"Occupy more.... we love you all...." from your Comrades in Cairo.

[AmBlue]

Essential reading. Apologies if this has been posted before. I did not see it.

To all those in the United States currently occupying parks, squares and other spaces, your comrades in Cairo are watching you in solidarity. Having received so much advice from you about transitioning to democracy, we thought it’s our turn to pass on some advice.

***

An entire generation across the globe has grown up realizing, rationally and emotionally, that we have no future in the current order of things. Living under structural adjustment policies and the supposed expertise of international organizations like the World Bank and IMF, we watched as our resources, industries and public services were sold off and dismantled as the “free market” pushed an addiction to foreign goods, to foreign food even. The profits and benefits of those freed markets went elsewhere, while Egypt and other countries in the South found their immiseration reinforced by a massive increase in police repression and torture.

***

The current crisis in America and Western Europe has begun to bring this reality home to you as well: that as things stand we will all work ourselves raw, our backs broken by personal debt and public austerity. Not content with carving out the remnants of the public sphere and the welfare state, capitalism and the austerity-state now even attack the private realm and people’s right to decent dwelling as thousands of foreclosed-upon homeowners find themselves both homeless and indebted to the banks who have forced them on to the streets.

***

...our only real advice to you is to continue, keep going and do not stop. Occupy more, find each other, build larger and larger networks and keep discovering new ways to experiment with social life, consensus, and democracy. Discover new ways to use these spaces, discover new ways to hold on to them and never give them up again. Resist fiercely when you are under attack, but otherwise take pleasure in what you are doing, let it be easy, fun even. We are all watching one another now, and from Cairo we want to say that we are in solidarity with you, and we love you all for what you are doing.

Comrades from Cairo.
24th of October, 2011.

http://occupyca.wordpress.com/2011/10/25/letter-from-cairo/

[efhmc]

1. Thanks. I had not seen it.

[roguevalley]

6. awesome. the global consciousness is awakening. I love them back,.

[Avalux]

2. Thank you for posting. People are realizing we really are all the same.....

regardless of country, race or religion.

Human beings want to be treated with decency, provide for their families and experience happiness.

Is it possible we may, as a race, somehow get past the divisiveness and learn to live together in peace?

I never thought it would be possible but these days I'm starting to think it is. Reading this adds to my optimism.

[AmBlue]

3. I hear you, Avalux.

This made me cry tears of sadness and joy. Sadness because human beings everywhere have not managed to find sufficient strength and generosity to live life in a way that respects the rights of all others and allows people everywhere to live free of oppression. It is a startling realization, living here in America, to have our rights and freedoms systematically stripped away one by one-- until we awake one day finding ourselves living in a place we don't any longer recognize. Realizing, in essence, that the American dream is just that-- only a dream. It is sad that humans anywhere have to go through this when we are all capable of so much more.

But this letter also gives me great joy. Joy because I know we are not alone. Indeed, we are all part of a global voice speaking undeniable truth-- we cannot be ignored or denied. Joy because I have worried so long that our fellow human beings from places all around the world, far and near, have watched and lost respect for us Americans-- as too many of us (including myself) clung to that old dream, doing nearly nothing to stop the downward spiral of this nation, with the great majority of us complacent and seemingly ignorant of the atrocities being committed by the leadership of this once great nation, to its own people and to others around the world, including our Comrades in Egypt. That they send us their love and solidarity is no small thing, and affects me profoundly.

Mostly, this letter gives me joy because I feel their love. Love from brothers and sisters who have come through this fire before us. Their words of encouragement and wisdom and solidarity give us all real hope and guidance as we weather whatever is to come, and fight this battle for the good of humanity. I pray somewhere there is a light at the end of the tunnel so that our sons and daughters can one day live in a better world.

[nadinbrzezinski]

5. Yes, and it will be resisted

For that reason alone.

[Fumesucker]

4. K&R, thanks for posting.. n/t