It Says It All - Occupy Wall Street

I haven't commented yet on the Occupy Wall Street movement that has taken the United States by storm since September. It came slap bang in the middle of my mini-hiatus from writing in this, and also took a momentum so diverse and so unexpected that I didn't really know how to comment. Well, I did - but on so many different levels, I didn't know where to commence...

So, for now, these brilliant cartoons are what I think are the best of the wry, sardonic cartoons that have proliferated online since the Occupy movement took hold...









Possibly one of the best of the lot...

RAVE: La Revolution Jasmine Continue...

Tunisia continues to astound. Rather, the people on the streets of Tunis continue to astound.

The Jasmine Revolution continues unabated. Now the police, national guard and fire brigade have joined the protesters in the streets to show their solidarity with the people of Tunisia.

The people, now joined by the said former 'guardians' of the ousted regime, continue to show their disapproval and even anger at any members of the old party, Constitutional Democratic Rally (RCD), still remaining in the new government of national unity. They want the RCD crowd out - all out.

And they're absolutely right to want them ALL out. To get rid of rubbish, one doesn't leave any of it behind in one's home. Tunisia cannot hope to start anew if there is still so much public anger against the entire former political party which held power so ruthlessly.

But we must all remain hopeful for the future of Tunisia, not to mention possibly other countries in the region too. Already there is talk of the 'Tunisia effect', which Dr. Larbi Sadiki, Senior Lecturer of Middle East Politics at the UK's University of Exeter, describes in Aljazeera as an 'effect' in which, "All Arabs feel emboldened and inspired by the overthrow of Ben Ali Baba's dictatorship. Tunisia now leads the way and others are closely watching. The Tunisia effect must be a democratic effect."

This is no doubt fast becoming one of the most astounding popular revolts in recent modern history.

People power to the hilt.

Do you get my point?

RAVE: Power to the People of Tunisia!

Yes, indeed - Power to the people of Tunisia!

I can only marvel at the extraordinary events that have taken place in Tunisia in just the last few days.

I marvel at:

- How demonstrations by the people forced a previously invincible dictatorial president to flee - a man who had been in corrupt and iron-clad power for 23 years

- How the people of Tunisia made that which was unthinkable just a few months ago reality - very stark reality - and all within a matter of weeks, even days

- How YET AGAIN the power of the Internet to serve as conduit for much-needed change and for good has been proven

- How a decidedly undemocratic and oppressed nation has been decidedly turned upside down

- How a relatively small nation of the Maghreb is going to make every other oppressive regime in the entire region scared - VERY scared - and that's only a good thing 

- How people who are sick of oppression and rising fuel and food costs really can bring down an entire government

- How revolutions really do occur on empty stomachs and with angry minds

- How I on the southern tip of the African continent can be so moved and energized by the actions of citizens on the northern tip of this continent

Goodbye, Ben Ali, you bastard...good riddance to bad rubbish, no doubt.

Now I can only hope that the Tunisian people will get the free and fair elections and open, unoppressive government that they deserve after what they have achieved.

And they no doubt deserve that...

Do you get my point?