Comments on: Day 41

By: http://ibreastfed.com/2011/03/breastfeeding-a-seriously-ill-child-through-heart-surgery-and-tonnes-of-other-hurdles-selenas-story/

Thu, 17 Nov 2011 06:07:49 +0000

Jennifer Aniston Diet…

[...]listed here are a couple of url links to internet sites we link to seeing as we feel they are really worth checking out[...]…

By: mzchief

mzchief — Thu, 17 Nov 2011 00:12:08 +0000

Dave on November 15th, 2011 at 8:41 pm wrote:

“My guess is that if you keep marching and stay on pathways, you’ll not get beat-downs from the cops and they’ll even try to keep you and us both safe while you peacefully assemble to do it.”

Your unsubtle endorsement of authoritarianism lets us all know that you are still living in the delusion of your specialness in the eyes of the 1%. It’s my hope you re-read the First Amendment and rethink your position before there’s no one else between you and the next cattle car to Chełmno.

By: satori

satori — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 21:13:55 +0000

A different perspective…

There are many,many people who are very angry at the movement. Many of those people have posted the most vile and threatening commentary on various platforms. Many of those people have guns.

Perhaps the police are trying to protect you….

By: john

john — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 20:25:11 +0000

I arrived at Chapman and Lonsdale Parks late in the morning on Monday the 14th. I stood at 3rd and Main with my sign and protested alone for most of the day while city employees filled trucks and dumpsters with the remains of the occupation and a small army of police stood outside the fences. I never camped in the parks but the occupation was inspirational to me. I came every weekend and marched and protested, washed dishes, helped load dumpsters with trash, smoked cigarettes rolled by Nick@Night and ate my share of the endless food flowing from the kitchen. I loved sitting at the crossroads of Chapman playing my guitar, listening to others making music, and talking to different people, but I could see that the parks were not designed to facilitate what was happening.
That evening I went to the GA in Pioneer Square where I found a crowd larger than I had expected. All the core occupiers were there along with many families, with children, that wanted to see the changes that the movement embraces. Everything went smoothly until certain people, not following GA protocol, demanded to have their say. The facilitators eventually gave in and let them have their say. It got ugly. Not that I’m the virgin Mary, but the language got foul and one guy with a flag on a long pole even insulted the crowd. As the crowd started to thin a little, I wondered how many might have been alienated and hoped people could get past this moment.
On Tuesday afternoon, I wandered into Pioneer Square to find a very informal GA. People shared ideas—it was a relaxed scene. I joined a march with probably about 100 people and just about as many police, keeping us out of the streets. We marched to the US Bank building and went inside. I thought we were going into a bank and thought “uh-oh.” I didn’t know it was a small mall with shops. One shop owner quickly closed his doors in fear of the crowd. This illustrated his perception of what we were all about. I wondered how many other people shared his misinformed fear. We marched through the mall chanting our slogans. The police remained outside and were there to meet us as we exited. We marched on with the police keeping us on the sidewalks and making sure we safely crossed intersections when the traffic lights changed. A few protesters demonstrated their animosity of the police, taunting them. The police remained calm and refused to be baited. I don’t really know for sure but it seems that there wasn’t a definite route we were taking through the streets. The police didn’t seem to know where we wanted to go next, making their job more difficult. I hoped this was not the intention of those that seemed to be leading us. At one point we came to a standstill, the police surrounded us. Down the street, a group of police in riot gear were marching in formation toward us. They looked like storm troopers from the Empire Strikes Back. It was very confrontational. If I had had children or my 88-year-old father with me, I would have left the march at that point, fearing for their safety. I am not protesting to fight with police, or to shove my ideas down someone’s throat. I am protesting to draw attention to the social, political, economic injustices we’d like to see changed. The standstill ended without incident, we marched on peacefully to City Hall where we chanted and danced and then dispersed.
I don’t live in Portland, but it seems to be one of the most tolerant cities I’ve ever visited. The people, including the homeless, are friendly to me. I feel safe walking the streets late at night. In some places, the police are looking for reasons to hassle people, but I don’t get that feeling in Portland. They seem to look the other way when I jay walk, which could be a reason to be hassled and searched in many other places. The city is full of beautiful parks, public restrooms, and I love all the bubbling water fountains everywhere. Michael Moore said we had the largest occupation in the county when he visited us.
We have to put behind us all the bad blood that the occupation of Chapman and Lonsdale Parks caused. We have to stop demanding apologies and stop bickering. We need to focus on moving forward. We need to be almost inhumanly reasonable and peaceful. We need to occupy a spiritual park where parents feel that their children and elderly parents are safe when they join us. We need to rely on and include the police in order to accomplish this. When we march and publicly assemble, we should lovingly demand that the police see to our safety. We should approach them as friends because we need them to accomplish what seems to be an almost impossible goal—changing a world motivated by greed into a world motivated by love and tolerance.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:42:52 +0000

Police carry guns as do may citizens who possess a concealed firearmrs permit… Was anyone asked to leave at gunpoint?? Was anyone shot by the police?? The presence of police is simply safety – in this world you never know when some nut-case might decide to get violent and mob groups like occupy fest that sort of behavior so be thankful.

By: jordan

jordan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:48:25 +0000

Loved last night when the police came into a place of worship with guns..That was a bit much..lady who runs the church asked them to leave..Wow police a church…A BIT MUCH……….you are welcome into churches but please do not come in with force and guns……….BAD PR….

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 16:39:28 +0000

Read the scarf your disgracing!!!
NO PITY!!!!!!!!
Go home to your parents and cry about it!

By: Devan

Devan — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 09:09:33 +0000

I think then it is a double feature…one “theater” and one “porn” (although I deplore your analogy) because many of the people at the camp have homes to stay in if they wished. That’s one problem with your argument. Also, many of the “homeless” in camp were actively involved in the assembly. Furthermore, it is a slow, difficult process to find common ground between the different ideologies…it takes time. The petition will hopefully evolve out of this process, possibly culminating in a national assembly with delegates from the various occupations (I’ve heard word it will be taking place in Philly but uncertain of this). Regardless, I see your points. Personally, in my mind, our government is controlled by Wall Street, they are one and the same. Wonderfully, we can disagree. By the way, these are my own personal thoughts and in no way are meant to represent Occupy Portland as a whole. Please feel free to have the last word as I respect the difference in opinion. You bring up some important points.

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 07:53:40 +0000

Devan,

To me, the difference between 1st amendment assembly/petition and squatting is pretty easy to make. It’s like theater vs porn, you easy know the difference when you see it. OccupyPDX jumped the shark to squatting- not assembly and petition to the GOVERNMENT (not WallStreet)for redress of grievances.

By: Chuck

Chuck — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 06:31:32 +0000

Rachel – perfectly eloquent!