Occupy… WTDD? –What Would Tommy Douglas Do?

Last month, Oct. 15th, my friend Gelek and I joined the Occupy Toronto march; and we hung around St. James Park to watch the encampment get set up and we got to watch how some of the group process works.  It’s inspiring.
A week later, I read something activist Sujata Dey wrote (http://roverarts.com/2011/10/wwtdd-what-would-tommy-douglas-do/) in a review of Vincent Lam’s book about Tommy Douglas–she asked: WWTDD? –What Would Tommy Douglas Do?

And she answered her own question with four principles I’d like to share here:
“It’s tempting to ask, given today’s extreme financial, social and political inequalities, WWTDD? As unrest foments around the world, including on Bay street, it’s worthwhile to remember a few basic tenets of Tommy Douglas’s political ideology. It’s simple stuff, really.

1) Politics is rooted in spirituality and the desire for a better world. Always remember that.

2) Politics is about service, not ideology. While there are values, a road map taken from a manifesto serves little purpose. Instead, improve people’s lives.

3) Go slowly. Don’t neglect the economy.

4) Work hard. And speak well.”

In keeping with her (and TD’s) advice, here are three links to folks speaking well about the Occupy movement. First is activist Michael Albert, 2nd is scientist David Suzuki at Occupy Montreal, and third is Buddhist scholar Robert Thurman at Occupy Wall Street.

It’s also worth checking out Michael Albert’s insightful commentary “Occupy to Self Manage” http://interactivist.autonomedia.org/node/33609, as well as the “Open Letter from Buddhist and Yoga Teachers and Leaders in Support of the Occupy Movement.”http://occupysamsara.org/

Advertisement