take it or leave

Today we have seen the Occupy movements throughout the country become managed by the Mayors and Police Commissioners and redirected according to their interpretation of the First Amendment. We have been told that public safety was the main reason for the dismantling of tents and overnight accommodations, and that the concern of the protesters physical health was weighing heavily on the minds and souls of the Mayors and their Police Commissioners. We have been told via briefings and talking heads from the various Mayors that the protest can continue but with new rules. Rules by the way decided upon by the Mayors and Police Commissioners. And we were told take it or leave it!

We were told by Governors in the early 60's in the South, that in their state segregation of public schools and state owned universities was the rule. We were told by those same Governors and many Mayors that the police, the police under their jurisdiction would insure that no new rules or regulations would become the law. We were told that those Negro's and their Liberal out of state carpetbaggers were dirty, UnAmerican, communists, and anarchists. We were told that those people knew nothing of the wants and desires of the "real citizens" and it was the job of the Mayors and Governors to maintain the status quo, the right way to be an American. And we saw beatings, jailing, violence and mayhem. We were told take it or leave it.

Whether you consider yourself the 99%, the 1% or somewhere in the middle, the one thing you hopefully consider is that so far in this great nation of ours you still have protection of free speech. You still can protest, make your voice heard and seen and you can still insist there is another side to the situation. You can argue the situation, you can promote your side, you can find a soap box and preach your gospel or you can grab a seat in the audience and listen. You had to believe it was not a matter of take it or leave it. Until now...

We have had bullies try and make us take it or leave in the past. We had Joe McCarthy define for us what an artist could produce and if we didn't take it we could be blacklisted. We had presidents tell us Viet Nam was a necessary war because if we didn't take it the 'domino' theory of one nation after another nation falling to Communism would take place and soon we all would be speaking Chinese. After 9/11 we have had personal liberties taken away from us because if we didn't take it and permit the US Government to find terrorists in every nook and cranny we all would be kneeling in a Mosque and reading the Koran.

Today Mayors, Quan of Oakland Bloomberg of New York City, Adams of Portland among a half dozen other politicians, civil servants, have redefined the meaning of the First Amendment. Today they have given new definition to how we can express our First Amendment, how we can protest, where and when we can protest. Today none of these Mayors have tried to solve the problem but instead have infected the wound and made it more painful. Today these people who were elected to power because of the power of the Constitution have made parts of the Constitution powerless. And along with doing so have made many more Americans less American.

Democracy is dangerous especially because thank goodness it inspires dissent and discussion. Democracy becomes even more dangerous when we no longer have the right to decide or discuss our own fate. Democracy can die a dangerous death if we no longer permit to be expressed.