NAACP and the Grievance Industry

No doubt about it, the grievance industry and its minions are alive and well in North Carolina and I can’t help but think they have better things to do.

The grievance industry is comprised of organizations and people who make their living convincing other people that they are severely unhappy, that they are being treated unfairly, are cheated or discriminated against or just that they deserve more and better. They seem to have an endless supply of issues when it comes to matters of discontent and resentment.

Last week the issue was education, next week it’s poverty and unemployment, the following week it may be minimum wage, abortion rights or the death penalty. You just never know with these folks.

However, last week, under the misguidance of Rev. William Barber, N.C. NAACP president, it was education.

Barber led a moral march in Raleigh where hundreds of followers weathered the cold, not knowing that their voices and efforts benefitted only Barber and served to prolong the longevity of an industry built entirely on creating diversion and discontent. Yes, Barber led the march in Raleigh on the pretense of supporting teachers and public education. In actuality, it was a protest against everything, assuring Barber a steady paycheck and justifying his station.

It’s truly amazing. Barber has people marching, protesting, shouting and chanting and it’s obvious they really don’t understand the issues. Honestly, it would be funny if it wasn’t so sad.

Last week, a Fayetteville Observer article written by Paul Woolverton revolved around a young Fayetteville State University student who is not a teacher, but is studying to become one. She joined Barber’s march protesting issues in an industry that she isn’t even a part of yet. What? I guess this represents grievance preplanning by taking an aggressive stance on perceived and inevitable cases of injustice and discontent. Makes you wonder why she wants to become a teacher in the first place.

Having never stepped foot in a classroom as a teacher, there she was shouting, marching and chanting on behalf of teachers, public education and equal rights. These grievance guys are really, really good when they can get people demonstrating and protesting against the very industry and careers they are pursuing.

And, protesting for equal rights? Really? Did I miss something here or are they reminiscing about issues of the ‘60s? Where did that come from?

At some point, someone needs to start asking questions about the real intentions of these egregious grievance promoters. Questions like: Why march on the state capitol if no one is there to see or hear your voice? Could it be that Barber and friends intentionally organized the demonstration on the weekend when no one was there so the rank and file wouldn’t notice that nobody really cared.

Another question to address is why the grievance promoters only stage a protest against the “system” when they don’t like how decisions affect their livelihoods? And, why is so little time and effort devoted to constructive, civilized conversation and negotiations with elected officials and community leaders rather than opting for one dimensional marches and protests?

Looking closely and examining the motives of these professional grief peddlers, it becomes obvious that the best interest of the citizens are seldom being served. The citizens are being used as pawns; assuring a healthy paycheck and prolonged meal ticket to the provocateurs.

So, back to basics. Our freedoms and governance at local, state and national levels are guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States. Freedoms are for “all the people.” I’ve always interpreted “all the people” to mean “all the people.” Our civic leaders and elected officials, regardless of political affiliation, are charged with the responsibility of enacting policies and laws that best reflect the will of “all the people.”

If we do not specifically like the laws that have been passed on our behalf, we have the right to voice our opinions and, of course, vote. Organized dissent, protests, marches and chants should be reserved for accentuating and expressing real heartfelt injustices and not for the profit of professional manipulators. This trivializes the process.

Rev. Barber’s actions in Raleigh, Al Sharpton’s behavior in Ferguson, Missouri, and most recently, Jesse Jackson who is currently in Chicago pontificating on the similarities of racial injustice and grown adults blatantly cheating the system.

These are definitely not role models for our youngsters. They are all examples of the grievous industry creating problems just to create the illusion of solving them. They solve nothing.

Finally, I want to point out the most looming hypocrisy of all. As Fayetteville community leaders rallied, especially the leaders in our African-American community, to rekindle and salvage the prospect of bringing the Sanderson Farms’ $95 million chicken processing plant and 1,000 jobs to Cumberland County, the grievance industry with the likes of Rev. Barber and his loyal union buddies are chastising and discrediting this company and like corporations.

Sanderson Farms would bring jobs paying nearly $12 an hour plus benefits to Cumberland County. No, it isn’t Google or a BMW factory, but in a community where the majority of jobs are in the service industry and pay at best minimum wage and at worst for those who wait tables, $2.85 and tips, it is a big boost. The professional complainers are saying workers are being oppressed and that $12 an hour is not a living wage. Really? I say having no jobs, no money and living under a bridge on the Cape Fear River is much more oppressive.

Rev. Barber is not a friend to the uninformed resident nor those special interest groups that bankroll his lifestyle and itinerary.

Believe me, Rev. Barber is no friend to Fayetteville, Cumberland County or its poor, unemployed, homeless or downtrodden citizens regardless of their race, gender or political affiliation.

Thank you for reading Up & Coming Weekly.

Photo: Top members of the grievance industry, Rev. Al Sharpton and Rev. Jesse Jackson live to create controversy ... the more they stir it up, the more money goes in their pockets.