The Privilege of Protest

I witnessed two events in the past week that could not have presented a more different view the world.

The first was a fundraiser last Saturday night for an organization based here in Raleigh called Jobs for Life.  Jobs for Life equips people for the workforce who have had little or no experience in getting or holding a job.  The curriculum teaches how to interview, how to fill out applications, and why showing up for work every day matters.  The organization also works with businesses in the cities where the programs are held to assist with placement where possible.  The most memorable parts of the evening were listening to people stand up and tell their stories of success in the program.  Each of the participants gushed with pride as they talked about the change in their lives brought about by the dignity of work and opportunity.

The second event was the shutting down of the campground in Zucotti Park, NYC, the epicenter of the Occupy Wall Street movement.  As stories of rampant drug use, the spread of TB, and other issues became more prevalent, Mayor Bloomberg of New York decided that enough was enough.  I can’t say that I get the point of view of the whole OWS movement.  In fact, I don’t get it at all.

Setting my personal viewpoint aside for a moment, however, the contrast between these two events could not have been more stark.  On the one hand, I saw a group of people that had been given almost nothing, and in many cases had had everything taken away, working hard to change their lives.  Jail time, extreme poverty and hardship had been replaced by hope and the promise of a better life.  On the other hand, I witnessed a group of primarily well-educated, privileged people spending their days and nights railing against societal ills in the name of the “other 99%.”

To be sure the protests have their place, and there is truth in some of the issues.  However, it seems that perhaps a little less whinging might be the order of the day.  In the end this is not an “Arab spring” moment.  The relative injustice is incomparable, and we all know it.

Question:  Where does the OWS movement go from here, after the shut downs?