( believe me, they are not innocuous weapons-- I have seen them in person) fired at him by an Israeli soldier. Tristan survived the attack on him, but suffers from lingering
effects.
Imagine the horror I felt when, within 1 day of my arriving back in the U.S., I see a totally similar attack made on Scott Olsen, another American, this time by those who are paid to PROTECT him. Is this country becoming a police state like the Occupied Territories? Are our "protectors'" becoming arrogant, hateful, killing machines like the members of the IDF? Shame on them.

imperialism is the highest (advanced) stage of capitalism, requiring monopolies (of labour and natural-resource exploitation) and the exportation of finance capital (rather than goods) to sustain colonialism, which is an integral function of said economic model.[3][4] Furthermore, in the capitalist homeland, the super-profits yielded by the colonial exploitation of a people and their economy, permit businessmen to bribe native politicians — labour leaders and the labour labour aristocracy (upper stratum of the working class) — to politically thwart worker revolt (labour strike); hence, the new proletariat, the exploited workers in the Third World colonies of the European powers, would become the revolutionary vanguard for deposing the global capitalist system.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperialism,_the_Highest_Stage_of_Capitalism

I keep wondering what kind of behavior would stun the police into stillness. What if in the face of an attack we stand, hold hands and sing as loud as we can a chorus of the National Anthem or American the Beautiful? What if we remind them of where they come from and who they really are, one of us, the 99%? What are all the warm, inclusive, arrow to the heart songs that would make someone want to join in and sing along?

How can someone shoot at people who are singing God Bless America? Well, maybe some of them still can, but make it hard for them, make them see us as fellow Americans, fellow human beings, people who are on the side justice and doesn't everyone want to be on the side of justice? Amazing Grace with a bagpiper, Let There Be Peace on Earth, and let it begin right here with us.

This land IS your land and my land and let us defend it together against the real enemy, the 1% who believe they own us and own our loyalty because they gave us credit cards, sneakers and high tech electronics to play with. Anyone remember the poster of the protester putting a daisy in the barrel of a National Guard rifle? We are in this together and we have to make the police and law enforcement authorities understand this, even in the face of rubber bullets, bean bags, flash/bangs & tear gas. If we don't the onslaught will only get worse.

And it’s not about win or lose, it’s about standing fast in the face of the 1% and letting them know over and over again that we will not be pushed aside; we will not be hushed and made to live on our knees. We will not be moved.

Gifford was shot in the head like Olsen.

C'mon they are good little nazi soldiers they don't question orders. So when they start hitting you or shooting you do the same to them and say...."i'm just protecting myself from violent criminals". They do what they gotta do and we should be surrounding them or FOLLOWING THEM HOME!!!!!! take some tear gas and throw in their front window. Then let them look around and complain about the 99% who should not do such things to him.

It appears to be quite impossible for people to acknowledge the 4th Reich in its present manifestation. It is a manifestation that was designed in the years following the 'end' of WW2 and has been refined since. Whoever believed that Fascism as we know from Germany was the worst You could think of, I urge to look at the the attitude and demeanor of the executive of this and other heavily industrialized Nations. There can be no doubt that there is a fascist global conglomerate of filthy rich people and the MIC, which are symbiotic by nature. Militarism breeds Fascism.
The beast of run-amok legislative/executive power is unleashed and it has its very own dynamic. It may no longer be possible to dismantle it by any means.

The very notion "...just following orders..." is the prerequisite for a repetition of history. Americans will soon find out that the demon they were feeding after 9/11 is ready to consume them, to absorb their lives - as it has started to do so already.
What can one say on this or other fori? That the only solution for a citizen would be a 'Denial of Consumption'?

Instead of following orders, people would have to stay at home. That won't fly because those who follow orders would not want to lose their jobs. And off we go.

The Occupy Wall Street movement could still be a set up. To get all those identified that need to be removed the soonest. At this point in time we are looking at the 21st century version of the Third Reich. With drones abound and satellites you don't want to know of.

What's left is the complete withdrawal from the streets. Maybe we have a better chance with 'Empty the Streets' - denial of consumption. 'Denial of Consumption' should do. What we do need is a way to do without 'leader'ship. Therefor the 'Occupy Wall Street'-movement has already done more for society, than most other attempts, if there were ever any of this magnitude. On the side, I do believe in Quantum Physics and observed from that perspective, the one percent are on their way out. Let them just turn off the lights when they leave.