Estimates for Occupy Wall Street alone vary wildly from hundreds
up to 50,000. Moot actually as the specific numbers are unimportant, what is
important is the global participation and duration of the protests. I feel safe
in saying hundreds of thousands of protesters have made themselves present for
some time holding signs and chanting. Also unimportant is the specific cause or
lack of cause that was the catalyst for these gatherings.
What is interesting to note is the tremendous number of “man
hours” that have been allocated to protesting and supporting a cause that at
the highest level is discontent on the inequality of treatment to fellow humans
on our earth.
Also, I trust I am safe to suggest that the demographics of
these protesters is equally as diverse as the cause of the chants and placard
slogans. From the homeless to labourers and trades people to doctors, lawyers
and entrepreneurs all took their place to improve the human condition.
Unlike my typical tendencies to do the math to make my
point, a quick calculation of the number of worldwide protesters multiplied by
the number of house spent in the mobs would result in a VERY large total of “man
hours” dedicated to the cause.. Maybe in the millions?
What if these millions of man hours were allocated to
actually improving the human condition??. Now THAT would be an earth changing
protest. That huge (even for a short period of time) access to manpower would
make change, and could possibly touch hundreds of thousands of the 99%ers,
rather than standing idly by complaining about the 1%ers.
The possible incredible social impact of applying millions
of man hours are way too numerous to even begin to compile a list of in a
simple blog post. I encourage you to take a moment to consider how even a tiny
sample of 500 protesters, for a single day applying their time to reach out to
the less fortunate in your community; providing maintenance in homeless
shelters, raising money for general charities, volunteering for youth groups,
offering help to less fortunate. Has a
much better ring to it than taking these man hours to build makeshift tents and
standing in circles debating what their actual cause is.
Listening to lawyers, accountants and physicians taking
their place in front of news reporters microphones detailing their personal
reasons and interpretation of the “occupy” protests.. leaves me to wonder, what
if these valued professionals took that time instead to offer a day of pro bono
work for the 99%’s who they claim are being down trodden.
The question, would these thousands of protestors, get as
much attention to their cause(s) if they were diversified out into the
communities, and not standing in impressive mobs and making awe inspiring photographs
of their numbers in national newspapers? I feel a massive outcry of protesters who actually putting their money where their
mouth is would gather much more public support, than throngs of people standing
around a burning barrel. And more important.. who cares if they get more “impact”
in the press. Is the cause of the protest “impact” or is it to improve our
world.
