As I read and talk to people about this movement, what stands out are the myriad stories. I heard about a man who stands alone on a street in a small town with no organized Occupy movement, holding a sign of support. A friend tells of having a long, meaningful talk with a stranger at Occupy Wall Street, parting ways and thinking, "Why didn't I ask his full name so that I could friend him on Facebook," and then in the next moment realizing that the encounter itself was enough, it was complete, fully realized. There was no need to bring it online or add to it in any way. I hear that when a speech in Zuccotti Park turns hateful, the human microphone goes silent. The crowd does not repeat the words.
These stories speak to people's courage, commitment and pluck; our fundamental connectedness as a species; the nitty gritty of democracy and so much more. They sustain my hope in the movement and spur me to greater action.They are the antidote to the inaccurate portrayal of Occupy Wall Street movement in the press and the smear campaign against it by right wing pundits. For these reasons and more, these stories are vitally important.
So I urge you to tell yours here. Leave it as a comment below or email me here if you're interested in doing a longer piece or guest blogging.
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