Hey Steemians,
I'm the first to admit that I'm late to the crypto currency boom that has seen Bitcoin and other Altcoins turn doubters into believers. But why the sudden change? What collective social shift over the last year has caused the likes of Bitcoin and even Steem to rise to such heights? I like to believe that Standing Rock helped tip a movement that was brewing amongst the people.
Perhaps you were like me, one of the thousands who dropped what they were doing to support the call from the most under represented people in the United States; The Native Americans.
On one side, you have a centralized system that was flexing it's physical power with a financial wealth that was 100's, if not thousands fold greater than their counter parts.
Some, while there, became civilian reporters who documented this history. The violence administered to these "Water Protectors" is a story that many at standing rock will carry in their hearts. But others, like the one in this photo below, will have reminders for the rest of their lives.
The photo above I did not take. I actually left camp the day of the battle of Backwater Bridge. By this time, winter had arrived and the harsh North Dakota temps were here. Facebook was already preventing feeds from going live, Posts were being deleted, accounts shut down. A fellow correspondent Kevin took this photo at the scene and encouraged us to immediately copy it so that the truth couldn't be snuffed out. What kind of society do we live in if there is so much barbed wire around compassion, kindness and integrity?
At the end of the day, the front lines just didn't have enough funds to compete. Those spiritually sustained by something greater then money were the first to be incarcerated, and some sit in cells to this day.Most of those who went were supporters with a budget.. and the choice between the costs of a fight vs. the cost of a life became real. In time everyone began fighting the financial strains first and then fighting the fight.
So today, just over a year later, here I am on Steemit. With a community jumping to life like a spring bloom after doing everything to survive a hard winter.
Im punching away at keys, uploading content and sharing stories of people who changed the world we live in today. because for me I think....
... I think, Standing Rock helped inspire thousands to not only de-invest in the banks but to reinvest in concepts like crypto currency; Like Steemit.
I would have to say that Standing Rock has influenced me to be more proactive, and more committed than just being a supporter. It's allowed me to be put my creative talents to use. But it has also taught me to support decentralizing entities. That's why I think Crypto currency needed an event like Standing Rock to turn the tables in America.
It's a long road and a tough fight with those dead-set on controlling the access to sustainable wealth. Standing Rock was an example of how rigged the system is.
Standing Rock my be over, but the message lives on.
So those who built and continue to build this platform. Who stick it out when others loose faith. Who stand against the harsh elements that surround you...
We are assembling, we are creating. And we must all evolve...One by one.
Thanks for reading and don't forget - Live Locally, Act Globally, and Think Culturally
Peter Erik
