Occupy Wall Street Protestors Get What They Want. What Do They Want?

New York is a pretty exciting place to be when you are born in raised in small town, Indiana and what is considered "Middle-town America". Living as a New Yorker for only eight years I have experienced some personal historic moments. President Obama sitting at the traffic light as I waited to cross, or the World Trade Center Memorial being reconstructed before my eyes and even celebrity sightings, yet those are personal things.

Occupy Wall Street began on September 17th, I wanted to run down there and jump right in the action. This feeling was not personal, this was bigger than me, this was a movement for humanity. It continues as an innovative movement and since it's beginning it has inspired mock protests from Chicago to Denver to Houston and yes it goes further into international territories like London. Finally someone was going to stand up to those Washington war criminals, those greedy bankers and bickering politicians. I began making my cardboard sign immediately, getting ideas from my blogs from people who could not make it to NYC. I planned to march right alongside the thousands of others who represented the famous 99%. I knew this was it. I knew this was a cause I could go out and support, and I did. I arrived on the 28th day to distribute snacks to the protestors who had camped out the night before in the rain. Even though there we many donations, I still felt compelled to give something. My sign screamed the words, "A Beautiful Rebellious Sight to See, Humanity Demanding to be Free". The recent execution of Troy Davis, a black man who was falsely accused of murdering a white police officer twenty years ago in Georgia, was fresh in the public's eye. The financial meltdown, the housing crisis, the national debt and Wall Street / Automobile Industry bailouts, all on the minds of all who gathered. Where are the people's Bailout?, I screamed. They would understand the analogy of taking advantage of hard working Americans, robbing us of our simple freedoms and rights. Deep down something inside told me that this would be more difficult than any of us could imagine. The road would be long and with the up coming elections, it was bond to get worse before it turned in our favor permanently.

Yet, the excitement of freedom and the tension of Big Brother is watching made the air thick and airless. It felt like smog had just came down and stood in front of us, it wasn't moving and neither were we. Until when? With a threat to be evicted from Liberty Park, OWS had just scored a victory to postpone the "cleanup" that was scheduled for 7am that morning. Mayor Bloomberg decided late to "indefinitely" allow us to remain. This was a great relief and it became a celebration for "remaining in the square". Soon the burning question revisited me. "What is it that we want?" . This time by someone curious, not part of the protest but wanted to ask the question. He approached me and ask, "why are you here?". Another young fellow from who traveled all the way from Pennsylvania asked who was in charge, and expressed that he wanted to do something BIG. I agreed and discussed what "they should do". I gave a few words of encouragement but was disturbed that I could not direct him to the person he was looking for.

GENERAL ASSEMBLY & DRUMMERS

No clear leader, who held no bull horn, addressing the assembly only from the people's mic. I soon became a human echo for thousands who stood behind me. Yes I was vocal, I shouted out repeating the words of the speaker. this method of communication also gave me the power to speak and be heard through everyone there. It was powerful. I can only imagine when it gains more solid direction and it will be very important to have a speaker who can articulate and voice clear instructions. I was vocal with the people's mic, and jamming with the drummers who all played their own tune. Occasionally they meshed a soulful beat in unison and with my voice piercing through it was a beautiful feeling to be among others who were revolutionaries. The energy marveled some construction workers who veered into the park's entrance at Liberty and Cedar streets. Even near by police officers who watched protestors from the curbs were in a seemingly calm mood. I climbed a top a bench and stood there holding my sign. Many photographers immediately surrounded me and began to snap pictures of my sign. My black hat with a silver sparkling peace sign was a symbolic touch. I was proud to be a part of this movement even if I did not know who was in charge, to me I was in charge. I began to answer questions about why OWS exists, a little elderly lady asked what is OWS all about? I told her. Another gentleman approximately 26 years, looked to be an attorney or white collar approached and asked why i was there, I told him. That's when it hit me. It's really genius to give others power by using ones own power. No demands just an expression, a model, a metaphor for, no individuals. no ego's, no capitalism, no exploiting. This was a rare statement about the state of the union and about the facts and the undeniable fact that we are all ONE. OWS began with one person who came to NY with forty bucks and a backpack, and no fare home. Soon one turned into thousands and I was among them, believing I was making a difference for the future. All of us who had a common problem of the blatant injustices being bestowed upon us, were representing the millions whose voices could not be heard. The voices of those who are oppressed and downtrodden, making life up as they went along, and yet so was the Occupy Wall Street Frenzy .

