The 94-Year-Old Frenchman Behind ‘Occupy’
A little more than 13 months ago, a left-wing French publishing house specializing in Third World advocacy published a very short (32 pages) and very cheap (three euros) political brochure titled Indignez-vous! (Time for Outrage!).
The author was nonagenarian Stephane Frederic Hessel: a Nazi camp survivor, a former ambassador, and a regular French talk show guest. The booklet was an instant bestseller: one million copies in the first ten weeks, 1.5 million in the first year.
It still remains, as of today, the number one book on French bestseller lists.
The reasons for such a stunning success were quite obvious. Those people who read a bit, but not much, were thrilled to buy what passed for a serious essay by an important person for less than the price of a magazine. They were even happier to find out that Hessel’s philosophy was a perfect fit for their own intellectual and ethical size.
The Great Old Man urged contemporary youth to get “outraged” about poverty and injustice and to fight for a better world, just as he had done seventy years earlier as a member of the anti-Nazi Resistance. Who on Earth would contend with that, especially when the enemy was not the Third Reich, but benign modern democracies?
Moreover, the villain Hessel repeatedly mentioned and attacked was Israel — the country most people in France love to hate already.
Hessel’s booklet was almost as successful worldwide as in France proper. It was quickly translated and published in ten European languages and in Hebrew; overall sales hit 3.5 million copies. Translations were then produced in ten more languages.
The only exception in terms of popularity was the U.S.: the pamphlet was just inserted in The Nation’s April 7-14 issue. Practical Americans, even of the liberal persuasion, apparently had trouble selling it or buying it as a book.
Hessel’s influence on the ground grew to dwarf his sales accomplishments.
“Outraged” movements claiming to follow the old Frenchman’s philosophy bloomed in countries hit by recession or bankruptcy, like Spain, Greece, the UK, Chile, and more recently the United States. Strangely enough, even Israel — in spite of its comparatively good economic and financial shape and Hessel’s rabid anti-Zionism — was hit by the movement last summer.
All “outraged“ movements tended to follow a single pattern. Citizens with no explicit political affiliation “occupied“ major streets, squares, or public spaces for days or weeks, day and night, insisting upon “social justice” or “change.” They erected little booths and tent villages, both in order to sleep there and to make it more difficult to be moved out or blocked by police the following day.
Most democratic governments were reluctant to suppress such behavior, even if they were legally entitled to do so. In some countries, like Spain, there might even have been a not-too-secret understanding between the left-wing cabinet poised to lose the coming election and the demonstrators, who disclaimed in advance whatever measures a future conservative cabinet would take. (Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero’s socialists lost to Mariano Rajoy’s conservatives on November 20.)
Clearly, the so-called Arab Spring was connected to Hessel’s “outraged“ campaign. The demonstrations and sit-ins that led to the eviction of both Zine el-Abidine Ben-Ali in Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak in Egypt were modeled after Spain’s Indignados operations. This factor might not have been decisive by itself, but it did deter Western powers from extending support to leaders who were previously their local allies.
The much more complex Libyan, Yemenite, Bahraini, and Syrian upheavals started as replicas of the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions. There was evidence of direct contacts between Arab insurgents and Western “outraged“ groups or Western NGOs close to the global “outraged“ movement.
As for the Israeli replica, it was launched in part by left-wing activists close to similar American and/or European NGOs, and was designed at some point as a tool to topple the Netanyahu cabinet. It didn’t work out that way: the core of the local “outraged” Israelis were just democratically minded patriots complaining about supposed negative byproducts of a two-decade economic boom, like the rise of real estate prices in cities like Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.
Hessel may not have been the real thinker and promoter of his movement.
At 93 (last year) and 94 (now), he seems to enjoy excellent health and clarity of thought. He may indeed have written the few pages that turned him into an instant world icon. However, the pages were more likely provided by a ghostwriter. A convincing argument, in this respect, is that Time for Outrage! is a “party line“ operation. It is less about Hessel expressing his views than about others setting an agenda and Hessel endorsing it.
There is an incomprehensible determination in conservative ranks – politicians, educators, writers, editors, journalists, anchors, commentators – to avoid any use of the terms “socialist”, much less “Communist”, in discourse regarding the taking over of the Democrat party organization by committed followers of Marxist/Leninist/Stalinist/Maoist precepts and the Communist Manifesto. This is true even of apostates such as Roger Simon and Ron Radosh and, though to a lesser degree, David Horowitz. They prefer to stick to the rules that their former Comrades have set: always refer to the Cause as “left”,” Liberal”,” Progressive” or “Social Justice”. And call yourselves “Blue” and the fly-over unwashed as “Red”. I have never read an explanation of this gutless behavior from any of them. I believe it is a deep fear of being accused of McCarthyism even though that sad, alcoholic anti-Communist, defended only by Bill Buckley, has long since proven correct albeit imprecise. Not surprising when dealing with moles and espionage.
