No; my family are mostly christian fundamentalists, and I was raised homophobic and extremely conservative. I’m still in love with democracy and human’s rights, but my interaction with the world has changed drastically.

As for my future employers, I have done other deviant things then this. I have decided I am not going to live a double life where I am afraid of this, or alternate lifestyles coming to light could destroy everything I work for.

With love!

Corporations own our politicians and they are not going to give them up without a fight. These issues cannot possibly be peacefully resolved. Greed is not going to step aside for the sake of civility. In fact, our civility and passivity is what had brought us to this complete state of government corruption.

It will take acts of civil disobedience to force the issue. I didn’t agree with those who stayed in Jamison Park to be arrested. But I think that I understand that there are bigger issues at hand.

Real change is not going to be convenient nor will it be accomplished by sitting on the couch and judging those who out there on the front lines.

http://youtu.be/0wJZf8jBUf4

Give me a break. The occupy crowd does not tolerate any voice that doesn’t agree with them. On several occasions, when I stated that I was there to support the police, I was told that I should “just leave” or “get out of here” becuase that’s not what this protest is about.

..no one was interested to “discuss” why I supported police clearing the park.

I very much support the general protest, so consider this constructive criticism…

Per your press release, “Occupy Portland wanted to reach out to communities to cultivate discussion and involvement with the people of our city, and chose the Pearl for its mixture of economic situations and close proximity”

Come on you guys, that’s just silly. Define what you mean by the “economic situation” if that’s the reason you’re committing to an action. Clearly, someone didn’t do their homework. The Pearl District is actually a very GOOD example of Portland’s hard work to create economically diverse communities.

Facing Jamison is the Pearl Court Apartments, one of several low income apartment buildings in the neighborhood. I was lucky enough to live there while my sister, a single mom, went to school and I found my first post-graduation job.

The area around Jamison is by far residential, with almost entirely independently, locally owned, businesses. It’s also devoid of government or corporate headquarters of any kind, much less ones worthy of your time or resources.

The term “reaching out”, means extending an invitation, not imposing yourself. Don’t call it an invitation if your intention is occupation, or you’re as disingenuous as a FOX news producer.

“But in the end, protesters felt that an important point had been made.”

Unfortunately, that undefined point was lost on the wider audience, even with supporters like myself. I hope that future ventures are undertaken with greater care giving more thought to goals and use of resources like goodwill.