Occupy Decency, Tolerance, Patience, Silence and Hearts

Occupy Wall Street is a people-powered movement, that the official website, occupywallst.org, says "began on Sept. 17 in Liberty Square in Manhattan's Financial District, and has spread to over 100 cities in the United States and actions in over 1,500 cities globally. OWS is fighting back against the corrosive power major banks and unaccountable multinational corporations wield against democracy, and the role of Wall Street in creating the economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in nearly a century. The movement is inspired by popular uprisings in Egypt and around the world, and aims to expose how the richest 1% of people is writing the rules of a dangerous neo-liberal economic agenda that is stealing our future. OWS is conversation, organization, and action focused on ending the tyranny of the 1%. We marched in solidarity against corrupt banking systems, against war, and against foreclosure. "

Doted as a "post-political movement representing something far greater than failed party politics," OWS gives an average American student, who is struggling to make ends meet by working full time to afford being a full time student, a sense of belonging. The Wall Street Journal also agrees that the rage of OWS against the financial sector is easy to understand, particularly now that governments are being forced to cut spending and raise taxes to repair deficits caused partly by the cost of bank bailouts. The movement burst out of the yesteryear's recession which left us jobless and speechless. ISAC made five percent cuts in the MAP grants this year, President Obama is having a hard time getting his deficit reduction plan and jobs bills passed, times like these call for us to get up and raise our voice against miseries of this world and those who made it even more miserable by consuming luxuries while most of us think twice before spending money on gas for our cars.

Being a documented immigrant and a student of a recognized university, I cannot find a better paying job and a sustainable living standard. I barely make rent and other living costs and still at this point I am not sure that even after getting a degree I will be able to escape my faith. GOP and the House looked down when President Obama proposed taxing the wealthy ‘slightly' more than an average low and middle class American, the bill obviously has little chance of passing even within Obama's own party. Taxing the wealthy isn't the only solution of our miseries, but the main concern here is that will he succeed implementing the taxation before his presidency ends? And how successful will this move be in the long run? The Wall Street Journal further added that, "the banks had seized upon every policy response designed to spare the world the consequences of the banking system's failures—the bailouts, liquidity-support operations, fiscal-stimulus packages, low interest rates, quantitative easing—and pocketed the proceeds for themselves. Despite the exhortations of politicians, regulators, central bankers and the media to exercise some restraint, they plowed on."

Adbusters raised voice against government corruption and the excessive influence of big business and the wealthiest 1% on U.S. laws and policies, the rest of 99% demand an immediate financial change. "Many people from different places have been affected by the greed of the 1% and by the false solutions of corporate greed, union busting, and the slashing and privatization of social services. The 99% is varied and broad - but we have principles of solidarity, and we are working together to make a better world - a world of inclusion, dignity, love and respect. OWS has no space for racism, sexism, trans-phobia, anti-immigrant hatred xenophobia, and hatred in general," adds the site.

Despite of living in such a misery, I have no intention to occupy Wall Street. All I want is a country where I can affordably educate myself, get a satisfying career, and live a sufficiently adequate life. Neither do I want to be a part of that over privileged and extravagant 1%. But I do hate them for being ignorant and extremely rich so they can ride in a Chrysler while I cannot afford a car because of higher tuition costs, rent, car tickets, taxes, and is left with the only option of riding bike in the harsh and cold weather of Chicago. One should not be extremely rich and neither should be extremely poor. Only for that reason, I salute OSW protestors for being out there for someone like me, day after day, night after night, in the rain and cold and wind of a New York City autumn, for reminding us that people -ordinary working people- really do matter, for helping open our eyes to what's really going on in this country, for standing up for the workers, and for those looking for work, for those that will graduate and find no work, and holding your head up high. Thank you OWS, for protecting and expanding our right to free speech and peaceable assembly. That's genuine patriotism.