On Facebook, today, I lived these moments, that I deem note-worthy:
In response to this comment, on a friend’s status,
“The Boston Occupiers are well-organized, well-educated for the most part, and weed out the riff-raff (junkies, thieves, etc.) quickly, and despite getting kicked off the Rose Kennedy Greenway with a few problems, are welcome to Occupy Dewey Square, with friendly cops standing by…they just can’t grow any bigger.”
I wrote this:
“i understand the desire to “weed out” negative elements and influences from a movement on the brink, but i judge (because I am one of them) that the well-educated, well-organized, well-behaved are probably marginally affected by the system, whereas the “riff-raff” might be there because they didn’t get chances or the support to leverage their chances to find a path in the system. so, in my vision, ALL are welcome at the camp, but we ALL need to agree to some basic rules and do what it takes to stay in integrity. everyone plays a role in life, and everyone has something to contribute. like in the system we have, i wonder how we can empower people to share more light than shadow, and to cooperate, rather than show up selfish. for this vision, i’ve been called hopeful, naive, optimistic, and idealistic. but, i’m hanging on to it, for now. 
“
And then, later that morning I updated my own status to share this:
“Judge ruled in favor of OWS returning to its camp. Hopefully that serves as precedent for judges and auth’s in other communities.”
And a friend from high school, a few years younger than me, wrote the following, in response:
“I’m curious Dan – you seem passionate about this movement – when will there be leaders identified to negotiate with the powers that be regarding your grievances? Civil disobedience gets attention, but without a hierarchy and structure to frame a message, do you honestly believe anyone will make any changes to appease your movement?”
Someone else from my youth, who vehemently opposes the Occupy movement, appreciated his comment by “liking” it. Thumbs up, they said.
Ugh. I forgot that absolute, unconditional acceptance of my viewpoints and my shares isn’t my reality – especially on Facebook. Triggered, for sure, but able to self-manage. My friend’s question is a good one, and since I’ve got mad love for dude - a U.S. armed forces veteran and still active in the military, as a recruiter – I answered his question with as clear a channel as I could muster:
“I don’t know. Your question is a good one. I’ve experienced my own doubts in occupy’s culture of autonomy and ‘true’ democracy, as a participant in actions – ‘so, what do you all want to do?’ while cops in riot gear are mobilizing to kettle us a block away (what, you mean there’s no plan? and we’re taking a vote NOW???) – but I’m also being patient with this process. For this to resolve itself quickly seems like a fantasy. For the ‘powers,’ as you call them, to negotiate, collaborate or, as the power has been allocated, relent, in the near future, seems like a fantasy, to me. Occupy’s drive towards resolution might seem like a slow crawl, right now, but I think more people are witnessing more of the illusions and the limitations of our system. So, I do support this movement, with my passion and my human resources, but I’m not sold yet on the movement’s best approach being to play its hands the way that ‘the powers,’ its beneficiaries, supporters, dependents and instruments might want, expect or need it to. I’m not sure that ‘the powers’ have demonstrated any true willingness – that is, besides lip service and media spin – to collaborate. I judge that ‘the powers’ want to hush ‘the people’ by inviting them into the loops and loophole vortex of the current system. So, I like what’s happening, even though I’m triggered into anger and sadness by the boundaries and by what I perceive as a resistance to considering change, on the part of ‘the powers.’ Even the idea of there being a ‘the powers’ makes me cringe, and helps fuel my mistrust of our system, as one that currently lacks integrity. It’s actions don’t match its words, and that’s not right, in my judgment.”
So, there. Those are my feelings and judgments about weeding out “less-savory” individuals at encampments and in the movement – no bueno, because it enables elitism, in a movement of Everyone – and about presenting an argument to “the powers,” so that they can “appease” my movement. My military friend hasn’t yet responded to my answer to his question, but I’ll assume he’s otherwise occupied. Pun, acknowledged.
Much love to all – and thank you, everyone, for your contributions to my experience of this re-design of our lifetime.
Power to the People. Long live the Oakland Commune. Occupy EVERYTHING.
