Posterous theme by Cory Watilo

chrisco


http://twitter.com/chrisco

Audio From My First Protest: "Rock Against Reagan" #OccupyWallStreet

Rock-against-reagan-1983

That poster and the below recording are from the "Rock Against Reagan" protest, July 3rd, 1983, Washington, DC.  I was 14 years old and it was my first protest.  The Dead Kennedys were one of the bands playing.  

Twenty-one years later, I was at the the final show (also in DC) of the national Vote for Change Tour, which brought together the Dixie Chicks, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band, Dave Matthews Band, Jackson Browne, James Taylor, John Fogerty, John Mellencamp, Jurassic 5, Keb' Mo', Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, Pearl Jam, and R.E.M.

Yes, I know it's not about the "music" or the party, it's about the movement and "voting" for change and  "taking it to the streets" for change.  And that's what these artists and events do.  The bring people in movement, give credibility and voice, unify and communicate a message, and more.  It's a good thing, IMHO.

(download)

Anyway, I hope today's youth (and everybody, for that matter) stand up for themselves and more importantly for others (I've touched on this many times before, such as here in 2007).  I mean, it seems like too many people just don't give a shit unless it impacts them directly.  

For example, I was recently talking with some people about the #OccupyWallStreet protest going prime time and how I hoped that it would inspire more people to stand up for themselves and others and demand real change.  Because until enough people do that, nothing will change.  

Anyway, some of the reactions I got were a good reminder about what these nascent movements are up against in the early days, when it's still easier to point at them as "lone nuts" and make fun of them or put them down for not speaking with one voice or one of the zillion other easy and negative things a person could say about them if they wanted to.

It reminds me of Derek Sivers "Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy" post and accompanying YouTube video.  Excellent narration by Derek.  You should go watch and listen now, even if you've seen it before. 

Back to this nascent early "American Spring" attempt: Will you be a first follower (or at least early follower) or will you stay on the outside, perhaps even putting it down and hoping for that it fades, fails, or blows up?  I mean that's the safe bet (for the moment).  It's also the lame one, IMHO.

Sure, there will be setbacks and false starts (recognize that?), but I think that this movement, or a future iteration or pivot of this movement (or one like it), will coalesce.  Because what we've got now is unsustainable, but still change won't come unless and until people demand it... in the streets (not just in the the voting booths).

The real test of #OccupyWallStreet and/or its future iteration or pivot or the new movement will be "the incident," which "always" happens with movements that threaten established financial and/or political interests.  There will ben an "incident," probably violent, and probably carried out by a bad apple member of the movement or, more likely, someone (or some interest) who wants to hurt the movement (can think of a lot of those).  Anyway, that incident will turn public interest against the movement and could even be enough to kill it, at least temporarily.  We will see.

Cheers,
Chris 

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