This afternoon I paid a visit to Occupy Oakland to get a first hand look at what was going on. I'm sorry to report to you that not much was happening. In all there were about 20 protesters plus a few onlookers. I wanted to interview someone but I really couldn't find anyone worth talking to. Of the 20 or so there were a couple of hot heads and the rest appeared homeless or on the verge of insanity.

The cops there were extremely tolerant of the idiot with the bullhorn. There was no trouble and the area was cleaner than expected. I wasn't very happy to see the flag disgraced and hanging up in the tree. I looked for a way to take her down but was unsuccessful. Thus is the price of 'free speech', I guess.

The thing I find most disturbing about these people is their arrogance. I know that I wouldn't hestitate to fight for, and, if necessary, die for their right to free speech even though I disagree with them. However, I'm firmly of the belief that they wouldn't hesitate to shout me down or threaten me with harm should I stand up with a bullhorn and claim my rights in the same way. They seem to have no inner moral quarrel about denying me and others our American rights. We see this sort of behavior on LL all the time, don't we.