On OWS

New York, New York:

The Guggenheim Museum is a spiral or two away

On the Waterfront, there are no ducks; just vividly blue waves crashing

A few blocks down, a leafy garden in the sun,

And a dry-cleaner with lots of pastel-colored wire hangers hanging from cacophonous, metallic racks.

Do the crowds really know what Wall Street stands for?  I don't think so.  I think they are clueless, to be exact.  For one thing, Wall Street doesn't stand for greed.  It stands for dishonesty, period.  Even if greed might characterize Wall Street, that isn't the problem.  Greed can consume and destroy the greedy person by bringing him or her incredible amounts of stress, but it usually won't harm others.  Dishonesty is the real culprit.  The financiers who are responsible are unwilling to take responsibility not because they are greedy, but because they are dishonest.  And you know what, dishonesty provides a defense mechanism to those who practice it.  That's what dishonesty is for.  No human being inherently likes to be dishonest.  It is only out of the need to protect oneself.  So don't point out their greed.  That's superfluous!  Point out their dishonesty.

Also, don't say "Occupy" blah-blah-blah.  What a weak and negative word they've chosen for themselves; I am so full of contempt for them native English-speakers.  You can only occupy a toilet or a colony.  Why not "Overthrow Wall Street"?  In modern history, aristocrats have been overthrown; kings and queens, too, and colonial governments as well.  Their grounds, palaces, estates may have been occupied by revolutionaries, but that was just a means to an end.  Overthrowing was the goal.  The word "occupy" boggles my mind so much that I am beginning to wonder if this movement is being backed by Washington and Wall Street banks to allow the poor, poor masses to vent their anger, and to mislead them into scapegoating a toilet that doesn't exist.  That way, Washington and Wall Street will never take the real blame.  How smart of them, if this is what they are actually up to (which I doubt, but still - there is always a possibility).

With deepest love and admiration I say: America, you are such a silly country.  You talk so fondly of the Arab Spring, and yet - how many dictatorships have you supported throughout history in the Arab world alone?  But I do not blame you.  Victors never have to repent.  Even if they have to be dishonest.