Why I won't be on the picket line

Most of you have now heard about Operation: Occupy WallStreet, and now those protests have spread to several other cities throughout the country. Initially I didn’t know much about these demonstrations and I remained relatively indifferent. Then I saw a link to We Are the 99%. There are pictures of people holding hand written signs telling their stories. Many of these stories were moving and some hit far too close to home.

Was this what this movement was about? Asking for reform to help those of us who had played by the rules but now found ourselves in crushing debt to a system that couldn’t care less. These seemed to be cries for just a small bit of help, just make it a little bit easier. I’m a firm believer that making it in life shouldn’t be easy, you should have to work hard to get what you want, but it shouldn’t be this hard either. So was this a movement I could get behind, a group I could proudly stand alongside and ask for change? I was beginning to think so.

And then I saw this

If you’re not sure that sign says “DIDN”T WE ABOLISH SLAVERY?” While I think the ways banks treat the people is atrocious, it is far from slavery and to compare the two is irresponsible and dangerous. But this is one nut with one sign; I would expect to agree with everyone in any movement.

But then I saw this picture.

The caption to the picture said: “Cops rolling up to stand on the side of the 1%”

There are no officers here violating anyone’s rights, they are not harassing protestors, in fact only two officer are even in the picture. It could be that downtown St Louis on Tuesday saw these protests, a MLB playoff game, and a visit from the President. So couldn’t it be possible that these officers were there to keep the peace and insure that no incidents occurred.

But this is where I run into problems with many on the far left; while I may agree with your ideas it is your fundamental philosophy that I abhor. It’s the automatic assumption that all authority is evil or that all traditions are wrong. I know I’m biased when it comes to cops, but the vast majority are good people trying to make the world a better place. It is assumptions like these that draw artificial lines where we could be allies.

Cops are not the enemy

Christians are not all closed-minded bigots

The wealthy did not all get there on the broken backs of the poor

When you’ve found a way that we can all truly stand together to fight for a better world, without making unnecessary enemies just to falsely produce a greater sense of oppression, then you will find me standing by your side. Until then, best of luck and I pray that rational minds are able to see past hyperbole and hypocrisy and do what is best for our nation.