Occupying their rights

OPINION > LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Add Comment | Comments: 1 | Posted Nov. 23, 2011

To the Editor:

I wish to take exception to the letter written by George Munce (“Eviction notice,” Nov. 17). His concern as to what children may think about the Occupy Philly site is not a worry.

Actually, it would be a good idea to take children there to see the occupation. It is a wonderful example of what a democracy is, in fact. Over the years, many people have lost their lives to have a country where peaceful occupations such as Occupy Philly can be held. Our founding fathers not only thought of peaceful resistance as a right that citizens must have, but as a duty that Americans must exercise when they feel the government is not doing right by the people.

It is a good civic lesson for children to understand democracy is not always nice and neat. You want nice and neat? You will find that in dictatorships and police states. Democracy is a messy, inconvenient, noisy, and at times, an annoying form of government. So far it is the best form humans have developed. You cannot always learn that in a textbook.

Children and adults could learn a lot by going to Dilworth Plaza and listening to the participants discussing, disagreeing and voting on various issues. So far, our city leaders are way ahead of those in Oakland and New York City. Turning violent on unarmed peaceful demonstrators cannot be justified. Labor unions have talked to the occupiers and told them about the large number of jobs that will be created by the work on Dilworth Plaza. Hopefully the occupiers will see this as a good thing and agree to relocate.

To quote Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

Warren Veith
South Philadelphia

To the Editor:

George Munce complains that Occupy Philly is unsightly and urges Mayor Nutter to clean it up before Thanksgiving Day spectators have to “explain these conditions to their kids.”

Maybe they could tell their kids that the people at Occupy Philly care so deeply about the future of our country that they’re willing to sleep out in the rain and cold to get their message out — that the gap between the rich and everyone else has gotten out of control, the country is in danger, and that this must change. I bet the kids will understand.

Actions like Occupy Philly are how brave Americans won so much that we take for granted: The 40-hour work week, the right for women to vote, civil rights and more. We should be proud that the tradition of free speech is alive in Philadelphia, where it was written into our highest law, the Constitution.

But is it pretty? No. It’s beautiful!

Rich Garella
South Philadelphia