Finally a protest that should make sense to everyone that has paid attention to the last 6 years of political and economic events in this country. Finally a protest that should even make sense to some on Wall Street. But what do you get from the rightwing media when such a protest occurs, nothing but negative coverage as if the protestors are communists and we should just let ourselves keep "gett'in it" from Wall Street. Rightwing media loves to overprotect and "prepare the way" for unbridled greed as they cast the protestors as out of work actors, liberals, bums and uninformed college students but if anything is true it is that the informed should be protesting on Wall Street.
Anyone that has been through the financial trouble of this nation and anyone with a sense of justice or make that, mere rational thought and especially those that have lost their homes along with their retirements because of the economic meltdown should be supportive of the general thrust of these protests.
Everyone that has witnessed Wall Street receiving billions in bailout money only to turn around and lobby tooth and nail to oppose financial help for those with foreclosed homes, the unfortunate recipients of wall street recklessness, should be supportive of these protests. This one fact should have had people in the streets long before this. These are protests against the recklessness of callous unbridled greed that bring us all down and yes, even those at the top that will not help themselves.
There are those that may still not know just what the Occupy Wall Street protestors are all about but here are a few things we do know.
When they stand with the poor, they stand with Jesus.
When they stand with the hungry, they stand with Jesus.
When they stand for those without a job or a home, they stand with Jesus.
When they are peaceful, nonviolent, and love their neighbors (even the ones they don’t agree with and who don’t agree with them), they are walking as Jesus walked.
When they talk about holding banks and corporations accountable, they sound like Jesus and the biblical prophets before him, who all spoke about holding the wealthy and powerful accountable.
Pray for those out on the streets and think of ways that you or your church can be Jesus to them. And do one of the things that church folks do best: Bring them a covered casserole!
Take your church potluck down to the occupations. Sit, eat, and talk with the protesters. Offer them the gifts of hospitality, company, and friendship. Offer them the love, understanding and witness of Jesus so that in this way they realize that God cares about people.
The Occupiers' desire for change and willingness to take action to do something about it should be an inspiration to us all.
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To a people's entrepreneur that hung with us during the "strange years" of Reagan and rightwing conformity.
Steve Jobs 1955 - 2011
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