Is anything really new?

I was facebooking (I love that websites end up becoming verbs) with a friend from HS the other day and she had asked me if there was anybody wanted to go to Wall Street for the Occupy Walls Street movement.  I replied that I would love to but that I have to work.  Her response was to ask if I could take any time off (a week was what she asked) to go to NYC.  I replied that I didn't have that much PTO, and couldn't go.  Her rebuttal was to say something along the lines of "I love you and I'll support you if you ever decide to fight back" (I'm paraphrasing).  But that last comment really got me thinking.

I really would like to protest the whole idea that 1% of the people in this country control 99% of the wealth, or some such thing like that, because I think that it's something worth protesting.  But how can you reconcile protesting an injustice with fulfilling your obligations.  So how do you protest something that you believe in if it means that you'll possibly lose your job.  Is it really fair to look down on those who choose not to protest in favor of fulfilling their obligations and keeping their job?  I don't think it's fair but that's the world we live in. 

Also, I have a friend who apparently is very offended at my repeating of good and fun sayings that I have heard.  I'm inclined to think that imitation is the greatest form of flattery.  Is this not the case?  More things to ponder.