casaboba
Wow, this thread is ? since the sun went down and the NCAA games ended. I hope that if you are a NCAA Basketball fan that your teams succeeded.
Dyn99, as you know your comments are your right to free speech/expression. Thank you for expressing them. I doubt though you achieve the answers you seek here from “multiple points of view.” However, I may be proven wrong.
IF you believe in freedom of speech; IF you believe in freedom of assembly, then mind the Occupy West Seattle movement no mind.
The “multiple points of view learning exchange” you desire is being demonstrated by Occupy. The constitutional freedoms (I assume) you value are being expressed by Occupy. Despite how screwed-up our two party system is the Republic tonight remains in good hands; for the very reasons you espouse. Occupy is also evidence of that.
Projecting your reservations & fears (skinheads, poop-throwers, Anarchists, etc.) about Occupy MAY occur. However, it MAY not. The people in the Occupy movement in West Seattle are your neighbors. Maybe not as wealthy as you? Maybe not as well formally educated as you? Maybe not as eloquent as you? Nonetheless, they hold the same individual rights as you along with reservations about our Democracy.
As I said in an earlier post, I have attended several Occupy meetings. I cannot begin to define the group or speak with precision about it. After attending the meetings I do not know if anyone I have encountered can.
Does this make Occupy nebulous? Yes, of course. Does this make Occupy somewhat ethereal? Yes of course. Does this make some people uncomfortable? Yes, of course (me included).
This said, I am not scared of Occupy. I am curious. I want to understand, but I have never had to listen so hard to glean a fragment of understanding. This doesn’t make them wrong. I have never met so many people who cared enough to take a LONG bus ride or a day off of work to attend a meeting.
I have come to the conclusion that maybe it’s time I practice active-listening (definition: “Listening with an ‘INTENT’ to understand.”). This does NOT mean however that I have stopped being critical. Just MORE precise, informed, and deliberate in my critique.
I began from a viewpoint not unlike yours and for my own satisfaction had to attend several Occupy meetings to begin to TRY and understand. I’m not sure where this journey of mine will lead me. I do know however I do not feel I have wasted my time. I have not thought as deeply on the issues which mutually confront our great Democracy in a long time. For that I have Occupy to again thank, and maybe you as well.
Happy Trails!