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Note: The opinions expressed by the moderators and members of this discussion board do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Occupy Together or Occupy Wall St. In the spirit of free information, open discussion, and the freedom of expression, members are able to speak about issues relating and directly pertaining to the Occupy movement. You will be banned for hate speech or intentional misinformation and please refrain from any violent rhetoric; this is a peaceful movement. Thank you.
Don't become the oppressor
  • BruceD November 2011 +1 -1 (+1 / -1 )
    I'm writing this after witnessing several videos of Occupy DC trying to obstruct the Americans for Freedom conference in D.C. I must admit that I am infuriated by the actions of Occupy D.C. ,whereas in the past I was infuriated by the actions of the banksters.

    Americans for Prosperity is a free-market advocacy group, supported in part by the Koch brothers who made their money in oil, not banking. Being a libertarian laissez-faire capitalist, I happen to agree with them. I know many of you will strongly disagree with me. But regardless, I and members of Americans for Prosperity, the Koch brothers, you and everyone have rights of freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and freedom of movement. Just because one disagrees with someone or wishes to protest something, does not give one the right to violate the civil rights and liberties of others. (Oh yeah, and let's not hear how the Koch brothers are billionaires. There are plenty of left and leftish billionaires who support leftish causes, like George Soros, even Bill Gates and Warren Buffett are somewhat leftish.)

    The Occupy DC protestors by deliberately barring people's way, trying to seal off the convention center, by preventing people from leaving and by forcibly blocking motorists violated people's civil and constitutional rights. Those members of Occupy DC deserve to prosecuted and imprisoned for violation of civil rights.

    Whereas before, I was more infuriated by Goldman Sachs, the banksters and the wars and warmongers and the TSA, now I'm infuriated by you. Do not EVER bar my way! I hate it. It is your responsibility to respect my rights (and everyone's rights). If you or anyone tries to violate my or my friends' civil rights I will collect evidence against you personally and have you personally prosecuted. I will go to the police and the district attorney and urge them to prosecute you. Be glad that I believe in the rule of law and I will only collect evidence and video. If there was no law and I had to protect myself directly, you don't want to mess with me on that level. Don't harden me against you.

    Don't become the oppressor. Are you a liberator or an oppressor? One may be repulsed by what someone else says or believes, but one must respect that person's right to say or believe it. If you are going to protest, protest against the government or institutions not against private people. If you are going to protest against private people, protest only, do not commit aggressive acts or infringe upon their rights.

    One makes revolution by making friends, not enemies.

    Agrees: occupythemoment

    Disagrees: gavemehope

  • occupythemomentoccupythemoment November 2011 +1 -1 (+1 / -0 )
    While not endorsing Bruce's libertarian views, I agree that if Occupy tries to interfere with the rights of others to freely assemble, it will undermine its own right to freely assemble.

    Agrees: whitefeather