the Occupy movement that has been started, and of course the criticism surrounding it… While there are many critical discussions to be had, (i.e. the title- occupy only resonates with the U.S. history of imperialism and colonization of peoples while the objective is to break that cycle, the fact that there are fewer faces of color in the crowds- consider why and our national history of race,place and power) the outpouring of belittling and outright dismissive comments and attitudes is the most disappointing. For those who try to exclude themselves from the 99% that are not of the 1%, I say you are playing right into the hands of those selfish few in power. Division works in favor of those in power and is in fact a tool to perpetuate the status-quo. The longer we alienate ourselves from each other, the longer we contribute to the injustices of our system. And in specific response the picture floating around of the letter written by a student who is not graduating with debt, and is responsibly living within his or her means, I commend you on your accomplishment. However, what you are not taking into consideration is the culture of consumption which we have been conditioned to live up to just to fit into. And yes, I do blame our society as a whole for it: the media, individuals with wide ranging influence, policy makers, corporations whose priorities are profit above anything else (consider the manufactured saturation and decline of different versions of apple products, Steve Jobs was a genius of sorts, but exploited the working class by perpetuating a “keeping up with the Jones’” mentality), and the individuals who listen & act without questioning. While you’re self-confidence and understanding that life is about more than material things is truly enlightened, you have to understand that not everyone else is as strong as you. I agree that there is an epidemic of crippling false entitlement that plagues our generation, but I also think that the economic hardships most of us are having to face are a sobering reality-check, and that we’re learning. And the learning process should never be belittled. Most importantly what the Occupy Wall Street and “occupations” around the country are doing is promoting awareness among the majority, awareness around the facts that the means the most of us have been reduced to live by are not just, that the personal is political, and that individual problems, when shared by most of us, are actually social issues. Those who are against us, the 99%, the public, the proletariat, will seek to trivialize any action we try to take. Those who are against us, will try to turn one group of people upon another. So before any criticisms are made, I think you should ask yourself which side you stand on. Solidarity is all I ask.