reflection 9

Reflection 9

            Over some days contemplation of the documentary on President Obama’s 2008 election and grass roots focus I was trying to find some recent major grass roots movement in the MENA region and I think I have found it.

            Before I go into too much detail and just start rambling on and on about what I think is some hitherto important event in the region I would like to talk a little bit more about the 2008 election and another presidents campaign efforts. In 1963 another underdog candidate Named John F. Kennedy won an election through use of grass roots organizing. I come from/live right across from a relatively small town in Oregon called the Dalles, or Le Dalles, if you prefer. Mr. Kennedy during the Oregon primary visited this small town and many others throughout the region not for some PR stunt but to discuss the election with the people of these small towns and to try and build a base in the small grass roots communities of the area just as President Obama has done in the last two elections, here is a sample from  Kennedy’s speech in Oregon; “You all know what brings me here to this state: I am a candidate in your primary for President of the United States. And I would like to take this opportunity to talk with you - not about my own candidacy, but about that Presidential primary, how important it is and how important your individual vote will be. For I strongly urge every citizen of this state - Republicans, Democrats or Independents - whomever they may support - to go to the polls this spring and cast that all-important vote”(JFKLobrary.org). In his speech it was very similar to the things Obama said if not damn near identical, “It isn’t about me it’s about voting no matter who you support” What both men are doing is giving a very well designed sales pitch, where  you say “hey this guy isn’t trying to sale me something or dupe me” and it puts you at ease to listen to the message to come; but that is neither here nor there, regardless the two presidential candidates turned president did an excellent job at stirring up the bottom, focusing on the grass roots effort, focusing on the people who will work for you as long as you will put them before you political career something both men have done with excellence. Moreover, grass roots organization is not only an effective force in the United States, in the MENA region a grass roots organization that may help change the dynamic of the region.

            As Palestine vies for non-participating membership in the UN Israel has declared that it may cancel the OSLO peace accords and move the Palestinian’s out of the settlements. Now the ferocity an power social organizers in Palestine have, and have working since the 80’s is a force to be reckon with in the realm of civil society. So what would happen if all the grass roots organizing and attempts by the Palestinian authorities to gather support for a Palestinian state were crushed by the very thing that would help further there cause? In my opinion the only way that will end is in another war, but perhaps the Palestinian people will take the time to further entrench there civil society movements and use peaceful means to gather more international support. Moreover, the violence that has been happening in the region has not at all been of extreme benefit to the people perhaps it is time to for peaceful non-violent civil society grass roots to take over in full, perhaps just perhaps the grass roots organization in full force with the approval of the international arena will be the key to improving Israeli-Palestinian relations without bloodshed. While the increase of grass roots movements in any country is, in my opinion, unfathomably important, only the future will tell how the things play out both in the US and the MENA region