Gangsta Feminists

*Warning*- if you are interested in reading “The Hunger Games” trilogy, I would advise you not to read this blog because I will be sharing the plot from all three books.

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am a huge fan of “The Hunger Games” trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I read the first book for my Adolescent Literature class and was so blown away by the complexities of their dystopian world that I had to read the next two books. Even though I read them in the matter of four days (I was that into it), I was disappointed in how the books ended. That being said, here’s a look into “The Hunger Games” without having to open up the books:

There are 12 districts of Panem, and each district represents a certain type of resource, whether it is agriculture, weaponry, food, or coal. Katniss, the main character of this trilogy, is a teenage girl from District 12 (The Coal District) who acts as head of household after her father was killed in a coal mining accident. Every year, there is a “Hunger Games” which is a live broadcast of 2 children from each district going into an arena and fighting to the death until one is crowned the victor. A victor wins unlimited riches and a house for their family. Katniss’ sister, Primrose, was chosen for the games and Katniss bravely volunteered to go instead. A boy from their town named Peeta was also chosen to partake in the games because each district provides one boy and girl in the game (Needless to say he was in love with her, but she didn’t know it).

Cutting to the point, while in the arena, Katniss disobeys the rules of the game, therefore rebelling against the government of Panem. She tried hard to pretend she didn’t, but she did. She finds out there was a district underground (District 13), and after another Hunger Games occurs (in the second book), she is taken there to become “The Mockingjay” (symbol of the rebellion).

I went to Occupy Wall Street today, and couldn’t help but have this feeling of familiarity, and then it hit me. OWS definitely reminded me of the Hunger Games Trilogy. Here’s the list of characters:

Wall Street: President Snow & the Government

Katniss: The resistance (the people)

District 13: Liberty Plaza

Obviously there are WAY more characters than that, BUT it made me a bit uneasy to see the resemblance in the situation.

You’re all probably wondering what I am talking about (who compares a national rally to an adolescent novel?), but bare with me.

Occupiers are currently squatting in Zuccotti Park. They are growing food, taking care of themselves (and each other), figuring out ways to change the system from within, protesting in other locations around the city (and in the United States). Sound familiar? It does, considering District 13 in the last book Mockinjay did just about the same thing as well.

Now here’s the real point: in the last novel, Katniss realizes the President of the rebellion, although well intended, had an agenda up her sleeve as well, and after all was said and done, she killed her and President Snow.

Now Occupy Wall Street is about the people’s voice and giving us power, but who is the leader? Who is in charge? We all know everyone can’t be in charge of everyone because it is virtually impossible. Yes, it may occur for a couple of days/weeks, but in the world we live in, a leader emerges ALWAYS, and with that power comes control of everyone responsibility.

As of right now, Occupy Wall Street is “not a protest, it is an affirmation of the vitality and idealism underneath the present nightmare”, but where do we go from here? What comes after it’s all said and done? Although I am all for Occupy Wall Street, I can’t help but feel unnerved to see what the next steps are.