"...followed by a brisk mauling."

When millions of Arab citizens rose up to protest rising food prices; lack of housing, health care, and jobs; disenfranchisment; and dictatorial, violent regimes run by greed and megalomania, we as a country largely stood behind them and offered them aid. We told their stories and treated them as heroes, even as they peacefully resisted their governments’ violent attempts at repression, even as they suffered, fought, and died. We joined them in solidarity and in some places, we joined them with military might. We asked the world to stand behind democratic protests for basic human rights and a better world.

When American citizens rose up to protest rising food prices; lack of housing, health care, and jobs; disenfranchisment; and an oppressive and violent socioeconomic standard run by greed and megalomania, we as a nation shrug, laugh, or otherwise attempt to further disenfranchise their cause. Liberal pundits like Bill Maher and media sources like the New York Times spend weeks calling them lazy hippies with little to no purpose. Municipal governments respond with riot police and mass arrests. Banks enter lock-downs during normal business hours when people peacefully attempt to close out their accounts—and these people are among several who are later arrested for—what, exactly? 

Peaceful protesters are attacked: a chemical bomb in Maine; by knife in New Mexico; by worse and worse and worse as days turn into weeks turn into months. Our national government is curiously quiet about these acts of domestic terrorism. Those of us who actually care point our fingers and shout until we’re hoarse; the rest of us turn off the news for Law and Order or CSI re-runs: an alternate reality where the perpetrators are punished, rather than promoted.

So here’s a hint, in case you still need one. I am the 99%; and so are you. If you don’t start paying attention now, it’s going to be too late. It’s past time to stand up and demand that your rights as a US citizen, as a human being, are not only expected, but respected, too. I’m not saying we should live in a world where everything should go exactly as we want, where everything we’re promised has to be delivered. What I am saying is this: We shouldn’t be treated as a victim simply for showing up, and we damn well shouldn’t allow our government to blame us for being victimized while rewarding the criminals with bail-outs, lobbying power, and elected seats. 

We are the 99%.