Photo: Fang Guo via Flickr
Let me start by stating that I deeply symphatize with the Occupy movement. The current crises conditions—caused by the destructive powers of turbo-capitalism—demand drawing a line, taking a stand, and raging against the machine.
But…
I don’t think occupation is the way to a fundamental societal change. It’s education! Occupation is the start, but education is the finish. We need to Enlighten Wall Street.
Why?
Greed won’t go away by naming and shaming corporations, nor by rebelling against their destructive acting. We need to go much further and deeper than that. To create a fundamental system change, we need not to rise against the system, but rise above the system. We can do this by acknowledging thee things:
1. We can’t change corporations, because there are no such as corporations. A corporation is nothing more and nothing less than a bunch of people working together. We need to humanize “Wall Street.” We need to stop shouting and start speaking from people to people. “Wall Street” is made up by people just like you and me. People that want to be happy. The people from “Wall Street” aren’t intrinsically bad; they just have a bad interpretation of what “happy” is all about. On “Wall Street” happy equals money. Which, off course, is an delusional recipe for disaster. If we want to change “Wall Street” we need to show—teach—people the difference between money and happy. We need to stop giving “Wall Street” our collective criticism, and start giving it’s people our individual compassion! They just don’t know better…
2. Fundamental system change will never happen if we remain focussed on the acting dimension. Acting or doing is namely at the end of the (human) line. Doing is always preceded by thinking and feeling. And thinking and feeling are always preceded by being. The mind is the source. Buddhism teaches us that the untrained and untamed mind is the cause of all suffering. To end suffering, we need to transcend ignorance, greed, and hate (a.k.a. known as The Three Poisons). We need to attain wisdom and skillful action. If we really want to change “Wall Street” we don’t need a collective revolution, but an individual transformation. We need to start deep into the minds of the people of “Wall Street.”
3. We need to stop fighting the system. It’s delusional. The reality is that “Wall Street”
is caused and conditioned. It’s destructive origin is dependent. It didn’t happen by coincidence. We created “Wall Street.” We therefore need to acknowledge that there is no “us” versus “them.” We are all “Wall Street.” It’s not just corporations that are guilty. We are all equally guilty. “Them” corporations did what they did because of “us.” “Them” could only behave as corporations, because “us” behaved as clients. Production and consumption co-exist. They form a system. If “them” are greedy corporations, then “us” are greedy consumers! That’s why we must not look for a better future outside the system, but within the system. We don’t need dualism, but realism!
So dearest, bravest people of the Occupy movement; stop protesting against everything that is hideous in this system, and start manifesting everything that is virteous in this system. Stop camping and start working! Leave your campsites and enter the “Wall Street” workplace. “Wall Street” needs you! “Wall Street” needs compassionate, conscious, people. Capitalism is what we—”them” and “us”—make it. Capitalism can be destructive and/or it can be constructive. It’s up to us to make it constructive and collaborative. So… stop screaming for change, and be the change! Lead us to a better future by a being a better example! Be a lamp unto yourself and “Wall Street;” Enlighten “Wall Street!”
May all living beings be happy… and understand the difference between happy and money.
Much Metta,
Kees Klomp
well, duh…. the occupation IS a form of education.
Sorry buddy, nice try. Little news flash. Wall Street has itself been decimated and Wall Street is not hiring, not even from ivy league schools. I agree with your message in the sense that he problem will not be solved by occupation, but there needs to be a shock to the system that will precipitate structural change to the system. That change unfortunately will not happen by us getting a job on Wall Street. Wall Street is over, we need to focus on using today’s new tools to build more transparent systems with less of an agency cost, and I do not see that coming form Wall Street, regardless if you or I get a job there.
Stop demonizing money – it isn’t the money. It is the beliefs about money that people hold. Money is not GOOD or BAD – its a tool and it can just as easily be a tool that supports people acting in ways that raise society as a whole up as it can be a tool that tears us all apart. We are all making a choice – you are right – EDUCATE . Educate us that we all make choices and we can choose to place value on the things that raise society up and give respect and dignity to our fellow man.
I agree with 99% (no pun intended) of what you wrote. You left out one thing. We are out of time. Ego cannot be rationalized with. Ego cannot be argued with. Ego feeds ego. It is true that, slowly, God works spirituality into the minds and hearts of people driven mad with fear and greed. We can be the tools of God to this end (as I believe you are stating). However, over-stimulated and ego-driven people are just out of reach of their spirituality. We cannot wait for this light to come on. The planet cannot wait for this to occur. I know there are conscientious people in business, but it has been that way for years and we are out of time.
@eternalspring
i used ‘wallstreet’ to symbolize the destructive places & forces of our current system. in my humble opinion, that same places & forces can be used for constructive purposes. for instance: social entrepreneurship is also entrepreneurship and impact investing is also investing, but capitalist in a non greedy, wise and positive way.
i understand and agree with what you’re saying. i meant ‘wallstreet’ in the symbolic sense of the word. i wouldn’t dare recommend you a job at wallstreet
I agree with the other two posted comments. Have you actually been down to an “Occupy” event or just going by what the media feeds us. They are completely devoted to educating not only the masses that they see as themselves but anyone, including on Wall Street, that genuinely wants to listen (not drink champagne and laugh at the rabble…not really a good PR move if they wanted to be “understood” as compassionate to the common 99%. You can say that they are the few amongst the many to which I counter that the same can be said about the more unruly and aggressive amongst the Occupy participants. ) In fact during their general assemblies ALL or invited to join the discussion and they have several smaller gatherings that invite peaceful dialog and open communication and plenty of positivity. As to your comment “stop camping and start working” I think that is a mute point as that is why they are down there to begin with, aren’t they? There are no “jobs to be had.”