In Europe, where Communists once campaigned openly and increasingly unsuccessfully, they have long since melded into Social Democrat parties. Now emboldened into activism, they have found a substitute for for “workers” : non-workers = students. Ill-educated, uninformed, secure in their self-esteem, dedicated to” making this world a better place”m eager to pose as “victims of brutal neo-fascists” (Please! Please beat me up in front of the cameras!) The crises created by Socialist misgovernment and Middle Eastern kleptocrats have created an eager market for M. Hessel world wide. Call him the Thomas Paine of the Neo-Communists. The fact that his stuff is ignorant drek matters not. For Communists and Radical Socialist Organizers rabble-rousing is the grassroots strategy. M. Hessel’s message is is rabble-rousing drivel. The witless, Occupiers in their scruffy, scurvy rubble are indeed a rabble of Babel. Meantime, capitalist marketing is no doubt making Hessel’s final years very comfortable.
Applause! Applause!
***Occupiers in their scruffy, scurvy rubble are indeed a rabble of Babel***
Love it! Original?
Sounds like the weirdo group StopWar and their chic blog Rabble.ca.
Stuart Williamson, you may have a point. Perhaps they are communists. Hessel seems to be one. What fascinates me about his pamphlet is that it urges people to read The Goldstone Report, although that report has now been discredited by Goldstone himself. It reminds me of Churchill’s famous observation about a lie going around the world before the truth is able to pull on its pants (or something like that). Anyway, thanks to Michel Gurfinkiel for this fine report.
Stuart: I have talked to several Italian commies and to several American “liberals”, and I noticed at least one important difference between them: at least when talking to me, the commies never used ad hominem arguments.
This is especially intriguing since historical materialism basically gives them an excuse for doing so.
stuart,
Very good observation. Until about a year or so ago, the word “Socialist” would lead to censorship of comments on many sites.
I think it has something to do with the mountain of political correctness that exists among the moderate and independent electorate–everyone is afraid they will offend them and make the political situation even worse. There are many Americans who simply don’t want to hear distressing conversation, even if they know it may be true.
I agree with just about everything you say save your defense of Tailgunner Joe. All I need to say about him is, he accused George C. Marshall, perhaps the greatest American of the American Century, perhaps of *any* century to date, of being at the center of “a conspiracy so immense and an infamy so black as to dwarf any previous venture in the history of man.” The only thing immense and infamous’ was his Kerry-style embellishment of his war record, and maybe his midsection.
It’s time to take our language back! Socialists have been redefining our language for over 100 years. One can not have a discussion on politics anymore without using vocabulary designed by Marxists. If one uses a Marxist vocabulary, then one is constrained to phrasing everything within a Marxist world-view. The Marxist world-view has been designed to support Marxism. I rarely use the term “leftie” because it is not inclusive enough, and its use tends to lend support for the false Left-Right dichotomy. I don’t use the term “liberal” because socialist high-jacked it. The word that describes the opposite of socialism is now used synonymously with socialism! Now some have started using the term “classical-liberalism”. OTH, I do use the term “progressive” as it is the name of a particularly virulent form of socialism.
When most of us will have turned to dust these old commies keep kicking. For a group who makes a living agitating about oppression, poverty, and hardship, they live far batter and longer than everyone else. Anyone notice that? That is why the movement is kept alive for the most part. Those who were around since the dawn of creation agitating for the red menace are STILL THERE. They might be 117, or only 94 but damn it all, they are still doing what they have been doing for generations. Have they all made a pact with the devil?? They never seen to just DIE and go away.
We barely fought the Cold War according to a crucial book by Jean-Francois Revel. I summarized it here: http://clarespark.com/2011/04/09/jean-francois-revel-and-father-mapple/. The book is How Democracies Perish and it is a must read.
Hi, I would also advice you to pay closer attention to Anatoliy Golitsyn, “New Lies for Old” and “The Perestroika deception”.
For these true believers, communism is a religion. They don’t mind their own martyrdom as long as it advances their agenda. Why did so many early Christians accept their martyrdom?
I’m curious as to which side of the fence he was on in the nazi camp…
“While making, all in all, a prestigious career at Quai d’Orsay (the French Foreign Office), he was nevertheless barred from many sensitive jobs. In fact, many of his colleagues wondered whether he was not a bit too left-wing.”
NB: The FRENCH thought he was too left.
Van Jones was telling this a year ago. Only ignorant fools don’t see that OWS is a deceptive ruse front for far Leftists.
