Penn Editorial 10.7.11

"Occupy Wall St." and its affiliated and supporting organizations haven't been getting the best of press. When it was several dozen people getting maced in Manhattan, there was hardly any media attention. As it has grown as a movement, across the nation and across the Internet, it has been written off in too many quarters as ineffective, disorganized or radical. The lack of explicit and official goals, both long-term and short-term, have garnered significant criticism.

It doesn't matter what your personal political stance is. Whether or not you agree with their views or methods, and no matter what you think of the demands that have surfaced around the Internet in the last few days, their power and significance as a movement is undeniable, as are the ripples they are making in the political and cultural climate of the nation.

"Occupy Wall St." has shown ground-up development and rapid expansion, prompting rallies, protests, marches and other events in cities and on college campuses around the country.

In the "Occupy Wall St." movement, people are finding a voice. Possibly more important than what their goals are, what they accomplish or how organized they are, they're getting people talking. And that's more valuable than almost anything else.

"Occupy Wall St." is bringing attention to issues. It prompts responses, consideration, discussion. The movement is getting people talking, thinking, considering politics and political action at local and national levels.

Take a moment and ditch any party lines you toe to consider this - nothing much can happen if nobody thinks, talks or acts. Different opinions lead to conflict, and every party's point of view clashes with another's, but the one thing every party should be able to agree on is that inaction is everyone's problem.

"Occupy Wall St." may not have made any political strides at this point, but what it has done is struck a blow against apathy.

Take something from that, no matter what you think. Think and talk about politics. Go to rallies. Write letters to newspapers. Call representatives. Vote.

Apathy is the enemy. Join the other side.