occupy: don't call it a comeback

recently some heavy shit's been going down in turkey. a bunch of people took to a park to let the powers that be know that they don't want them to destroy said park (gezi park to be specific) so they can build a mall there. and over time shit has escalated in a major way and it's now the latest episode in the global happenings of occupy-style protesting.

i say don't call it a comeback cuz i don't think 'occupy' ever went anywhere. it lost its footing in a park in lower manhattan, but since then protesters and organizers have been doing other things to push 'occupy' in other directions. it's not the mainstay story it used to be on the nightly news, but they've been making stuff happen... whether it's protesting foreclosures, assisting victims of super storm sandy, or finding a way to purchase people's debts in much the same way collection agencies do, and once completing that purchase, forgiving the person of that debt immediately. these are just a few examples and i'm sure there's countless more on a worldwide scale.

but now there's another park in another part of the world. and what started out as something as simple as, 'hey, we don't want you to build a mall here,' has turned into something much bigger. it's put a magnifying glass on some of the flaws of turkey's government for all the world to see (though to be fair, i don't see a lot of coverage for much of this on mainstream, tv news... i see most 'occupy gezi' news on the internet).

and whether you're for occupy-style protest or against it is up to you. and i'm not really here to try and convince anyone of anything or change anyone's mind. this is just about how i feel about it (this being my blog and all) and i think it's awesome. i think what we're seeing is a step in the evolution of protesting. we're adapting and finding better tactics. are there shortcomings? sure. it's not perfect and never will be. but i'll always throw my support behind the people who raise their fists in the air for the things they demand from their governments.

i believe in a power that is of, by, and for the people. and when i saw what was going down at zucotti park and when i see what's going on now in gezi park in turkey, i feel inspired and hopeful. just knowing that people are gathering to be heard and to try and effect changes in the system is a step in the right direction. things can either get better or they can get worse. but they'll never just stay the same. and it's up to us, all of us, to do our part to make sure we keep this thing moving in the right direction.