Occupy!

Today I spent a small portion of my Yom Kippur fast occupying Portland (though as a part of fasting I had to take it easy pretty soon after helping the camping protesters). I also occupied Portland for a few minutes of the big march two days ago, ironically just minutes after I had finished a job interview and was dressed accordingly. I've got photos coming soon.

This "Occupy" movement is powerful and definitely worth participating in. It's accepting of whatever situation you come from so long as you are upset with the current economic greed and irresponsible corresponding policies of the government. There are protesters who are struggling to feed themselves every day as well as protesters like me who live comfortably but still feel the unfairness and for-profit mentality that leaves the working class shortchanged. One Fox News article claims that the movement is "99% white," although the photo they chose to headline the article shows a pretty diverse crowd:

But the whole point of the movement in my mind is that it represents everyone who's unhappy with the way things are going. It's not a racial grievance and it's not even a class grievance: it's a grievance about greed. The wealthy who are dismayed by the rampant greed and manipulation of many big corporations are part of the 99% as well. We don't have to feel that we directly are wronged by shameful capitalist practices - we belong even if we simply feel that they are shameful. So the movement reaches across racial and socioeconomic boundaries and unites people who feel that something needs to change.

And the movement IS diverse. It was the most diverse I've seen the fairly homogenous Portland yet.