When my teacher and mentor at the Jewish Theological Seminary Abraham Joshua Heschel told me and others that he had been "praying with his feet" when he participated in the Selma Freedom march in 1965, he confirmed for many a way of overcoming the dichotomy between my religious practice and my radical politics. In many ways, the anti-war movements of the '60s and early '70s of the last century felt like that kind of community prayer.
I had that experience again at my various visits to Occupy Oakland, most intensely this past Wednesday, November 2, 2011. It was a strong protest of the class war that has been waged by the wealthiest 1 percent of the population -- and their hired guns in the media, political world, and educational institutions -- against the 99 percent of the population who have suffered both materially and spiritually in the past four decades. But it was also a powerful reaffirmation, celebration, and manifestation of the life and love energy of the universe that we in the religious community call God, Spirit, Unity of All Being, Source, Creator, Allah, YHVH, Jesus, Buddha, Krishna, Mother, Father, Elohim, Yah, Goddess, and much more.
The tens of thousands of people who streamed through the various parts of the day were there to affirm life, to manifest love, and to challenge the injustice and unrighteousness of our economic and political system. And they did so with remarkable energy, creativity, beauty, and intelligence.
Some of the scenes I liked best:
And, like the '60s, there were also problems.
I offer these thoughts in a collaborative spirit, not in an attempt to undermine all that is good in the movement. No movement is perfect -- we all have our problems and distorted views of reality. I'm hoping that more people committed to nonviolence will show up at the General Assembly meetings held by Occupy Oakland and change the vibe from one which prioritizes "unity" (meaning a refusal to "impose" nonviolence) to one in which people understand that nonviolence is the best strategy, as well as the only morally coherent approach to a struggle for human rights.
It was very disheartening to me Wednesday night to listen as a speaker in favor of non-violence for Occupy Oakland was roundly booed at the Occupy Oakland General Assembly when he mentioned the names of Gandhi and King; and when another person who had introduced a call for non-violence withdrew it in favor of "unity" because he could see that many, if not most, of the people on hand at that time (only about five hundred, less than 5% of those who had marches the week before) rejected the idea of an explicit commitment to non-violence and to creating a group of monitors who would use non-violent techniques, hopefully supported by most everyone else, to restrain those who prioritized acts of destruction of property over the goal of creating a sense of safety for the 99% who this movement often claims to be speaking for.
But the key is to have compassion for everyone. This includes compassion for those decent (but in my view, misguided) young people who believe that "a diversity of tactics" should include tolerance of vandalism). It includes compassion for those who right now don't support us (and including those in the 1 percent who have a desire to rectify the injustice of our social order), and use this moment to thank the universe for the opportunity to overcome cynicism and fight for the world most people really want.
That compassion, however, need not include tolerance of violence committed by either the police or by our fellow demonstrators (who should, in my opinion, be nonviolently restrained from breaking random windows, engaging in provocative actions designed to incite the police, or carrying weapons to smash windows). I believe those engaged in these tactics should be publicly repudiated by the rest of the 99 percent who want fundamental change but do not want it achieved in a violent way. I do not mean to equate the destruction of property with the violence of the police against people, but I do understand and want the demonstrators to understand that the public representation of our movement is critical to its public effectiveness. When its message is seen as being primarily in favor of the rights of the 99%, it opens people's minds in creative and important ways. When it is seen as a turf war for the alleged right to sleep on public property or the right of some people to smash windows, it loses its appeal and allows the 1% to use its media to marginalize the movement, jail its activists, and switch the conversation away from our telling critique of their wealth and power.
So acts of property destruction and the violence it elicits from the police, while inappropriate and self-destructive, should not be allowed to distract us from the central demand for a caring society and justice for the 99 percent. Most people want a world of peace, justice, democracy, human rights, ecological sanity, and an end to poverty and oppression. The problem is, most people don't yet realize that they are not alone in this yearning, so they compromise with an existing social, political, and economic order that they don't really believe in but believe is the only realistic option.
It is time for us to embrace our highest vision of the good, even if it is dismissed by some as utopian. These utopian plans are far more "realistic" than the mush being generated by the realists in the media and in Washington, D.C. -- realists who have given us a society that is growing in its inequality and suffering.
Rabbi Michael Lerner is editor of Tikkun, national chair of the Network of Spiritual Progressives, and author of eleven books including the forthcoming (at the end of November) Embracing Israel/Palestine (published by North Atlantic Books and distributed by Random House.) He is the rabbi of Beyt Tikkun Synagogue in Berkeley, Ca. RabbiLerner@Tikkun.org
Follow Rabbi Michael Lerner on Twitter: www.twitter.com/rabbilerner
Rev. Laura Rose: The Big Interfaith Tent at Occupy Oakland: Faithfully Engaging the 99%
Rabbi Lerner, Thanks for the work you do. I fully agree with your final paragraph, but have some issues with some others of your points. I've written a lengthy reply in the link below, including this:
"As a Pagan minister, for whom the sacredness of earth and sky is paramount to my sense of spiritual connection, I comprehend the importance of place in my bones. I would hope that as a Jew, Rabbi Lerner, you would celebrate the tent encampments as sacred sukkot in which people displaced by foreclosure and unemployment dwell, becoming symbols of a larger awakening and the shaking off of collective bonds of oppression."
The rest is here, in my article at Patheos: "Occupying Sacred Ground: an Open Letter to Michael Lerner"
http://tiny.cc/hywgx
Also, our Oakland needs help, has needed it for decades. Firstly, I do not think all the folks at the scene of the occupation even understand what the Occupy Movement really is. Secondly, It seems neither celebration nor protest can be tolerated by this city as it results in catastrophe due to the outraged and outrageous elements such events attract.
