As the temperature drops, so apparently does commitment

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The weather got down to the low 30s last night. Several times throughout the night I half woke up and could hear people taking their tents down. Not many. But a few were gone this morning when I rolled out of the tent and stretched in the cold December air.

While I can understand that people get tired of the inconveniences of the Occupy Movement and want to stay inside where it's nice and warm".I have to wonder somehow about commitment. These weren't people that have jobs or families to return to. These were people that -- just last week -- made the bold statements that they were going to be around until the end. I guess the end meant when cold weather started.

They sure don't make protestors like they used to. Back in the 60s, people braved bullets to stand up for their belief that our continued involvement in Vietnam was wrong. Now people get a little itchy to call it quits when the thermometer drops below 40 degrees.

I've noticed other people seem to be the same way too. They make bold, life-altering commitments until the emotional temperature drops and then they bail out. Kind of makes me wonder where their head and heart was to begin with.

Not that I'm judging. We've all -- including me -- made grandiose statements of commitment in the emotional throes of something new and different only to have to eat those words later. But when making commitments and failing to keep them whether in protests or relationships becomes the pattern, then the question of immaturity arises.

We need to find more people in this country whose statements of commitment will last longer than the first commercial break -- or drop in temperature comes along.


Jerry Nelson is a nationally recognized photojournalist. His work has appeared in many by Jerry Nelson
Jerry Nelson is a nationally recognized photojournalist. His work has appeared in many national, regional and local publications including CNN, USAToday, Upsurge, Earthwalkers and Associated Content and he is a regular contributor to Huffington Post as well as OpEdNews. Nelson travels the country seeking out the people, places and things that make America unique and great. Nelson currently is in Washington D.C. pointing his camera at OccupyDC and freelancing for The Washington Times the second largest paper in the nation's capital.

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Authors Bio:

I am an American freelance writer and ghostwriter now living the expat life in Argentina. Never far from my coffee and Marlboros, I am always interested in discussing future work opportunities. Join the million-or-so who follow my life and work on Twitter Journey_America.

Thanks for being part of my wild and wonderful journey called life.