2012.
In 2012 I want to work to make the world better. Not more conservative, not more beholden to the old way of doing things that have not worked. Better. A better world. Better for everyone.
In 2012 I want to Occupy the Dream.
We CAN afford to invest in good, affordable education for everyone.
We CAN afford to make preventative, affordable health care available to everyone.
We CAN afford to invest in rebuilding America, in building 1st world infrastructure and renewable energy.
We not only CAN afford, it, we can't afford to NOT do so.
These are not idealistic thoughts. These are pragmatic thoughts.
We can reject racism, sexism, homophobia, religious differences, xenophobia against immigrants, all the things that motivate people to vote out of hate, we can reject all of these things and the people who promote these divide and conquer tactics. It is 2012. If not now, when?
We can respect and defend a women's right to choose.
We can respect and defend a persons right to love whomever they want to and their right to marry that person if they so wish.
We can respect and vigorously defend our civil liberties and our constitutional rights. The 1st and 4th Amendments are just as important as the 2nd and 10th.
These are not radical choices, these are pragmatic choices, and these are the right choices.
We can fight for the right to collectively bargain for good wages and working conditions.
We can fight for the idea that only people are people, not corporations.
We can fight to put people ahead of profits.
We can fight for these things and many more. For accountability. For justice.
The one thing I've learned is that you have to fight, it's the only way you can win.
And we can fight to fix this world, a world that often seems broken and rigged. We can fight, we can dream, and we owe it to ourselves to make that dream come true. It won't be easy. It won't happen overnight, but it must happen, it must. What better place then here? What better time then now?
In 2012 my new years resolution is to fight. I want to fight for that dream. I want to make it real, little by little, a day at a time, until that dream comes true, a simple, pragmatic idea of a better world for all of us, I want to fight like hell to make it happen. This isn't the end. This is the beginning of the beginning.
So cheers to one and all. Happy New Year! May good health and good fortune find you and yours in 2012. I vow to fight. That is my resolution.
We are unstoppable. Another world is possible.
A vastly better world is possible.
Peace and love to all . . .
You can follow me at @JesseLaGreca