Sowing the Seeds of Revolution

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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/American_flag.jpg
By Frydolin (Prosím v případě využití fotografie mimo projekty WMF o uvedení titulku "Vít Luštinec, Wikipedia" / Please credit as "Vít Luštinec, Wikipedia" in case you use this outside WMF projects.) (Own work) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

A new revolution is upon us!  Ladies and gentleman, a new dawn has arrived and a new voice has emerged. Such as the colonists had endured the extreme harsh taxation and no representation from the British government during 1776 and the American Revolution, the year 2011 has found a new group of "colonists" to band together to voice their displeasure and unhappiness towards the unjust and inexcusable way the American economy, jobs market, and greed have overtaken the country, leading to over 9% unemployment, a bleak economy and the 99% of the population fed up and taking a stand against it.  Occupy Wall Street is fighting back against the corrosive power of major banks and multinational corporations over the democratic process, and the role of Wall Street in creating an economic collapse that has caused the greatest recession in generations.  Sound familiar? 

Boston Massacre
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http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e1/Boston_Massacre_high-res.jpg
By Engrav'd Printed & Sold by Paul Revere Boston. The print was copied by Revere from a design by Henry Pelham for an engraving eventually published under the title "The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Massacre," of which only two impressions could be located by Brigham. Revere's print appeared on or about March 28, 1770. (http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.00174) [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

 The American Revolution gained traction as a disagreement over the way in which Great Britain treated the colonies versus the way the colonies felt they should be treated.  The British felt that the colonies were created to be used in the way that best suited the crown and parliament.  Britain was to be in total control and dictate economic structures such as taxes, and favored their government to make all the laws and decisions for the colonists.  They seemed to be in total control over economics, trade, taxation, wealth, and distribution.  How was this FAIR?  Where was the JUSTICE?  How can the colonists stand back and let others reap the benefits of their hard labor, allow their government to tell them what to pay and when to pay it, and dictate their rules and laws. 

Occupy Wall Street Sign
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By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

During the summer of 1776, the discontent and rise of a few colonists turned into an open rebellion so strong and potent that it ultimately led to an uprising and a revolution. The start of the American Revolution can be traced back to 1763, when the British were victorious over the French.  The military defeat meant the French were expelled from the American colonies, leaving the fur trade solely to the British.  However, the high costs of fighting for over a decade left the British treasury nearly bankrupt.  The British felt that the colonists should pay the bulk of the war debts, and the colonists were willing to help out.  Colonial legislatures increased levies, but they didn't raise enough revenue to satisfy the British. 

Occupy Wall Street Sign
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ADay_21_Occupy_Wall_Street_October_6_2011_Shankbone_9.JPG
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/39/Day_21_Occupy_Wall_Street_October_6_2011_Shankbone_9.JPG
By David Shankbone (Own work) [CC-BY-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

People were outraged.  Where was THEIR voice? They believed that the people deserved a larger voice in their governance.  Their argument was that the citizens should be the ones making the laws that govern the colonists, not the higher level of government.  Look at our outlook today in 2011, look at how the corporations and 1% of the extremely wealthy control much of our daily lives, the media we receive, the products we buy, the jobs available, etc.  Where is the JUSTICE?  Where is the OUTRAGE?  That's where Occupy Wall Street comes into play.  Occupy Wall Street argue that they, or better yet WE are the 99% that make up this amazing country that has been turned into a government ruled in large by the corporations and extremely wealthy and much fewer individuals. 

Young Protestor Illustrates His Frustrattion
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User:David Shankbone/Protests/Occupy Wall Street

Rodger Streitmatter's chapter Sowing the Seeds of Revolution in Mightier than the Sword is an important chapter in distinguishing similar characteristics and traits that ring true in today's society and age.  The colonists were ANGRY and FED up with the way the government and higher command were treating them, leaving little to no control and a state of total domination.  Streitmatter illustrates beautifully how the rise of the colonists, and the rise of independent journalists and papers helped bring about change and dissension from the rule and unfair taxation by the British government.  This chapter I chose specifically due to the obvious links and comparisons with our own present day "revolution", a new dawn if you will that is Occupy Wall Street.  Streitmatter highlights how the colonists and particular journalists helped form an idea and spread the talks across the county...just like Occupy Wall Street has done across the country and the world.  Occupy Wall Street has now spanned to such places as Denmark, Spain, Texas, Ohio, New Mexico, California, Arizona, Georgia, Maine, and the list goes on!!  This IS growing, it NEEDS to continue growing, in order for our voices to be heard and loud enough for our thoughts and ideas to blossom into reality.

Thomas Paine Portrait
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By By Auguste Millière (floruit 1876), after an engraving by William Sharp (died 1824), after a 1792 portrait by George Romney (died 1802) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Spreading the word and allowing the masses of people to hear your voice is critical in order to bring about change.  Historians credit essay writer Thomas Paine as a voice of inspiration during the American Revolution.  Just as Occupy Wall Street individuals lead to represent the masses of unheard and unanswered voices of the 99% of the country, Paine was a fed up colonist who wrote to inspire and propose change to the colonists against the British.  Paine published his pamphlet titled Common Sense to advocate how the men and women of this country deserved and were obligated to demand and want freedom and the ability to fulfill their destinies.  In January of 1776, Common Sense was published to the masses and enhanced the concept of independence through his writing style of clarity, directness, and force. Paine wanted to ensure that even those who had trouble reading or comprehending would understand what he was writing and advocating for, and that his message was meant to spark new ideas and change in the colonists.  His message resonated throughout, 150,000 copies of Common Sense were sold within three months!  Paine sparked the readers attention and got them thinking about their lives and how to better fully live what they rightfully deserved, independence and freedom.

Thomas Paine's Common Sense
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By Scanned by uploader, originally by Thomas Paine. [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

The American Revolution is an essential example of how journalists can help spark change and bring about radical ideas and movements across the country.  The coverage and constant updating of events and movements is key to ensuring that the public knows of what is happening in their daily lives, and relies on the news coverage in order to decide how to live their lives and what could affect them daily.  Samuel Adams and Thomas Paine were two examples during the American Revolution of journalists doing their diligence by alerting the public of the injustice and unfair practices of the British government.  We need more Thomas Paine's and Samuel Adams in todays society more than ever, to help spread the word of the unfair and unjust practices in 2011, and need the media to play an even larger role in order to help spread the word of Occupy Wall Street and the hundreds of other protest groups.  We need to stay united and not back down from our demands, just as the colonists did in 1776.  Change can be scary, change can be great, but change IS necessary in order for the people of this great country to thrive once again and balance out our great nation of free independent people who only want fair and just practices to be upheld and enforced....Sound familiar?

American Revolution Video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HwWi0zdF7wk
"America the Story of Us"
September 14, 2010
A&E Home Video
http://www.history.com/search?search-field=america+the+story+of+us&asset-type=Videos