Occupy the Dinner Table
By Carl Gibson,
Reader Supported News: 26 December 11
Like every liberal activist and preacher's son, I have arch- conservative family members who don't agree with my philosophies whom I see every year on the holidays. This year, Occupiers have nothing to worry about - when that uncomfortable conversation starts at the dinner table, we can appeal to their religious upbringing and be fully justified.
Jesus was the first Occupier. Think about it.
He was an unshaven, sandal-clad vagrant who claimed no permanent address, fed thousands in public spaces, spoke against economic inequality and materialism, and was firmly committed to peace and nonviolence. The only documented act of violence Jesus committed was overturning the tables of the money-changers in the temple, accusing them of turning a house of prayer into "a den of thieves," even chasing them out with a whip. And he's still venerated as the holiest, most perfect human being to ever walk the earth.
James W. McCarty III's excellent piece in The Christian Century points out the fact that Jesus Christ was killed by the state for threatening the socio-economic structure of the Roman Empire. Jesus built a nonviolent movement that inspired the empire's subjects to question the very nature of the system's structure, exposing the hypocrisy of the religious ruling class. He preached not of violent rebellion, but of structural changes that would make society more equal. He even reminded followers who asked him about denying the payment of taxes to "Give to Caesar what belongs to Caesar."
Our movement, while filled with religious and non-religious activists alike, nonetheless espouses the same fundamental philosophies of Jesus in the Gospels.
At a time when 42% of all financial wealth is controlled by the top 1%, when 400 Americans control more wealth than 155,000,000 other Americans, when billionaire financiers who wrecked the economic well-being of millions for pure profit get off scot-free and have the audacity to sit in country clubs and call the people protesting them "imbeciles," a nonviolent movement has risen to decry those acts of greed as unjust and immoral. While none of us are perfect, sinless human beings like Jesus, we still have the same message. We aren't calling for violent insurrection, but fundamental structural changes to the way society has been built.
When the rich man asked Jesus how he could find salvation, Jesus told him to give away all of his possessions and follow him. Our solutions aren't as radical - Occupiers have no problem with people attaining wealth, as long as that wealth wasn't attained by denying a fair wage to their employees, or blowing millions on high-risk financial shell games that rook honest people out of their pensions.
Instead, we're proposing common-sense reforms, like removing corporate money from elections and instituting public campaign financing. We're demanding the return of a tax burden tilted toward the super-rich, instead of the poor and middle class. We want an end to a system that rewards and encourages reckless greed, unsustainable growth and endless profits for a few, done on the backs of the many.
The mainstream media, owned by the same corporations that have made their billions in financial finagling of the tax code, loves to ridicule and marginalize our movement. Fox News commentators call us unwashed radicals and vagrants, drifters with a hatred and envy of the wealthy. If Jesus were alive today, the talking heads on Fox News would undoubtedly play video footage of his attack on the money changers while accusing him of being a violent, radical religious cleric who hates capitalism. Just as today's right-wing political commentators cheer the violent police crackdowns of nonviolent protesters at Occupy encampments, they would also likely cheer the crucifixion of Jesus, a rebellious socialist who dared to question the inequalities and injustices of Roman society.
So don't fret this year, Occupiers. Truth, facts, and even scripture, are all on our side.
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Carl Gibson, 24, of Lexington, Kentucky, is a spokesman and organizer for US Uncut, a nonviolent, creative direct-action movement to stop budget cuts by getting corporations to pay their fair share of taxes. He graduated from Morehead State University in 2009 with a B.A. in Journalism before starting the first US Uncut group in Jackson, Mississippi, in February of 2011. Since then, over 20,000 US Uncut activists have carried out more than 300 actions in over 100 cities nationwide. You may contact Carl at carl@rsnorg.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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From: Abie Dawjee [abie=rain.org.za@mail326.us2.mcsv.net]
Imran’s tsunami sweeps Karachi
"Over 100,000 people rallied in support of cricket hero-turned-politician in Karachi on Sunday"
The Nation, Pakistan December 25, 2011
KARACHI - Imran Khan’s tsunami after conquering Lahore swept through Karachi on Sunday, where tens of thousands of people assembled at the call of the PTI leader who unfolded his future plans to cleanse the country from rampant corruption and to make it an Islamic social welfare state.
Addressing the mammoth PTI flag-waving near mausoleum of Father of the Nation Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, Imran Khan, in his 4-minute speech, decaled that if voted into power he would end the corruption in 90 days and give new policies to provide justice and social empowerment to the people.
The PTI had organised public gathering at Bagh-e-Jinnah, adjacent of Quaid-e-Azam’s mausoleum on the day of Father of the Nation’s birth anniversary.
Imran Khan termed the gathering more successful than the one PTI had organised in Lahore. Thousands of charged and emotional party workers were chanting slogans of 'Prime Minister Imran Khan’ and hoisted the party flags to express their sentiments. Imran Khan promised the nation on Quaid-i-Azam’s birth anniversary that he will fulfil the dream of the Founder of the Nation, saying 'I will do what Quaid-i-Azam wanted to do and he wanted to make Pakistan a prosperous state’. Imran Khan said: "I promise on Quaid-i-Azam’s birth anniversary that I will do what the Quaid-e-Azam wanted to do."
Imran, in his speech punctuated with loud slogans of the cheering crowd and national songs, said he would introduce a strong justice system in Pakistan under which free justice would be provided to the poor. "Quaid-e-Azam never wanted you to bow before anyone, I will ensure that you don’t have to bow before anyone."
The PTI Chief said he would bring a team that will be selected on merit to transform Pakistan into a welfare state. He said this team would function under Jehangir Tareen to present economic policies, labour policies, tax reforms, education policies as well as foreign policies before the nation. There will be a policy paper on all issues, he added.
