I have a fantasy that Occupy Wall Street (OWS) will become something big, something special, and something really important.

Why?

Because this country needs an articulate and thoughtful dissident movement to help it find its way again.

Inspired by the Arab Spring of 2011, the movement is leaderless and yet its stance of discontent,  non-violence and democratic idealism seems to resonate with many who are frustrated with the economic and political situation in our country.

OWS is for those who believe that our values are skewed. It is for those who believe that jobs, affordable housing, good education and healthcare should be a right not a privilege.

It is for people who are tired of the greed, entitlement, salaries, and bonuses of a small class of people who  have more than everyone else.

Some complain that OWS doesn’t have a cohesive platform, a list of demands, or an identifiable leader or political candidate.  I think, at least for now, that is one of its strengths. The amorphousness of it allows people like me to attribute to it everything we think would make this country better. If there was a platform, there would be a moment of, ah, I’m not sure I agree with that, or I don’t like that leader, or I can’t align myself with those beliefs.

In its current amorphous state OWS can contain multitudes and that’s a good thing right now.

I love that Zuccotti Park is like a little society (or maybe it’s like an Internet start up firm) with a reception area, a media zone, a medical area, a library, and a food area. Maybe they need a policy and/or branding department where strategists can help devise a cohesive message.

I love that there’s a daily schedule posted on the website with daily meetings and information about marches. For the organizers, social networking is second nature; they were born into it.

I love that the occupiers order pizza from a local pizzeria, and then use the pizza boxes to make sometimes witty signs.

I love that its young people. And elderly. And middle-aged.

For 17 days, the press seemed to be ignoring the “occupation” and treating it like a joke. On Saturday, many people (all ages and colors)  joined the march and 700 were arrested on the Brooklyn Bridge and now the press seems to be attentive.

For now, OWS feels like the pulse of the city. It seems to, in some way, address the discontent and fear that’s been hovering just above the surface of life these past few years. Fear about the future, fear for our children’s future, fear for our ability to sustain ourselves in a hostile economic environment.

The people are speaking. And occupying, And dreaming that things can be different and better some time soon.

We’ll see what happens.