Support the Occupation Movement even as we clarify and address its inevitable contradictions

“Freedom is a hard-bought thing and millions are in chains, but they strain toward the new day drawing near.”—Paul Robeson

The growing ‘OCCUPATION’ movement sweeping this nation, and countries throughout the world, is a legitimate and much-needed struggle not only physically, but also in a consciousness-raising mental sense on many levels.

This protracted struggle on the part of everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people is not without its inevitable contradictions which must be addressed and rectified. Nonetheless, an important initial victory has already been won. This initial victory can be found in the fact that the ‘OCCUPATION’ movement is bringing about a very important increase in the political consciousness of everyday people. This, in itself, terrifies the corporate-government, its allies and systemic gate-keepers.

Due to the fact that we everyday people, have historically been and continue to be, incessantly deluged by the corporate-stream media and so-called ‘educational’ institutions with misinformation, mythology, and distractions, there are inevitable contradictions that must be recognized, clarified, and addressed in this struggle. These contradictions are a significant challenge, and the corporate Democratic Party foxes and the corporate Republican Party wolves are attempting to exploit these contradictions in an effort to co-opt, discredit, neutralize, and ultimately destroy this growing people’s movement. Nevertheless, forewarned is euphemistically forearmed.

Some systemic contradictions in need of addressing

An example of a contradiction that must be recognized, addressed, and rectified is the mythology of the “rule of law.” It needs to be clearly understood that what is needed first and foremost by everyday people is the rule of justice. Laws often have nothing whatsoever to do with justice. Laws, and how they are enforced, repeatedly contradict the attainment of justice. Thus, the people’s struggle must grasp the fact that laws must emanate from justice; not the other way around. Those who call for the rule of law, should in fact, be calling for the rule of justice politically, economically, and socially.

Another contradiction can be seen in the fallacious notion that the police are somehow a part of the everyday people (i.e. the 99%). The fact is that the police are the para-military wing of the 1%, irrespective of whether they have formed what they call unions. The police are the guardians and enforcers for the corporate elite (i.e. the 1%). Without these paid police enforcers (both public and private) the 1% could not exist and thrive. There must be no illusions about this amongst everyday Black, White, Brown, Red, and Yellow people.

As beautiful, necessary, and inspiring as the OCCUPATION movement presently is, it/we must address the systemically ingrained and insulting mythology of ‘America,’ as being singularly, a supposed ‘nation of immigrants.’ This singular ‘nation of immigrants’ narrative is an inaccurate, degrading, and racist myth meant to rationalize the genocide of millions of Indigenous Native peoples and the brutal enslavement of Black slaves brought in bondage from Africa. The Indigenous Native peoples of this continent and many descendants of Black slaves know full well that to smugly describe the United States as a ‘nation of immigrants’ is to denigrate, insult, and ignore the precious histories and ongoing political, economic, and social disenfranchisement of millions of ‘people of color.’ Let us remember that the founding of the United States was itself a brutal occupation, and with this in mind, we must collectively redefine and forever change what a 21st century ‘OCCUPATION’ will mean for everyday people of all colors. As an increasing amount of ‘people of color’ become an integral part of the collective and important ‘OCCUPATION’ movement, along with our White sisters and brothers in this nation, this and other contradictions must be boldly addressed honestly and forthrightly. This is not and will not be easy, but it is a political imperative that we clarify and address these contradictions even as we engage in and support the ‘OCCUPATION’ movement as a part of the struggle of everyday people.

Onward now and in the future

As the pontificating political pundits of the corporate-stream media continue to ignore or try to distort the legitimate struggle of everyday people, including the ‘OCCUPATION’ movement; we must intensify in our collective efforts. Each one teaching one, remembering that corporate hegemony, political chicanery & corruption, economic austerity at home, homelessness, joblessness, social inequities, and perpetual wars abroad do not have to be tolerated. It does not have to be this way! But it is only we, the everyday people collectively, who will bring about real systemic change.

It is time to reclaim Mother Earth as her stewards. It is time to reclaim our consciousness and act accordingly! It is time to break our mental, economic, and physical chains—once and for all!

Onward, then, my sisters and brothers! Onward!

BlackCommentator.com Editorial Board Member, Larry Pinkney, is a veteran of the Black Panther Party, the former Minister of Interior of the Republic of New Africa, a former political prisoner and the only American to have successfully self-authored his civil / political rights case to the United Nations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. In connection with his political organizing activities in opposition to voter suppression, etc., Pinkney was interviewed in 1988 on the nationally televised PBS News Hour, formerly known as The MacNeil / Lehrer News Hour. For more about Larry Pinkney see the book, Saying No to Power: Autobiography of a 20th Century Activist and Thinker, by William Mandel [Introduction by Howard Zinn]. (Click here to read excerpts from the book.) Click here to contact Mr. Pinkney.