Occupy

The seasons are turning once again, the leaves falling. As it gets colder I think about the hardy young people who are Occupying in so many cities of our nation and around the world. (And some older people as well.) Occupy Wall Street started in mid-September with a march of about a thousand people, 200 of whom camped out in Zuccotti Park in New York City's financial district. It has grown into an international movement. Calling themselves the “Ninety-nine Percent,” protesters are challenging the greed of Wall Street, the policies that enable the upper one percent to be making enormous profits while thousands of people are losing their homes, are unemployed, or just getting by.

I visited the Occupy Maine encampment in Portland last week, to drop off some sleeping bags for the campers there. People are camping in Lincoln Park at Congress and Franklin, and sticking it out in all kinds of weather, along with enduring some acts of harassment such as a homemade bomb that was thrown into their kitchen tent early in the morning of October 23. (No one was hurt, thank goodness.)

It was quiet when I stopped by—a Wednesday afternoon. They don't do a big demonstration at Monument Square on the days when the Farmer's Market is there, but there were only a few people at Lincoln Park right at that time. When I asked whom I might speak to, a man who appeared to be homeless pointed me toward three young adults. They were delighted to chat with me, and seemed very articulate and dedicated as they talked about why they were there. When I mentioned that I was the minister at Allen Avenue, one of them said—That is my alma mater! It turned out he had grown up at our church. His name is Evan McVeigh.
He was also quoted in some local media about the occupation: Portland Press Herald Oct 11 and MPBN.

It made me proud of what we do for young people at our church. Young people here are encouraged to think for themselves, and to believe that they can make a difference in the world. They are encouraged to act on their values, and speak up about them. We help them become articulate and dedicated citizens. We teach our kids to look at the big picture, and care about how we treat each other as a society. No wonder they can spot the injustice of 1% of the people growing richer every year, while 99% of the people are falling back. Hurray!

I encourage you to stop over, have a conversation, bring along some food or blankets or tent stakes to help them out.  Like and follow them on Facebook to hear the latest news. https://www.facebook.com/OccupyMaine

There are things happening these days—who knows where it all may lead us?

Blessings, Rev. Myke