Yesterday somebody called me a “wonderful person”. Over the past week I’ve also been told I’m “naïve”, “a breath of fresh air”, “self-indulgent” and “exactly the sort of person this country needs”. I’m on the verge of an identity crisis.
This barrage of adjectives was delivered by passers-by at the Finsbury Square occupation. Luckily for me, and my sense of self, it was accompanied by political arguments, an overview of hedge funding, demands for intellectual output, demands for community investment, demands for lunch, PR advice and one rather dramatic song of praise for Michael Bloomberg’s philanthropic endeavours.
I’ve learned a lot.
And I hope you have as well. Never before have I seen so many people listening to each other. Learning, my friends, is the real strength of what we’ve got going here.
This is how our camps go beyond mere protests, because protests are a one-way affair. When you join a protest, you declare a particular message: “No cuts!” “No war!” “Down with this sort of thing! Down with that sort of thing!” To be part of the occupations you just have to show up with your ideas, hopefully share them and definitely listen to and respect the ideas of others. I’ve never heard any protest shout “What do you think?” before.
As an interesting experiment I’ve let almost every conversation I’ve had be controlled by the other person these past days, so I think it’s time for me to give something back. In the spirit of two-way dialogue – here’s a few declarations from the heart:
Take your education seriously.
So you want to learn about banking? This is tough stuff – I’m only just beginning to grapple with some key fundamentals. You’ll probably get more from a lecture, debate or Q&A session if you take notes. Set yourself some real goals. What beliefs do you have that you want to develop and support? What areas do you lack informed ideas about? Are you just going to talks for entertainment? Bettering yourself takes serious work; encourage others to do the same!
You don’t have to be left-wing to oppose the vast inequalities of our system.
It’s great to talk about socialism and anarchism. It’s great to argue why capitalism is inherently flawed. However these camps have sprung up at a time of pathological mickey-taking by a tiny corporate elite. This encompasses institutionalised theft, child soldiering, smoke, mirrors, oppression, gambling with the livelihoods of millions and all the rest. These things pluck a strong moral fibre in an awful lot of people with all kinds of political persuasions.
By all means share and teach, but let people teach you as well. Through mutual education find shared human ground. Be polite! Be respectful! If a person disagrees with you on an issue you feel is fundamental then this doesn’t mean you have to sculpt a new opinion for them. Provide information and evidence and let people form their own ideas. Trust in them!
Cooking, cleaning are tasks for all of us.
Nobody should have to dedicate themselves solely to the manual tasks of the occupation camps. Everybody needs to have the chance to join in with the self-betterment. Compared to the future of the planet, site management is boring. If we all do a good chunk of this kind of thing every day we allows those who tirelessly devote themselves to it a breather. Feel you’re doing too much? Immediately ask somebody to help you. Arguing at general assemblies about such things is not good. If it happens, find a way to stop it ASAP – it’s an emergency.
Seek support for change, not just support for the occupations.
I’ve seen many people visit to donate equipment and supplies because they feel that’s all they can do to support what’s going on. They’ve managed to support the occupations, but they haven’t been able to join in. Let’s create events and facilities so everyone can do both. It’s great that people show their support for the occupations, but if we help and inspire them to educate themselves, inside and or out of the camps, then who knows what is possible… Let’s find out.
By Harvey Bruce