Given that this battle against corporate malfeasance and banking chicanery is a complicated and Global phenomenon, one should expect a similar time element, before the controlling power is forced to listen to the people! That the cause is just is all that must be understood by the participants and the watchers. I believe the cause is just and worthwhile and will result in a new Global economic format that finally puts people before profits. James M. Convey
"............"There are NOT two 'Ms to governing, as many PolySci courses have taught: 'Money and Management.' There are three M's. The third one is MERCY. The third "M" constitutes the difference between a country and a corporation."
---Clarissa Estes---"
Where Occupy Oakland is at is a poor people's movement that cares less about campaign finance reform, ending corporate personhood, or even ending the Federal Reserve, and more about addressing police violence, detainment of illegal/undocumented workers, homelessness, and other issues directly and immediately affecting the lives of poor people.
So the question is, can the middle class get the poor people to "get in line" with the middle class approach to getting things done, when the objectives they hold are not the same? Or conversely, can they get this group with a different set of objectives to stop using the word "Occupy" as if they were truly in alignment with the goals and approved tactics of that group (including nonviolence), when they have yet to define what Occupy does and does not include?
You are obviously very well intentioned and your points are well put. The issue of the poor agenda as you so clearly outline, may indeed be different than your middle class agenda for social change? However, the poor have been in this battle for a very much longer period of time! They have not perhaps had the luxury of a "movement", or the economic or trained ability to organize? And so I would posit that the "Occupy movement" as it has become Globally identified, and as the newcomer to the realities of a potential servile existence, should be the ones to make the attempt to develop an all inclusive movement, since ultimately if you fail, you will join the poor and become just as disenfranchised as they currently are? I wish you success and offer my support as an old "boomer". My posting above is also pertinent to this issue...:-)
Whether that widespread public support can be maintained if the "poor people focused" subelements insist on continuing to embrace violent protest tactics, something very much in favor within the group (majority support in votes, in fact), well now that is something I doubt. So does Occupy end simply because it won't distance itself from counterproductive forces co-opting its name?
Truckee, California 96161
Roxanne Marie Vitter (aks- Fischer, Vetter, Laub,)
Gwendoln Ann & Michael J. Wiegenstein (Aka - Mike,) (aka-Gwen, Gwend, Gwenline,) (aka-Fischer,)
My Mother, June Ann Fischer (75) 1929 - 2004 (she was love by all) she had "Alzheimer"
this what my 3 - Sisters Done to her !
On August 27,2004 my Sisters gave their Mum "illegally Drugs" as thet took rheir Mother "Alzheimer"
Pills away !
that night my Sisters lrt Ralph & Michael ("Rape & Molester") the[r Mother ,
As my 3 - Sisters look on !
August 28,2004 when they came back to their Mother House in Cathedral City, Ca. 92234
June A.Fischer was dead at 8:30 pm
Why ?
my Sisters wanted their Mother "Money" (Over - $1,Million)
They did not teel me or my Wife that she passed for ("6 - years")
I like people to know aabout "Alzheimer" (you can do alot of "Evil - Thingss" )
"God Bless" the Mens & Womens Who have "Alzheimer"
Thank you for your time,
June Son, marqus
Since we need sound money, which we have never had, lets gt out of the Fed. The best way I've hard to do that, is to follow what North Dakota has been doing fine with for 90 years, with its State Bank. Other States are studying how to do it.
If we don't fix Healthcare, the price will double in 10 years, probably with less care. Vermont's and Montana's Single Payer could very well be worth other States checking out.
And need we mention that ending the wars is a must. Why the hell not close all over seas Military Bases, and put the Vets, and others to work rebuilding this Broken Promised Land?
But on other thing: Communities should study how to set up the Worker Ownership of the Mondragon Cooperative, of the Basque in Spain. There is an Evergreen Cooperative in Cleveland, and Richmond California, is putting people to work by starting smaller Cooperatives. Its a better way to work. Don't we all want that?
However...the real solution is to put together a PROGRESSIVE campaign to elect people who actually will carry out this plan. 50% of the people do not even vote. If OWS were to start a campaign to sign up EVERYONE to vote...then the 1% cannot BUY the election as there are many more people than corporate pacs.
Throw out the millionaires in Congress and throw out the people who don't want any government at all. What we need is government that will do the things to help all of us..and yes...have profitable business too (but not at the expense of people and our environment).
There is corruption on both sides of the isle; but we can...with our voting power...change this country now!
People who sign up to vote can vote on what kind of America they believe in...the question is...are we going to follow the GOLDEN RULE...or...the RULE OF GOLD. It is our choice.
E Pluribus Unum...Out of many...ONE!
Thank you for this. I live one block from Zuccotti Park, and I am daily more convinced that OWS should declare victory and go home to do some real work.
A neighborhood that was welcoming or at least tolerant of OWS is becoming weary of noise and problems. Small businesses and street vendors in the area are suffering -- without foot traffic, their businesses will die, and OWS blocks or intimidates pedestrians every day.
Many of the protesters have good intentions, but even with an honest effort, they simply cannot control the entire crowd.
Zuccotti Park is bordered by residential buildings and a public high school. It is largely an affluent area, but the truly wealthy and powerful people don't live here. They are playing golf in Greenwich CT while I am wading through a mob of people shrieking "This is OUR street" as I walk to Chinatown to shop. I have lived here for twenty years, and it is my street, too, but OWS doesn't think about that at all.