By Justin Michael Carter

“Hey Johnny, what are you rebelling against?”

“What d’ya got?”

This classic Marlon Brando line from 1953’s “The Wild One” could easily be referencing the Occupy Wall Street demonstrators who marched their fledgling movement to the Brooklyn Bridge this past Saturday. For the last few weeks, New York City has been getting to know this rag tag organization that treats their mission statement like a smorgasbord, shoveling any cause ranging from fighting greed and corporate influence to eliminating the combustible engine onto their protest plate.

Anyone walking by the Occupy Wall Street crowd during the group’s infancy could not be blamed for mistaking them for hipsters waiting in line to purchase a new iPad. At first blush, they appear to be an eclectic bunch of young bohemians. They look as if they seemingly sprouted up from a Central Casting office with clever signs, skinny jeans, and heavily stickered MacBooks. However, a closer look indicates their ranks have actually swelled with people from all walks of life with varied affiliations and disparate ideologies. They have come together under a pseudo populist umbrella to express their frustration about well, just about anything.

Launched by the Canadian Adbusters Media Foundation, the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations began September 17th with about 1,000 protesters in New York City. In the passing weeks they have maintained their visibility through web organized protests. However, they have not yet called for any singular action or specific reforms to be enacted. They ultimately took up residence in Zoccotti Park, transforming it into a hipster haven overflowing with tents, pizza boxes, amateur musical performances, and makeshift electronic docking stations for laptops and cell phones. In the process, they have attracted the attention of Michael Moore, street-cred starved celebrities, and at least one Nobel Peace Prize recipient. They have also drawn the ire of critics who claim their movement lacks the requisite clarity and direction to be regarded seriously.

It only takes one passing glance at their inaugural poster to glean why critics feel Occupy Wall Street lacks clarity and direction. The poster features a ballerina in classic arabesque pose on top of the hulking back of Wall Street’s iconic Charging Bull. This image is set against the foreboding backdrop of an angry mob donning gas masks emerging from a cloud of dust. It could easily be mistaken as an advertisement for a new David Lynch movie or a Calvin Klein perfume. Although visually arresting, it is so abstract that the poster’s slogan “What is Our One Demand?” seems more like a plea for suggestions than a call to action.

This lack of clarity and direction was put on full display during this Saturday’s Brooklyn Bridge protest which led to the arrest of about 700 Occupy Wall Street demonstrators. Other than increasing their visibility, it seems there was no clear intent to this Brooklyn Bridge demonstration. At least not one that was articulated in any way. During the demonstration, the protesters claim they were baited by the police into bringing their march out of the Brooklyn Bridge pedestrian walkway where it was perfectly legal and into the traffic lanes where it was  not permissible.

Some of the protesters admitted to sharing cigarettes and joking with police officers just moments before being duped into entering the traffic lanes where they were wrapped up in orange nets and hauled away to jail. In other words, they were literally sold the Brooklyn Bridge and then arrested for it. This is a rookie mistake. It is also the NYPD equivalent of wrestling icon Ric Flair feigning a sportsmanlike handshake before a match, only to pull his hand back at the last second to slap his opponent in the face with it.

Despite the fact they’re learning on the fly without much clarity and direction, it is conceivable Occupy Wall Street could become a force to be reckoned with. History has proven it is often difficult to detect a major shift until well after it has occurred. Consider Howard Dean’s failed bid for the Democratic nomination in 2004.

Though Dean’s hopes of becoming the presidential nominee flamed out in infamous fashion, much of his impassioned constituency simply gestated during Bush’s second term patiently waiting for an opportunity to strike. They came back battle tested and eventually reincarnated in the form of the Barack Obama campaign. The disappointment they felt in 2004 ultimately helped them achieve their goal of wrestling Washington out of Republican hands. All that was required of them was to wed their enthusiasm and internet savvy to Obama’s vaunted grass roots operation. Lack of direction notwithstanding, if this Occupy Wall Street energy can be properly harnessed, just as Team Obama harnessed that Howard Dean energy, it could very well manifest itself into something significant. This is especially true with an election year looming.

The Occupy Wall Street cause is certainly noble even if many of the protesters aren’t able to articulate it clearly. But that is the issue isn’t it? In order for the world to take serious notice and receive their message it must be made resoundingly clear. Don’t Tread On Me. No Justice No Peace. Black Is Beautiful. Yes We Can. Successful movements, campaigns, and popular revolts never lack clarity. Unfortunately, while it may be lovely to look at, Occupy Wall Street’s ballerina and the bull poster lacks both the clarity and the powerful symbol needed to successfully advance their cause. There is no mutilated body of Emmett Till to stoke the fires of their movement. Nor is there the noble image of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat on the bus to spur a boycott. Arab Spring rose from the ashes of Mohamed Bouazizi, a simple street vendor who set himself ablaze in defiance of Tunisia’s tyrannical regime and unwittingly ignited a fire that has since left charred the remains of many deeply entrenched despots. As much as they’d like to massage Zuccotti Park into Egypt’s Tahrir Square, without these iconic symbols, Occupy Wall Street does not yet compare to these historic movements. Not by a long shot.

One thing they do have is time. Just as MLK said, the long arc of the universe bends toward justice. This is because there are many of those who feel like Michael Corleone in Godfather II when he tells Hyman Roth rebels who aren’t paid to fight can defeat the soldiers bankrolled by the establishment. A small insurgency is perfectly capable of overcoming a powerful regime if their motives remain pure and their mission uncompromised. However misguided Occupy Wall Street may seem, it does appear their momentum is steadily building. Zuccotti Park, or Liberty Square as some supporters have now coined it, is becoming increasingly sophisticated. They now have laundry, live video streaming, a bustling kitchen, and a developing infrastructure to boot. In short, they are learning how to organize. Perhaps it won’t be long before they learn how to fine tune their message too.

Michael Corleone made his observation about the Cuban Revolutionaries after observing a rebel throw himself onto a grenade while taking out an army captain in the process. Seeing this ultimate act of sacrifice and defiance led him to remark, “They can win.” In the case of Occupy Wall Street it may take a while to work out all the kinks but they can win too.

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