The Western Spring
Ursula LindseyI’ve been following the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States intermittently but with great interest. I am deeply pleased to see people in my country finally express some indignation (indignation that, unlike the Tea Party’s, isn’t high-jacked by racism and right-wing millionaires) over the way financial interests have dominated and perverted our political system. And challenging the insidious restrictions on the use of public space and the freedom of assembly and expression that have proliferated since 9/11 (regarding which, please, please watch this video by genius British activists).
I’m also fascinated by the fact that the protests in the US and in Europe are so clearly inspired by the so-called Arab Spring.
It’s not just that the protesters in the US, just like the ones in the Middle East, have been subjected to inane, condescending media coverage. Or that they have been demonized as unclean, anti-Semitic, drug-users and criminals. Or that they are being violently dispersed by police using flimsy public order and hygiene excuses.
April 6 activist Ahmad Maher has apparently visited the Occupiers in DC and New York to learn more about them and offer some advice. But the protesters -- in their use of signs to bypass mainstream coverage, in their refusal to have leaders, in their physical occupation of public space -- have already taken a page from the Egyptian revolution.
Who would have thought that the Arab world would re-energize the idea of democracy world-wide?
Let's see if Western governments congratulate their own citizenry for their courageous protests to call for greater economic justice and political participation.
Reader Comments (12)
Watch "Russia Today" they have offered immense, screen coverage of these protests. the channel is no beacon of democracy or free speech, and their take on the arab spring is revolting. but they have offered the greatest media space on the wall street protests.
contrast that with practically zero coverage on any western news broadcaster.
The same applies to the thailand floods, a major world capital and asian hub is on the verge of a major flood catastrophe, and sky dedicate hrs of air time to the Micheal Jackson trial.
speaking of floods, this is the season in Egypt, sinai and upper egypt always at risk, I wounder what the government or maglis have planned for anything?
''(indignation that, unlike the Tea Party’s, isn’t high-jacked by racism and right-wing millionaires)''
The lowest moment of this blog, please stick to the ME news, I beg you so.
Sam88,
Why don't you challenge Ursula Lindsey's statement instead of ordering her around?
Your comment is anti-intellectual and patronizing.
Thanks.
While I do recognize and respect the OWS movement, message and impact, I'm a bit unsettled when the press invokes a comparison with the Arab Spring. In a way, this comparison - as generic and benign as it may be - seems to diminish the very real sacrifices countless peoples from across the Arab world have made (and continue to make) for a future free of dictatorship and tyranny.
I remember during the height of the Egyptian Revolution, thousands gathered in the Wisconsin state capital of Madison to protest collective bargaining rights. The U.S. press grasped to compare the two events. While Egyptians gathered in Tahrir were fending off Mubarak's goons and dying in the process, Wisconsinites were permitted to protest without much interference.
I just don't see the equivalency between those camped out in Zuccotti Park and those marching in Aleppo following Jum'ah prayers. Battling for your life in Misrata is different from dodging pepper spray in Oakland. And staring down Saleh's forces in Sana'a is not the same as participating in a march in D.C. I think the OWS protesters would be the first to acknowledge this.
I agree that the protesters in the West in no way face the same repression or run the same risks as those in the Arab world. I wasn't saying they are equivalent -- just that ones have clearly inspired the other.
Best,
Ursula
I agree that the protesters in the West in no way face the same repression or run the same risks as those in the Arab world. I wasn't saying they are equivalent -- just that ones have clearly inspired the other.
Best,
Ursula
''Sam88,
Why don't you challenge Ursula Lindsey's statement instead of ordering her around?
Your comment is anti-intellectual and patronizing.
Thanks.''
I am tired of having this automatism being repeated about the TP, but lets indulge in some explanation then :
''(indignation that, unlike the Tea Party’s, isn’t high-jacked by racism''
1- The Tea Party wasn't high-jacked by racist, has it made one of the biggest effort to sanitize their platform from Racist.
Just see the list of people either expressly elected under the Tea Party banner who is racist ?
What is lazy and patronizing is to cry ''racism'' because ''Obama being black, the Tea Party is racist'', it misses the point that the disagreement is about policy.
In fact the Tea Party has a black politicians, intellectual and now a presidential candidate that they admire, because these people are Conservative, ie they have ideas that appeal to them, ideas and not skin color.
''right-wing millionaires)''
Which suppose that Right-wing is bad, and that Billionaires are bad.
It is interesting that the Left-wing also have their billionaires and they are also trying to influence the political debate, why only one side Billionaires are evil ?
There is no similarities between OWS and the Arab Spring, one side is a the hard core left-wing indulging in Revolution and being envious of the Arab achievement, and another is popular uprising who no other ideology either to get rid of the strong men of the moment.
http://tpmmuckraker.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/tea_party_nation_head_defends_pat_buchanan_the_rea.php
Tea Party Nation Head Defends Pat Buchanan.
"White men built this country"
That's an older quote. Google it.
The left doesn't have billionaires, but yes, liberals do. Too bad.
Google "Occupy Marines". Look them up on facebook.
More ironic than they realize, but what do you expect from Marines.
"I agree that the protesters in the West in no way face the same repression or run the same risks as those in the Arab world. I wasn't saying they are equivalent -- just that ones have clearly inspired the other."
I realize you weren't equating the two Ursula and I didn't mean to imply that you were. I was speaking more generally of the Western media.
BTW, really enjoy the site. Thanks to everybody at The Arabist and keep up the great work!
--Todd
Mubarak, like his successor Tantawi, are the stooges of the same forces the OWS protesters are confronting.
Egypt's revolution is not yet won
OWS has a way to go in matching the achievements to date of the Arab Spring, but the movements are entwined
There is not much hope for the "Occupy-" movement.
Most western people aren't interested in general in things which might disturb happy and endless consuming.
If you look at the streets in Europe you'll realize that most of demonstrations and demonstraters faded away without having changed anything, without having startet a valuable discussion.
Poverty is putting citizens to shame and makes them hiding, they do not and can not trust society for giving them help or even understanding.
Up to now, nothing seems to be comparable to what happened in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya.
Nobody in Europe feels responsible for the own society, the own neighbour, own government and the own future.
Wait for .... let me say: eight weeks and nobody will remember what "Occupy" could have meant for them.
But try to take football games away from them ..... and you'll have a big revolution down here.
Personally, I have no hope for any "awakening" in Europe. No hope for any "resurrection" or whatever you might call for when you're thinking about Europe.
Do not wait for an "European Spring" - that's wasted time.
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