silent acclamations midst deafening oppositions

This is not my picture. One of my friends shared it on their profile, and I decided to do the same. I received the following comments:

Fred, me da mucha lastima que pienses de esa manera. Tu comentario de Steve Jobs me pareció de lo mas cruel,de mal gusto y, viniendo de una persona que se considera religiosa, muy poco cristiano. Para evitarme el disgusto de leer otro comentario del mismo estilo, voy a borrarte de mi lista. Espero que este comentario te ayude a ver las cosas de una manera mas humana, menos dogmática.

This friend unfriended me because of the post and something else I had said previously as a Christian.

A.C.U.

Am I missing something here? I’m not sure I understand why the protesters are seen as bad people. It was a tragedy that the young people of the 40’s were bound to tap into their love of country and to give their lives in order to put, as Dietrich Bonhoeffer said, a spoke in the wheel of a devastating vehicle of oppression. Their bravery and sacrifice and sense of the need for justice is actually, it appears to me, a great legacy that the young people of 2011 are using to further promote social justice. Is it a bad thing to want a vibrant democracy? Is it not okay for average citizens to speak out against what they perceive as oppression? Is the spoke in the wheel no longer something people can strive to place when necessary? I know that not every protester has the most noble motivations, and some of the best can get carried across even their own lines of propriety when emotions run high. Still, the placard behind the young man in blue says the same thing that heroes of the last century were saying and fighting for: power for the people. Yes, young people want a lot these days, but social and economic justice in our country is something I think we can be proud of them for wanting. Maybe there is something I am not catching here, but this seems like an unfair blanket statement that puts two generations at odds when their desires are much the same, just put into play in different contexts.

This comment is from a previous co-worker and friend of mine. Even though we don’t see everything eye-to-eye, I appreciate her and her strong work-ethic, and consider her a good friend.

Then, my Pastor posted the following:

New Heights Baptist Church Fred, that’s a great contrast. Many of the young people of “The Greatest Generation” unselfishly gave everything for others, while so many young people of this generation selfishly want something that belongs to others. I wonder if the same segment of society that fights so hard for social justice would have the courage to fight for its own freedom.

To which my friend, A.C.U. responded with the following:

Is it lack of courage that is perceived in those who work to expose disparities that hinder the freedom of people in the United States? Freedom doesn’t apper to be something we can only fight for abroad, but something that also needs to be maintained within. When suffragists protested for the right to vote, those women were seen by many as selfishly wanting something that belonged to others. When civil rights activists protested agains Jim Crow laws, they were also seen by many as selfishly wanting something that belonged to others. What those protesters wanted was the ability to have their voices heard by lawmakers, so the laws could be revised in away that would offer greater freedom to all people in this country, regardless of whether they were perceived by others to deserve it. They were fighting for freedom without bearing arms, and their work is admired today. Many of the young people asking for social justice today are wanting to make their voices heard before lawmakers, so that laws can more equitably govern all people in this country, regardless of whether they are perceived to deserve it. Economic freedom is a difficult subject to broach in the United States, and it is definitely a more sublte and less immediately humanitarian subject than the global threat of fascism, but it would also be difficult to deny that many very, very hard working people, both old and 20 years old, are hurt by the very laws that currently govern that part of our lives. The protesters might not be going to war, but is it fair to simply call these protesters selfish when they are fighting for a different kind of freedom for themselves and for others without living in a generation where war dictates every aspect of their lives? While it is certainly good to examine our cultural identity at all times, and to call attention to flaws we may see in actions–because each generation should certainly aim to be its best–we should also shy away from making blanket statements about any group of people, be it to laud or disparage. I think that working toward social justice is another way of fighting for freedom, that it takes courage to keep a movement going, and I am thankful that fewer of our young people must tap into the kind of courage necessary to fight in a world war of the same magnitude of the 1940’s. That generation truly did give so much, so that we have the privilege of dedicating efforts to other areas of freedom that shouldn’t go unaddressed.

A couple of days later, I was able to respond with the following (this is mainly what I wanted to share, but I needed to share the comments I was responding to in order for readers to understand my response):

Sorry for taking so long to respond.
Pastor – I totally agree with you.

First of all – I’m not necessarily saying the protesters are bad people (though, it can be argued that there are many within the protesters all over the country that are bad people committing rape, doing drugs, stealing, etc…). The protesters have every right to be on the streets “fighting” for what they believe in. That’s one of the beauties of this country.

Secondly – there are no similarities between the two generations pictured above. Take a closer look and you’ll see that their goals are a sharp contrast. The young people of the last century who fought in the world war did so selflessly. They fought for anothers freedom. They fought knowing that they may not come out alive. They sacrificed for others! The young people on Wall Street are “fighting” for what they want. Ask them what their goal is and you will hear – I need a job; My student loans are too much for me to handle; I’m afraid for my future; I don’t make enough money; I, me, my… In other words: All about me; completely selfish. They are not “fighting” for another’s freedom or “social justice”. These two generation’s desires are not “much the same.” They are far from it.

Thirdly – one cannot compare the people who fought for civil rights with the people today who are “fighting” for “social justice”. The suffragists who fought for the right to vote were not seen as taking something that belonged to others. They were seen as undeserving of the right to vote, right to own property, right to work and be seen as an equal. The people who fought for civil rights were not seen as taking something that belonged to others. They were seen as being beneath everyone else. They were not seen as people. They fought for equality.

What is today’s generation fighting for? “Social Justice”? Are these people not allowed to work? Are their rights being taken away? Are they being discriminated against? Do they not have the same opportunity every other American has? Over and over again, we see people who have a little imagination and a strong work ethic do something great with their lives. Even the undocumented immigrant has an opportunity to do something big with their life here in the U.S. I’ve seen it happen!

I ask, if the goal of the Wall Street Protesters is the same to that of past generations fighting for their rights, why are they on Wall Street protesting against the rich? What are the rich going to do for them? Do they expect them to step out of their office, go to Washington, and get the House to make changes? No, they want the rich to step out of their offices and start “sharing the wealth”. They want them to give them a job. They want them to pay for their student loans. They want the government to take from the rich and give to the poor. Last I checked, Socialism has never worked. With Socialism comes the loss of certain rights and freedoms we enjoy today.

That brings me to my last point – The Wall Street Protestors are protesting in the wrong place. They should be in Washington. If they want change, they need to change their venue. Wall Street is not going to do anything to change the laws that help them make money!

I do see where you are coming from, Alisa. I am glad that my generation is willing to stand for something. It does take courage to stand for what you believe, I know. I am glad that my generation is not afraid to be heard. But it saddens me that they are standing for the wrong the thing.