Meaning is Lost

You want spending in the 3rd world, so you cause damage that forces spending here instead.

You want world peace, yet protest with violence.

You want an end to genocides and wars, and protest by putting lives in danger.

You want to protect the environment, yet travel far to bring your message, burning countless tons of fossil fuels and spending dollars better spent elsewhere to do it.

You want the attention of world leaders, yet cover your face and deny journalists the opportunity to film you delivering that message.

You want police to leave you alone, yet take your demonstrations to extremes that force them to engage and act.

You want aid to underdeveloped countries, yet travel here to break windows instead of traveling there to build a school or a well.

You oppose government intervention, yet will be appalled if you have to wait for treatment in government-sponsored hospitals after you are wounded in the skirmishes you start.

You blame big banking for the 2008 financial meltdown, and demonstrate by smashing banks in the country seen as the most stable, where the least people have been affected by lost homes and bankruptcies assisted by banks encouraging overreaching on debt load.

You want to encourage freedoms by holding a city hostage.

Meaning and purpose has been lost in the layers of contradictions and irony, in the actions of some that obscure the messages of many others. There are people on both side worthy of blame, people on both sides worthy of support. Those hoping to avoid clashes and either protect people or deliver messages peaceably have lost out in all of this, tarred with the same brush as those who came to it looking for hard lines and violent confrontation.

It is all so sad, on so many levels.