Welcome to... Occupy Sesame Street

The Occupy Wall Street movement may be losing steam—even with arrests over the holidays, the media has been ignoring the movement in favor of sport activities with balls and the most anticipated movies ever. But on one street, the protesters haven’t gotten the memo, or they did but many have never read anything past the letter P. No other place typifies the core values, sentiments, and frustrations of the 99% more than Occupy Sesame Street.

The past 40 years of children’s programming has lead to a huge income gap between the Bert and Ernies of the world and the masses of malcontent muppets. Fed up with the fickle finances of the film and entertainment industry, these muppets have taken to the streets to show their support for the Occupy movement.

If their message is not always clear and there are few recognizable leaders, it may be that without a helping hand or an actor’s voice, this crowd of puppets is largely silent. And on those days when they have voices, they often sing about the weather, counting, and being friends. It is not obvious whether they are near or far from their goal.

Across the nation, support for the Occupy Sesame Street movement has been tentative. Many protesters in other cities simply asked, “I support them but, can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?”

And not all support is welcome. Occupiers have mixed feelings about Oscar the Grouch. Mr. The Grouch was an initial critic of anyone bothering him on Sesame Street, but soon changed his tune. And the tune he chose is his song “I love trash,” apparently in reference to the occupiers themselves.

“Listen,” said one bedraggled monster muppet, “we’re not just a bunch of smelly hippies. Sure, the folks who made us back in the 70s are, but we shouldn't be blamed for that. We have a right to the American dream just as much as anyone!”

Those representing the privileged muppets on Sesame Street don’t have a very clear message either. Cookie Monster voiced his displeasure with the protesters, “Me like cookie. Not my fault not everyone has cookie. Unless it is because me ate their cookie. They think me not going to eat their cookie? Me just doing my job.” We assume he means mutual fund dividends from subprime lending when he says cookies.

And Big Bird. Just his name alone strikes anger into the crowds on Sesame Street. “Big” seems to stand for big corporate America. “Why just one month’s salary of his would cover the health insurance for all us nameless penguins.” said one irate penguin who asked to remain nameless, “And do you see how often we get tossed in the air? You get injured and BAM! you’re easily replaced. You people say we all look the alike!” said another or possibly the same penguin.

Kermit, when reached via Skype, simply threw his hands up in the air and waved them around.

“Listen, I get it. I’ve been saying until I’m green in the face that 1 percenters like me should be taxed! We have the green. I agreen with a lot of the occupiers greenvances," he said, adding, "Sorry for puns guys, but this Skype was brought to you by the color green.”

Overall the mood is still positive and not bitter. Snuffleupagus was rumored to have stopped by and Elmo has promised that Katy Perry will return once the weather gets warmer and she can wear less clothing.

Said monster number 37, “There’s not a lot of opp-or-tu-ni-ty, opportunity out there for a muppet like me. I can’t count past 10, I sound out words, and my job skills are being the color blue. I just want a chance to work here on Sesame Street.”

Which side of Occupy Sesame Street are you on?

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