We have found there is a tolerance to the First Amendment. What shocks me is how no one cares. We are  not surrounded by idiots. It would be better if we were. We are surrounded by people that make a lot of noise about loving their country and respecting freedom but do nothing to preserve it. In fact we do the opposite. We claim it for safety, we claim it for ease, we claim it because --- i dislike this one the most -- "we are more free than other countries". I think when you get down to it we allow freedom to be manhandled and violated in front of us because we are lazy and don't understand what we are losing and not improving on. Which leads me to activism.

When people ask "aren't you afraid to be arrested?"  when  I go to protest, I want to yell. Why should I be? I am not harming anyone, I would be afraid if I was afraid which they obviously are. I will not hide in my home for fear of jail. Whatever happen to Freedom or death. If I am hiding than I am already in a jail and dead as a person. If I am hiding I am compromising myself. I shall not hide my face or voice or I shall not exists in a society that forces me to. If I didn't already agree with most issues being discussed at OWS, if I didn't already despised what this country has done to itself and others than that reason would be enough.

They can tell me I should not raise my voice and tell me I should not protest, just like I can tell them I think blue looks horrible on such a pig. However, when they arrest me, assault me, and destroy my things... they are without honor and threatened by merely my voice. 

Ah, the flattery. For I flatter them not, I do not feel threatened by what they have to say, I do not feel threatened by their batons, gas or fists. Those of you who would inflict your will on me know this, you are weak. Once you compromise yourself and use others to make yourself feel strong you will be forever weak and pathetic. Even should I die tomorrow I will have lived more fully and be more satisfied with my life than you will ever be, or ever know. I feel pity for you who would call yourself my defender.