Lurve It.

Condensed.

If you’ve been watching my twitter feed the last few days…or my facebook for that matter- you’ve noticed a shift in my attitude regarding current events in the last few days.

Monday night, the Occupy Wallstreet camp was torn down. I do not necessarily agree with the encampment- as two wrongs do not make a right. And just because what you’re protesting spent more, it does not mean that we should create a bigger burden on all of us because you can’t clean up after yourself.

Of course, I know for a fact that Occupy Portland campers have offered to help clean up the camps, I’ve watched them ask Sam Adams many times since Sunday- when Portland’s camp was evicted. Sam, of course, has been silent on the whole matter. The camp being evicted didn’t bother me. I know you worked hard to make a point, and I thank you for standing up for what you believe in, even though I didn’t totally agree with the methodology.

That being said, there was something drastic that happened Monday night. We realized that if it is after 11, the government can do pretty much anything it wants, and the major networks won’t report on it. The federal government knows this, and has used it to its advantage.

My entire adult life has been geared towards fighting for one thing- expressing one’s self through speech and language and being an advocate for the freedom to do so. When our press- the very thing that’s supposed to keep our government in check fails us at such a crucial level, we must be very worried indeed. The press protected people from worse fates during Civil Rights Protests. They’ve showed us the affects of war and lack of government response to national emergencies. They question our government and make sure they answer to the people.

They should be part of the checks and balances that keep the powers that be conscious that the American people are watching and evaluating them constantly.

And they weren’t there.

It’s not the first time that I’ve spoken out about the ineffectiveness of the media in recent times. And this solidified it. I want to fight the good fight to keep information free and flowing. We should always have effective reporters. We should always have someone who’s willing to go the extra mile.

I was on the front lines during the main police confrontation Saturday night. I was one of three members of the local media there. A reporter from KATU, and the photographer from the Oregonian were the only others. We have a duty. If we chose this life, we must first understand that it’s a lifestyle, not a job.When I was there, I was off the clock. I was tweeting, livestreaming, taking notes- all from my phone. For my own record. I wasn’t representing anyone but me.

Because that’s what the media is supposed to do.

Accurately detail situations.