90 Year Old Joins Occupy Wall Street from Bed in Nursing Home

The book, which I wrote last year when I was 90, called From One to Ninety-one: A Life, was published this summer. It ended with a plea that our people join hands to end the un-American, undemocratic atmosphere of greed that characterizes our society and poisons our lives today. I quoted Langston Hughes, who said:

                  Not me alone...
                  But all the whole oppressed...
                  Must put their hands with mine
                  To shake the pillars of those temples
                  Wherein...the rule of greed's upheld...
                  That must be ended.

We are at a time when our corporations are placing profit over people, self-interest over justice, and oppression over equality while they control and stymie our government. But thanks to a few progressive forces, organized as Occupy Wall Street, we have reached a remarkable point and the possibility of change for the better. Though it originated as a small group of young people camping out at Zuccotti Park in lower Manhattan, it has ballooned to include virtually all the major religious denominations, as well as labor, the unemployed and the marginalized. When protesters were threatened with eviction, Move.on stepped in with a massive e-mail petition and labor stepped up as well, sending members to the park early Friday morning. There were no evictions!

Each of us must stop living in the four walls of his house. We must live in the community, in our society, and push for changes which will save America.

This was my first blog, from a nursing home where I have terminal cancer, and I plan to continue to share my thoughts with you on politics, the magic of chocolate, poker, bridge, the English sixpence, my family, SAS shoes, Marcel Marceau and your thoughts on a myriad of topics we may enjoy together.

And speaking of family, this is the birthday of my daughter, Mindy Thompson Fullilove. We use this occasion to congratulate her and celebrate the splendid life she is building.

Do all the good you can, as long as ever you can.