Bob Marley Would Say “Occupy Yourself Before You Occupy Outside”

The Occupy Movement has focused on occupying physical spaces to draw attention to important issues.  However, it is even more important that each of us work hard to get our own lives together.  We need to free our minds and resist the outside forces of capitalist consumption.   Be ready to live with less and avoid entrapment by credit schemes.  As the system continues to melt down, only those who are resilient and self-sufficient will be able to thrive.  One of the best ways to do this is to understand and practice the Rastafarian lifestyle as modeled by Bob Marley.   His words that inspired this title are “Judge not, before you judge yourself.”   Get your own life in order if you want to be able to challenge the Babylon system.  He summed it up perfectly:  “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery.  None but ourselves can free our minds.”

I personally became aware of and interested in Rastafarianism about ten years ago through Bob Marley’s life and music.  I did my own research into what it means to live the Rasta lifestyle.  I found that this social movement has much to teach us about how to free ourselves and take down the system.  We can’t get one without the other.  I began to teach about this in my social change and social movement classes.  I found many young people eager to embrace the principles and practices that Bob Marley and others preach about in their music.  In fact, the Occupy fighters already believe in and live many of the values and practices espoused by the Rastafarian way of life.  I developed a series of slides to use in my lectures and have included them here.  Each should be self-explanatory.  Then, I include lots of great pix and quotes from Bob Marley’s music and interviews.  This tribute recognizes that Bob Marley’s music and messages are more relevant today than ever.

Time for Progressive Pot Party to Counter Tea Party

One year into the Obama administration and many progressive voters are having “buyer’s remorse.” We are not getting the change we believed in and voted for.    We need to do more to increase awareness and support for a truly progressive agenda.  One great place to start is by ending the unethical and ineffective war against marijuana.

Where is the progressive outrage and protest needed to counteract the growing tea party movement?  Now is the time to stand up and be heard about the real problems we face that go beyond economics and health care.  This is a call for concerned citizens to create and foster a Progressive Pot Party.  Learn how to do it and share your ideas by leaving comments.

Freedom is Our Power, So Use it or Lose It

American society is at a historical crossroads. We now have the chance to rebuild our lives and communities; but only if we are left free from excessive corporate and federal government meddling. It is clear that the Bush administration has tried aggressively to take away our freedoms and control our behaviors. However, as Bob Marley it is time to “Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery, none but ourselves can free our minds.” In this post I give you some well-tested strategies for regaining our personal and collective freedom. As always, I hope you enjoy the pix and cool quotes!!

Marley’s Prophecy and Our Future

This is one of the many BLOGs I have written about Reggae music over the last few years on MySpace. Here is one of the more politically oriented messages that Bob Marley and the Wailers taught us – which are now being carried forward with honor by Bob’s sons and others.