The *liberal* magazine The New Yorker just published an expose of the hard-core anarchists who are the real instigators and controllers of OWS.
http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2011/11/28/111128fa_fact_schwartz
The battle lines have been drawn. Look for these skirmishes (OWS demonstrations, etc) to dramatically increase in intensity as next fall’s elections approach – with the goal of giving The Won any reason to call for marshal law. The worse he does in the polling leading up to Nov the more kindling these anti-patriots will look to throw on the fire.
All they need is the kindling. Where will they find it? Who will be the useful idiots? They need greater numbers than they now have. Will the college students mass up and serve the needs of The Won? I think most of them are looking (worrying) for a job – not a revolution. The unemployed? If you can believe the government numbers there are fewer unemployed. Most of them are on benefits and have no great need to get their heads bashed in for the cause of The Won.
Interesting times to say the least. Who’da thunk it?
Keep your powder dry folks…
The true influence in the “non-violent” movements around the world is right here in the United States. Gene Sharp’s manuals have been around for decades. His works have helped overthrow governments of every credo.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/17/world/middleeast/17sharp.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all
He is probably a front, in the mold of George Soros. If they ever existed individually, neither of them believes a word that they say.
In terms of following, perhaps. But virtually all of them are headed and controlled by our own intelligence agencies. Practically all major dissident groups in the U.S. are surveillance traps, whatever their creed and public activities.
True, France has a history of injustices (Napoleon, Inquisitions, Cardinal Richelieu, etc.), as does Portugal, Spain (Franco), Serbia, Croatia, Soviet Union et al.
With American Communism and Socialism it took a more intellectual turn (instead of the rowdy, thuggery style European model) Hessel professes. Actually, Hessel is re-living National Socialism’s mantra.
In the USA, America has it’s own authors of import: Cloward-Piven, Spengler, et al (fellow travelers all). This group of mal contents from the 1900′s were conscientious objectors to US’s involvment in WWI. From their efforts, labor uprisings, ACLU, Social (national)programs, new tax code, Federal Reserve, “Robber Barons,” “Roaring 20′s, Boom and Bust cycles were born.
2011′s OWS was a melding of this 1900′s communist/socialist doctrine, coupled with a need to politically blunt the rise of The Tea Party. So, off to Wall Street (anti-capitalist movement) and show the faces of abject poverty in the streets. Three objectives were obtained: 1)dominate news cycles for three months during Republican nominees debates(another four weeks with Mr. Cain’s ouster), 2) dismantle Wall Streets dominance (somehow), 3) meld and overtake Tea Party rhetoric with their own “noise.”
OWS was carefully planned, funded and executed in the USA. Not in Europe, not in Middle Eastern Countries (Ms. Piven was seen on video exclaiming “Egypt is in open revolution, why isn’t the United States?”).
Of course, in the USA, this OWS movement has more sinister connotations,i.e., supplanting america’s capitalism with socialism…period. None other than Mr. George Soros (the “puppet master”) is distinctly behind this effort as he was in United Kingdom’s demise.
No, France doesn’t hold a candle to american communist/socialist movement. Hessel is a student. God Bless America.
“Spengler” is a fellow traveller with Cloward-Piven? And he is posting on JM!
After perusing so many blogs/new sites I must say PJ has the best commenters- truly a notch above the rest. Thanks to the authors for providing the topics and thanks to those who take the time to read and research and share intelligent comments.
The Occupy movement, so far, has been all froth and show. It’s real purpose will become clear next year as the election comes closer. Occupy will provide the cover to allow violent confrontation by union thugs and ACORNers to intimidate voters in key precincts. The Black Panther and Code Pinkers and similar groups will help break up speeches by good guys.
The police and media will respond as though the violence was nothing more than the same hippies doing the same dithering as in 2011. Only, it won’t be. They’ll carry Occupy banners and signs and blame the violence on Tea Party and Republican folks. Naturally, some of the union thugs will carry Tea Party signs/shirts as they turn over cars and set them on fire.
It’ll be weeks before the authorities and media figure out that the whole thing is just more Obamination.
More likely OWS will continue to heckle politicians they don’t like, in an attempt to silence them by shouting them down. They already tried to do that with Michele Bachmann and even Barack Obama.
One should also include the French manifesto “The Coming Insurrection” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Coming_Insurrection in the list of OWS enablers, as well as “Temporary Autonomus Zones” http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temporary_Autonomous_Zone by the pedophile who called himself Hakim Bey.
Also it’s good to see that leftist gadfly Slavoj Zizek is doing something useful in urging his followers to proudly take on the name and inhertance of “Communists”.
Given the amount of sales, doesn’t he qualify now as part of the 1%? Oh the irony.