SOOO wow!
It's been forever since I have written one of these which is very sad to me as I realize now I have just not taken the time to sit down and put my thoughts out for the world to see! However, I am changing that right now! :)
I have been thinking a lot about the next post I would write since it has been so long, and have been wanting to do one about inspiration for a longggg time now.
After witnessing what I did tonight, I realized now was the perfect time to write one.
I am currently in Portland, Oregon on a forensics tournament, but have had a couple of special opportunities to explore this amazing city and all it has to offer.
The first thing I realized being here is that Portland is SO different than the south. People here are the most unique individuals I have ever seen in my life.
To get some imagery going, picture Little 5 Points (in Atlanta) but over the span of an entire city.
That my friends is Portland, Oregon.
It.is.incredible.
There are mom and pop restaurants everywhere, bikers, skateboarders, walkers, dogs allll over the place, urban and thrift clothing stores; i mean wow.. it blew my mind about how much there must be throughout the 50 states surrounding my closed off little world that I have never seen or experienced. ALLLL I want to do is travel for the rest of my life, simply just from being able to see how much I didn't know by visiting Portland.
But other than the awesome individuality that is evident on every block, I was able to have the privilege to witness history yesterday, and this evening.
After eating at a local cafe for lunch, we walked outside to head to the car only to find a massive march going on! In eager curiosity, we ran up to see what was happening! It turns out this was the "Occupy Portland" movement! It was a peaceful demonstration of people of all ages; teens, little children, elders, adults, pets, babies; punks, hippies, stoners, goths, homosexuals, homeless people, middle class individuals; any and everyone was together as one, marching for a singular cause of bringing awareness to the public. Below is their main goals listed on their website.
"Occupy Portland is a nonviolent movement for accountability in the United States government. At 12PM on October 6th, 2011 we will assemble at Tom McCall Waterfront Park, North Waterfront Park and Ankeny Plaza, at The Pavilion in Portland, OR where Saturday Market touches the river, just south of the Burnside Bridge. If you are coming from the MAX, get off at Skidmore fountain and walk east to the Waterfront. We will be near the fountain.
We will gather in solidarity with the ongoing protest in New York City, Occupy Wall Street, and the growing number of cities whose people will no longer sit back watching corporate and special interests run their government. We are citizens of the United States, and this country is ours. We will take it back.
It is no longer enough to vote and to participate in the political system because our political system has been altered drastically from its intended and proper function. Currently, we are allowed to pick from a few candidates whose campaigns are funded more and more by large organizations, corporations, and special interests. The success of their campaigns depends largely on how the corporate mass media presents them. When our elected officials enter office they then pander to the small groups responsible for their election. Even good men and women cannot make real improvements that benefit the American people.
We are one city in a growing national movement of people who no longer feel that their government works in their best interest. We will assemble on October 6th to demonstrate peaceful, substantive democracy and work for real change."
Want to learn more? Visit http://occupypdx.org/
So this was my first protest, or peaceful movement, I have ever seen. And I must say, it brought me to tears. Words cannot express the type of emotion I felt from seeing so many different people, all gathered together, as one whole; one being; one group; fighting for one cause. It was the most breathtaking and beautiful sight I think I have ever seen.
From my understanding, this was simply a march. But this evening after dinner with my family, we headed back into the downtown city area to see something much more than a march.
A count(at the time) of 931 people were all camped out on the courtyard lawn in downtown Portland. They had tents set up, people playing instruments, people waving signs at cars to get honks for support, huge assembly meetings happening to make decisions about the next moves to make, free food tables set up for dinner; it was astounding.
I have never been so moved by anything before in my entire life.
It was incredible.
All in all, my point is, these 931 people and all of the thousands of marchers I saw yesterday, all sparked inspiration and hope inside of me; lifted my spirits and brought me awareness and sensibility of how things have to be done in this world! If you think a law is deemed immoral to you, you must disobey it! YOU MUST!
These people are all so boldly standing up for what they believe in at the risk of being arrested or attacked; but their passion is too big to let the law stop them from letting their voices be heard. Why can't we do this kind of thing in our lives?
Organize a peaceful demonstration.
Protest about something you disagree with.
Write a newspaper article to put your voice into the public's eye!
I hope that if you ever have the chance to go anywhere in the country, you might consider choosing Portland, Oregon. A city of no fear, compiled of liberal peoples, that are passionate about what they believe, and not afraid to stand up for it, a city that lives and loves with no judgements, a city of people that follow what their hearts to tell them to do.
Weather they know it or not, each of those people I saw tonight inspired me in some way.
I saw clear and boldly that change can be made! People can take big leaps to get what they want! The law is not always going to stop you from letting your voice be heard!
I hope that all of these people continue to protest until the outcomes are what they want them to be, and the changes they are looking for are made.
So think about all of this, and think about what you could do to try to change your world, or someone elses world today.
What are you passionate about?
What changes would you like to see in your community or in your world?
What are you waiting around for to make these changes happen!?!?
Who may you be inspiring, or not inspiring, with the daily actions you partake in.
Think about all of these points and just see what you think about it all. This was just such a huge emotional blow in my mind and I wanted to get it expressed immediately!
I hope that you all will think about being an inspiration to someone today; being a role model, starting a revolution, making a change.
Because I must tell you, it can be done.
So that is that.If I died today, I would want you to know these things.xo, Jell.
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