Today I was called a “misinformed redneck” when I stated that I disagree with some aspects of the Occupy movement. It was in the comments to the following photo:
My friend commented:
The point of this picture is that we who have two cars, a roof over our heads, free health care, food in the fridge, flat screen tv’s, computers, ipads etc. are a privelaged elite. We are in the top 3% of the world in terms of wealth. I’m not interested in listening to people complain about a mortgage when they’ve never gone hungry a day in their life or never had to choose which child to feed today. The citizens of the US and Canada are not entitled to a stress-free life.
My response to the photo was:
In the horn of Africa they are expecting about 750,000 to have died from the famine there by the end of the year. I seriously feel like slapping those guys down at Occupy Calgary and telling them to wake up!
After a bit more discussion on the topic one of the other commenters decided that I am a “Misinformed Redneck”. While the redneck part is quite possibly correct, I got a little irate at the full implication. Here was my response…
One of the things that the occupy people was proud of what that they don’t have solutions, but they know there is “something wrong”. They include people from the Arian Nations, to the Communists, (source) to everyone in between. I’ve some people say that if you support some of what they stand for, then you should stand with them! That’s rubbish.
I don’t disagree that something is wrong. Corporate influence in the Canadian government is too strong and unfortunately, even though I voted for them and would again, the current government is increasing the amount of influence private corporations have in government with the removal of public financing for parties based on number of votes. I was originally in favour of this move as it decreases government spending, but it allows greater influence of outside donors, and they are never bias, whether it’s the unions or it’s corporations. This was a bad move. (source)
I think that the occupy movement, as it has developed, is going about it the wrong. In the US it’s being co-opted by the democrats and Obama is doing his best to turn them into his foot soldiers. Obama is in bed with the corporations and will say anything he needs to in order to get re-elected, but he won’t change anything. This supposed “jobs bill” is a farce! If read in it’s entirety the majority of it has little to do with jobs for the people and will, as usual, benefit Obama’s major donors (source).
As for solutions for Africa…
How about we change our spending habits? In 2010 Christmas related spending in the US was $584.3 billion (source)! That is more than the GDP of 197 of the worlds countries (source). US AID to the Horn of Africa for 2011 is $650 million (source), or about 0.1% of the Christmas spending, can we see how messed up priorities are there?
In our household we are talking about where we want to donate money to this year for Christmas rather than spending it all on ourselves. Our kids are looking forward to it and our 9-year old son talks about it quite a bit. If people decided to make the choice to put their money where their mouth was it could make a big difference in the world, and to people like those starving in Africa…
Do you have a link to the post where this whole discussion actually happened? I’d like to go there and find out if I am also a “misinformed redneck.” I probably am – and proud of it. 🙂
But seriously – link??
The original photo was posted on a friend’s private Facebook wall. I think his gist though was that if you disagree with the occupy movement you must be an ignorant redneck…
Ahhh. Thanks for clarifying. 🙂
Bill..what is refreshing here is that you are actually thinking about it. Too many people have their heads in the sand. And I agree…the poor of the west, by and large, are still vastly better off than many in developing nations, which is another part to the problem which must not be overlooked. While OWS and it’s related spinoffs around the world is largely about inequality, there is another great inequality right before our eyes.
I also think it’s never helpful for an open and inclusive conversation for people to go around insulting others, so I’m sorry that someone could think of no other way to converse with you than to insult you. (If you think being an ignorant redneck is a bad thing 😉 some may think it’s a compliment, but that’s a whole ‘nother conversation)
I think given there are so many issues within the OWS movement (and of course the issues in each country differ slightly) no one is going to agree entirely on everything. I largely support the protests, (for as long as they are non-violent), but I’m sure if I sat down to chat with a cross section of other supporters, there would be areas in which we would differ.
Good on you for having an opinion. Too many of my Christian friends have their heads either buried in the sand or are floating on the clouds with the angels and have nothing to add to these very important conversations about justice. I just love it that you’re thinking! So many are not 🙂