Here Comes Pepper Spray...

Dear (insert your name here),

As I sit here, writing this post, I'm a little nervous. I probably shouldn't admit this, especially as I just spent a few minutes convincing my Grandpa I wasn't worried at all...but I don't think any of you will tell him.

The reason I'm nervous is that tomorrow I'll be going to my first Occupy Wall Street event, where I plan on interviewing participants and writing about the experience tomorrow night. While I don't plan on storming the Bastille (assuming the Funeral for the Bill of Rights - the name of the event - culminates in that), I've heard enough stories about copys pepper spraying people in the eyes and beating up civilians peacefully assembling to be, at the very least, wary.

However, I'm still going. For one thing, like most liberal-minded people, I generally support what Occupy Wall Street is doing. The fact that I do support them in a cause that I personally believe to be very important in restoring some semblance of equality to the country should, one would think, be enough to get me out in the streets. So why haven't I gone to a single event? Am I just a coward?

In a word, yes. Now, I'm sure that my friends who also have said they support the group have their own reasons for not going, but speaking personally I have been worried about what might happen if I went. For example, as I more or less said before, while I've never had pepper sprayed into my eyes, I don't think I'd like it. But beyond fear of physical harm, I also worry about what being arrested would mean for my future. Would it prevent me from getting another good teaching job? It's these kind of concerns among others that have kept me home, watching passively as thousands suffer for causes I believe in.

But the very fact that my inaction stems from these fears is what has compelled me recently to seriously consider attending at least one of these events.

I won't pretend to know everything about the movement (I recently bought the book "Occupy!" to educate myself). Nor do I pretend to know what will happen. All I know is that it's been a long, long time since a social cause really inspired me, and in what I can only describe as a sense of solidarity with those who have been taking the risks I've avoided for some time now, I feel that I owe it to those I support to not just do so from my couch. Besides, I almost feel I'd be paying a tribute to Christopher Hitchens, whose willingness to be water-boarded so as to write an article about the subject puts my situation into perspective.

I'll close by asking you to wish me luck (especially about the not being pepper sprayed) and ask you, what do you think? Am I being too hard on myself or have I really been a coward? More importantly, why have you or have you not gone to an Occupy Wall Street event? This last question is really aimed for those who support it, though obviously those against are welcome to respond. I plan on writing continuously on politics, but remember, keep it civil.

I hope to hear from you so I can learn more about why people have and have not attended and I'll be sure to share all the highlights with you tomorrow night.

Have a good night,

-Matt