I'm starting to become increasingly concerned at the direction/s we are taking as a movement and at the public perception of the movement as a whole. From the Black Bloc tactics to the other levels of righteousness that have evolved over the last few months, there is a clear pattern emerging that I'm personally not very comfortable with. Just tonight, I watched on livestream certain Oakland occupiers - after having their uninterrupted voices heard - then shouting down very reasonable responses from Oakland council members, many of whom - like Rebecca Kaplan - we would, and should ordinarily respect.    We are losing self-discipline. We are denying free speech to those that have contrary views to ours. That isn't democratic, that's despotic. How can that credit us as a movement, when we deny the right of response to those we 'oppose' (many of whom agree - or at least, used to agree - with us!?) This has been my constant concern of late. This intractability that's been setting in amongst us - the 'disenfranchised' - is worrying. Black Bloc tactics; the occupier lack of respect at official meetings. How do we remedy this and regain the high ground? My fear is that we will lose all the good public will we've been building if we keep going down this road.   I want to be clear. My problem with the Oakland meeting tonight was not the issue, which I'm clearly on the occupy side with. My problem was with the occupy response while the council members responded. Most of the livestream viewers agreed with me.   From tonight's Oakland meeting:   "I am disgusted with the complete lack of respect you have shown," said City Councilwoman Pat Kernighan. "You are hypocrites when it comes to free speech. I have lost all respect for you."

City Councilwoman Desley Brooks, who early in the movement supported Occupy Oakland, was even more harsh.

"The only thing I can see with this movement is an ever-moving target," she said. "You talk about a movement, but it doesn't go beyond you."

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/02/07/BA2B1N4C1L.DTL#ixzz1lm1CILuG

Thoughts?   Tony (Aussie guy from demands)