I was thrilled to see the heading, “Enlighten Wall ST.” I hope it becomes that title. Unfortunately the rest of your article has some flaws. Like a comment before, the Occupy movement is educational ! It’s a wake up call. It’s about removing the veils and not just about corporate greed but the lies in the political system. I am a believer that what we see outside of us that is negative is also within us and we must courageously face that which we think we are avoiding. I am mostly Buddhist btw. To say that we are as guilty as the corporations though is a bit ridiculous. If you trust a system and it lies to you again and again, it’s time to remove the veils of illusion. And I don’t think “guilt” is a valuable emotion. Remorse yes. Guilt is not educational, useful, or loving of one’s Self. I’m surprised OdeWire let this article through. Let One Love rule.
mmm…. this movement isn’t limited to the streets anymore. It’s getting into the companies as well. And that’s because there is a little WallStreet in every company, and in every one of us. To me that’s good news. The beauty of OWS is that everybody knows now that he or she is not the only who imagines a John Lennon-world. We are the 99%, and that includes the workers and managers, who are still following leaders that do not deserve that title anymore. Not every one needs to be on WallStreet, but we could and should all wake up, and become connected as responsible leaders of our own life and jobs.
@jeff wayman
sorry, but you/we really are as guilty as the corporations. we enabled and conditioned them. there can only be corporations with clients. you/we really are what you/we consume. you/we are accountable.
@jeff wayman & @openmind
i know the movement is educational; i just don’t think collective protesting is the most skillful way. i believe in people who lead the way towards a better, fairer system by being a constructive example: social entrepreneurs, impact investors etc.
Kees, you say, “i just don’t think collective protesting is the most skillful way.” Was there not skill in South Africa when Nelson Mandela spoke out about Apartheid and the ANC protested; was there not skill in the actions of protest by Gandhi and the INC in their non-violent protests, and was it not Martin Luther King who skillfully brought to bear the ideas of Gandhi in effecting changes in Civil Rights in this country……? I disagree with your contention that these are not the most skillful….they certainly were and are. These protests are speaking truth to power and speaking in a very forward looking way – they are inspiring in the utmost as what you see are young and old, poor and not-so-poor, multi-ethnic peoples standing side-by-side, daring to dream of a better world….and finally, it is gaining traction. This doesn’t happen by being in the current system…it happens by striving for a new system. Remember, the universe was started with a Big Bang!
@Kees Klomp: Well said. At our company we’re not fighting against big oil to get our biodegradable gasoline replacement to market. We’re fighting for the attention of big oil/coal addicts. (From Wall Street bankers to poor folk and everyone in between.)
@Eternalspring: Want to shock the system in a good way? Reinvent liquid energy.
Systemic change in America’s cities and towns will happen by producing a clean, biodegradable liquid fuel (138 octane, EPA approved oxygenate) that can power any internal combustion engine without modifications. Made 24/7 from municipal wastes, biomass, coal, methane and CO2.
Check out ENVIROLENE® higher mixed alcohol fuel:
http://www.openfuelstandard.org/2011/10/higher-mixed-alcohol-fuel-introduction.html
Kees Klomp,
I totally agree that people must manifest what they desire, we must, and focus on what we WANT to create in order to make change.
However, I do feel protest is a useful and extremely important tool for change. That is because consciousness shift is a powerful outcome of the massive activity happening in the US and internationally.
One for example being that I and you are having public conversations about these issues, and it sparks a consciousness shift in the entire population.
As others have noted, it would be difficult to create change, if we not aware of the problem. And this movement is doing just that. Making us all the acutely aware of the highway robbery going on that is depleting the world and its people. And it will only get better, when people realize what is going on and who is responsible for it.
Then real systemic change can happen.
So, PROTEST ON!
Have you actually talked to anyone who has lost their life savings, their job, their home, their health insurance, and their dignity? Have you looked them in the eye? Altruistically what you say makes sense but part of cultivating a loving heart (metta) is to allow it to be genuinely touched by the heart break. When our hearts break wide open we have a real place for change to happen. We have to allow ourselves to be touched by the suffering before it is transformed into wisdom and the possibility for actually hearing the education becomes far more possible.
Folks,
My blog is not about criticism, but about realism. I deeply sympathize with the occupy movement and it’s aim to change the current system. I just don’t think occupation is the most skillful mean to achieve a structural and fundamental system change. If ‘them’ bankers, corporations and marketeers are the problem, then ‘them’ are also the solution. We need to change ‘them’, and I don’t think that will happen by smoking them out of their holes, but by compassion. ‘Them’ are just ignorant people. And please pay special attention to that last word: people!!!