WHAT WE WANT? V WHAT WE NEED

I saw nor heard any clear action as to what exactly would make everyone shut up and go home happy. Others were just there to support and had no clue as to why the real revolution was beginning. When Gil Scott-Herrin said "the revolution would not be televised", he was absolutely correct because in the beginning days of this movement, there was no media in sight. It was as if Big Brother himself broke all the cameras and microphones to CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS and all other major reporters of the news. Yet now OWS had the front page news, youtube, facebook and twitter all were trending 'occupy wall street'. Is this what they wanted? Media? In a society where reality television has become the number one watched form of entertainment, these "99%" wanted Media coverage. Where You-tube could make people overnight stars for the most minute things? No way! I could not believe these protestors were there only marching for media coverage. Many voiced there disappointment that the media were blacking them out. I wonder now with the new found media sensation can the movement survive the stories that emerge from these efforts. Will media coverage be better or worse for this important movement? My next question is, what can we do ensure that those responsible for our financial crisis and economic depression, will be held accountable and who will ensure that this does not happen again? No one knows. Everyone was there to voice the injustices made by bankers and politicians and unfair housing rates, unemployment, taxes etc, but no one was there saying, what are we going to do to make them change. I agree assembling and opening dialogue is the first step. Yet after the marching and chanting what happens?

I have proposed a few demands of my own and I ask that the occupiers please consider them.

1) A justice department investigation: Hedge Fund Managers and CEOs.Who have benefited from and contributed to the financial crisis.

2) Raise taxes on wealthy that GOP is adamant about not budging on, INCLUDING CORPORATE TAX LOOPHOLES ALSO FAVORED BY LIBERALS, CONSERVATIVES AND INDEPENDENTS.

3) Ban Ultra ring wing tea partiers hypnotic controling and manipulating the GOP lawmakers to the point of gridlock in Washington IE, National Debt and Jobs Bill= MAKE PRESSURE for CONGRESS ACT ON JOBS BILL

My three demands are much different from the other 99% yet these demands will begin the process of having the dialogue necessary to make lawmakers and our nations leaders open their eyes and hearts to the unjust behavior that has been occurring within our system for the past five to ten years.

I look forward to seeing how this all plays out over the next few months and I plan on continuing my support for this movement. It has sparked a movement inside me and I am sure if a regular ole Joe such as myself feels this way, there are so many others who can also feel this powerful energy sweeping across the land. This movement is not associated with the tea party like the media is portraying. Who cares if the Tea Partiers "go after" OWS occupiers, that is their problem. OWS will not get into the politics with those "fake" politicians. OWS is a people's movement unlike the Tea Party. Tea Party wants Americans to fin for themselves, they can care less if the economy recovers, they like it just the way it is, no regulation. They won't admit it. At least OWS is about helping others, giving others a voice, and there own power. They do not disable our beliefs, they have inspired a true belief in the people (99%) and a spiritual belief in humanity. It does rejuvenate, It is good for the human soul. If you have not went down to Liberty Plaza, OH LET FREEDOM RING! WAKE-UP AMERICA!

I am optimistic that the 'Occupy Wall Street' Movement will ultimately find real solutions, it may be too early in the stages to pinpoint where it is going right now to effectively lay these details out. I hope they get started soon before NYPD gets really FED up and begin to act more violently than they have. During my participation, Occupy Wall Street had no police visually being violent nor abusive. Protestors seemed calm and collected with a mission of determination and relentlessness. I don't think they are going anywhere soon. I am a firm believer of the first amendment, but you must have something to say with a solution or some will only come to listen but no one will act.