The Occupy movement is causing us to confront our denial head-on. People are finally talking about — and in some cases, even taking action to remedy — injustices that have been with us for far too long.
Photo by david_shankbone - http://flic.kr/p/aC98riBy now almost everyone is familiar with the phenomenon commonly termed the “Occupy movement.” There are various groups of protesters, often called “the 99ers” because they claim to represent the 99 percent of persons adversely affected by the policies and practices of the one percent among us who control the vast majority of the world’s wealth and wield the most political power and influence. They have “occupied” downtown Manhattan’s Wall Street, various major cities, and public places adjacent to major corporations. Social commentators have taken note of how aimless some of these protests appear to be and fault the leaders of the movement for their lack of a clear message, definitive purpose, and coherent strategy. While such criticisms have some merit, perhaps the most overlooked aspect of this movement is the fact that it is occurring at all. Given the economic and political circumstances that have festered for years and eventually prompted the dissatisfaction leading to the movement, and given the public’s longstanding blindness concerning the nature and extent of the problems plaguing us, the mere emergence of the Occupy movement represents a triumph of sorts with respect to overcoming our massive and wide-reaching state of denial.
Denial is one of the most primitive of defense mechanisms. And sometimes it’s essential to emotional self-preservation. But at other times, it’s possibly one of the most self-defeating defenses. When we have our eyes and ears closed it’s hard to navigate clearly, or to overcome a problem we simply refuse to admit exists. For years, many in the industrialized world have simply chosen not to reckon with skyrocketing debts, the consolidation of wealth and power, a dangerously widening economic disparity between social classes, and the ever-increasing burden thrust upon those doing their best to honor their civic duties and provide for their families. But now a movement is afoot that causes us to confront our denial head-on. And what the movement might lack in the way of specific goals and objectives it certainly possesses in stamina and resolve. As a result, people are finally talking about — and in some cases, even taking action to remedy — injustices that have been with us for far too long.
The Occupy movement is perhaps just one manifestation of a much larger world-wide awakening of consciousness. The disenfranchised are speaking up everywhere about the lack of voice they’ve had in the management of their affairs and the abuse and neglect they’ve endured at the hands of those who have too long held a stranglehold on power. And while there is no doubt a danger posed in the methods by which power might be transferred as well as the uncertainty about to whom power might eventually be entrusted, it is clear that the status quo simply cannot be maintained and that change is inevitable.
Overcoming denial is never an easy task. And the consciousness-raising task to which we’ve all been challenged could not possibly be more daunting. But we simply have to face an increasingly apparent reality: ours is a truly global society and we are becoming increasingly and intricately interdependent. As a result, none of us really does well when any of us is left too far behind. So it’s incumbent upon us all to do what we can to build an economically fairer and socially more equitable world. Although we’ve tended to deny it in the past, the fact is that when the least among us prosper, everyone gains. It’s that simple. Even the wealthiest do best when there is a robust ‘lower’ and ‘middle’ class. But just because these facts are simple and straightforward doesn’t mean they’ll be readily accepted. That’s because changing our hearts, minds, and attitudes will require pain and sacrifice. And the land of denial is often the place to which we go when we want to avoid pain. So there will undoubtedly be those who turn a blind eye to the issues, reinforce their “every man for himself” perspective, and dismiss the Occupy movement as just another aimless cause orchestrated by misguided, self-indulgent malcontents.
The Occupy movement’s real value lies not so much in what it is or what its aims are, but in what it has done to raise our awareness. True, there may be ’60s-like lost souls and anarchists among the crowds of occupiers. There may also be those who seek to replace the existing power structure with something much worse. So, as is the case with any movement, one has to exercise some very cautious judgement. And because of its shaky organization and lack of a clear agenda, this movement definitely runs the risk of simply burning out or fading away. But if it has done nothing else, the Occupy movement has directed our attention to social injustices that have been with us for far too long and which we can no longer afford to deny. And as some within the movement might well tell you, that’s exactly the point.
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