Julep: Perspective

Saturday was Mr-Papa's birthday. Since he doesn't really want or need a lot of stuff, let alone stuff we can afford to buy him, for the past few years we have gotten in the habit of spending the day with him to celebrate. We've usually gone to a museum for a few hours, then taken him and Mr-Mama out to dinner at some local restaurant we think they'll enjoy. They like to eat out, but tend to stick to the same three or four spots so we try to broaden their horizons. I think Mr-Papa really enjoys it and is touched that his kids want to spend time with him for which he doesn't foot the bill.

[Aside: whose idea was this lovely new family tradition? Mine, of course.]

It really is a nice day, and I am happy to report that BabyCakes was perfectly behaved for his first birthday with Granddad. But I am here to blog about one moment in particular that came up when someone wondered aloud if the local Occupy people had gotten evicted from their park yet. (I must note the irony that we were crossing downtown from the history museum to the restaurant in Mr-Papa's shiny 2011 Escalade at the time.)

When I said the Occupiers are still occupying, Mr-Sis launched a rant about how stupid the Occupy movement is, and what do they think they are proving. I am not a real supporter of the movement, as I think that before moving into a tent city, one who wants to launch a protest should have some idea of what purpose one is seeking to accomplish. But I think that their points about the concentration of wealth and the corporatization of politics are valid contributions to the political discourse. I said something to that effect, and added that being unemployed is not a picnic and with the current employment market being what it is there's a lot of anger out there. Mr-Sister then said that anyone who is "occupying" is a lazy ass who doesn't want a job or they would go find one instead of loitering around the public square unshowered.

Now I am not one to champion the lack of proper hygiene. But really? Really? She works for her father. Can we have the teeniest bit of recognition that perhaps it is a little more difficult to get a job when your daddy doesn't create a position for you at his company the moment you announce that you would like to move back to town? That life is a bit tougher when you graduate college with a communications degree (as she did) and you have thousands of dollars in student loans (as she did not) as opposed to being given a brand-new BMW?

How dare those Occupy people exercise their right to free speech. Why, they could all have jobs tomorrow if they left the park, took a shower, and got re-born into her highly privileged family.