Occupy Wall Street -- A First-Hand Account
Regular Off Times Square commenter Meredith joined the Occupy Wall Street protest yesterday. Here is her story:
Re: Krugman blog on the Wall Street protest yesterday:
Thanks, Paul. Seems that if journalists take this movement too seriously, and don’t mention the required dismissive phrases, they might get scorned by their fellow journalist/pundits? In all of it’s articles the Times has included at least a few of the required words of condescension. When will it end, and proper respect be paid?
I marched yesterday for 1st time in decades, now as a retiree, from non union corporation job. I was neither exquisitely tailored or oddly dressed. I looked quite nice thank you, in casual clothes, not business attire. But I wore my beautiful red beads with a red shirt, navy pants and t shirt. My hair was nicely styled and I wore makeup. I think I looked very acceptable to any society. No one would take me for a slovenly hippie radical, or for one of the top 1 percent!
I was in the MIDDLE. And that’s the key—there were thousands of people their from the MIDDLE. Sociologically, financially, philosophically and sartorially.
There were many like me, middle aged or older, middle class/working class people with no tattoos or outlandish costumes. I saw no one take off any clothes. We were almost sedate, as we slowly walked, sometimes listening to the terrific bands from the musicians union.—so enjoyable. Also enjoyable were very nice conversations with many intelligent people—teachers, union people, retirees, an Israeli journalist living in Brooklyn, an ex bank employee, a worried father of an adult child who may lose job, on and on. All amiable and intelligent.
Mainly, the sight of that huge crowd of many thousands spread out and filling all of Foley Square, was tremendously impressive. I was thrilled when I saw it. They also filled the streets running in spokes out of the square and filled the huge staircase of the govt building.
The dismissive attitude here is actually ridiculed in the rest of the world. In Europe the middle class join demonstrations about govt policies, with people of all ages and occupations. They are respected and taken seriously by the press. They wonder what has taken Americans so long to even start putting pressure on our govt to be responsive to them. They think we are stupid for NOT marching. Our govt doesn’t even know what real pressure is, so they keep doing whatever they want. I urge anyone to come out and enjoy participating in future demonstrations. I got at least some satisfaction in doing something besides writing comments to newspapers. I added to the big crowd that will be shown on TV. The financial security of all of us is directly involved.