"During Tehreek-e-Insaf rule a civil system will be introduced which will ensure that even Imran Khan’s car is stopped for overspeeding." He said Tehreek-e-Insaf would root out corruption and rectify the system.
Imran said a Chinese company wanted to bring $19 billion investment to Pakistan but could not do so due to the worst law and order situation in Karachi. "You don’t need a rocket science in Pakistan, just bring a team of honest leaders that undertakes its own accountability," he asserted.
He promised that the major corruption will be eliminated within 90 days of coming into power. Pakistan suffers a loss of 300 crores per day, he regretted.
Imran Khan said that he wanted to play a match with President Zardari but unfortunately he was retired hurt. "The days of Zardari’s rule are numbered, so do not worry."
Speaking about Balochistan, he said: "We will seek forgiveness from Balochistan people and remove their grievances by developing the deprived province."
Announcing about PTI’s next public meeting, he said 'the next stop for the tsunami will be Quetta on March 23’.
Imran apologised to Baloch people and said the he will provide them their rights, adding:
"People said the rally will be a flop. Are there Sindhis, Pathans, Punjabis, Mianwalis here at this rally? We have Hindus, Parsis and Christians. Merry Christmas. Today was Quaid-e-Azam’s birthday. I won’t say anything bad about any political party. But Mian Sahib said let’s play a 10-over match. Mian Sahib, hurry, before you are unable to get a team. Today, I want to welcome Javed Hashmi. You are a brave man. I also want to congratulate Shah Mahmood Qureshi. Another wicket is going to fall. Sardar Assef Ali also wants to join Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf."
"People ask me what’s your roadmap. I’m going to give you a roadmap. When I went to Britain at the age of 18 i was surprised to observe that the poor are fed. There was no difference in hospitals between the rich and poor. The first Islamic welfare state was Khilafat-e-Rashida."
"Even animals have rights in the West. A police officer was sent to prison for torturing a police dog. We will provide justice in villages. We promise that the government will provide a lawyer for those who can’t afford it. There are more talented players than myself. There are more intelligent people than myself. People said I coudn’t be the best bowler because you aren’t talented. I wanted to make a hospital so that people could go there and get treated for free. They said you can’t make the hospital. I wanted to make a university, they said you can’t do it. Today that university is offering degrees. They said forget it, you don’t know politics. They made fun of me and my colleagues. But I didn’t let that spoil my dreams of a better Pakistan. We want one educational system in Pakistan. God has always fulfilled my dreams. And He will also fulfil this one too. How will we do this? I promise I will give you a great team. Did I choose a good cricket team for the World Cup. That team will also be on merit."
"Pakistan will not need to beg for aid. Selection in the Civil Service will be on merit. Police officials will also be chosen on merit. We will bring a better labour policy. PTI will stand along with the labourers. All policies will be constituted for the lower 50 per cent of the people. There is the Pakistani Punjab and Indian Punjab. Indian Punjab produces 3 times as much yield as the Pakistani Punjab. In India, they facilitate their farmers free or at least cheap electricity. Our biggest asset is our expatriates, who don’t want to come to Pakistan because of the law and order situation in the country. Their lives are threatened. We had a rich expat from Russia. He stayed at a hotel here but was kidnapped."
Imran said "Average income of Singapore has increased. Muhathir Muhammad also increased the average income of his nation. No one will be given a ticket in this party till they disclose their assets so that we know how they’ve amassed their wealth. Curbing corruption is very easy, providing education is more difficult. Pakistan suffers a loss of Rs 300 billion daily. We will computerise the government with e-government because you can’t bribe a computer.
Tens of thousands of people, including women and children, converged in Karachi on Sunday for Imran Khan’s massive rally seeking a 'change’ in the country, with the organisers dubbing it as a 'tsunami’.
All roads leading to the Quaid-e-Azam park, the venue of the rally adjacent to the mausoleum of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, were jammed with buses, trucks, cars, motorcycles and pedestrians who were eager to reach the place.
Mindful of the response to Imran’s call for Karachiites to attend the rally in large numbers and show their support for a change in the country and against corruption, the organisers had set up giant video screens outside the park for people who could not find a place inside.
A sea of people, including women, children and even the physically challenged, stood shoulder-to-shoulder braving the afternoon heat and several hours into the night as they listened to Tehreek-e-Insaf leaders’ speeches.
The Quaid-e-Azam Park was swamped by people carrying the red and green PTI flags and wearing party caps. People had started converging at the venue since morning, hours before the rally was to begin.
"We are here because of Imran Khan. We believe he can make a better Pakistan and bring changes," shouted Maleeha, a hijab-clad woman who had come with her fiance to the rally.
Zainab, another young woman dressed in jeans and T-shirt, said many people now know that Imran Khan was the last hope for Pakistan. "We all believe only he can turn around this country and rid it of corruption and extremism. He can bring about better governance."
The presence of large number of women and youth at the rally was a big triumph for the organisers who had set up separate enclosures for the women, families and youth.
Shahdab Kabir, a disabled person who came to the rally with his brother on a wheelchair, said he came to show Imran that the people of Karachi supported him and his manifesto. "It is not only time for a change in Pakistan but also in Karachi," he said.
The organisers, with the assistance of local administration, had set up special walkthrough security gates and body scanned each and every participant before they entered the rally venue.
Asif Khan, a party worker, added that "we believe in Imran Khan and the fact that a senior (PPP) politician like Javed Hashmi has now joined us shows people believe in Imran and want change in the next elections."
Karachi for the last two decades has been the stronghold of the MQM, the only party in the last two decades to manage massive rallies in the city.
Over 100,000 people rallied in support of cricket hero-turned-politician in Karachi on Sunday.
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