I am watching this moment in history as it unfolds and remain impressed with the behavior of both the occupiers and the LAPD.  I cannot help but be reminded of my days as a cub reporter for KRLA radio station during the Watts Riots in the summer of 1965.  I worked for Norm Woodruff that summer reading the teletype and packing his battery pack for the microphone.

It was a bit hairy,as Martial Law had been imposed and the National Guard were everywhere and carrying rifles and shotguns. Our car was shot at mistakenly, and the bullet grazed my sidekick, Reid Smith’s head, as we drove through the barricades flashing press passes that apparently were no longer acceptable in the riot zone. I was 17 years old.  This experience was my first understanding of being attracted to adventure! The Vietnam War followed.

The clear difference is that I have yet to hear any news coverage of the  raison de etre for the Occupy  movement. Who is the spokesperson? What is the direction and content of the movement? I fully understand the genesis of the protestations. Wall Street sucks and acts with impunity. Got it. But now what?

The gatherings of the 60’s had an end game. The end of the Vietnam War. Where is the end game? Or is this a fill in the blanks test?

Is it possible that the intrigue and mystery is tactical? Will the movement survive the winter?

There are intelligent young citizens in that crowd. They do not all need a shower and a job as Newt the morphed Spiro Agnew suggests.  I am sure many of them  have American Express Cards and huge school loans that are not being forgiven, as the Banksters were.  Now there is a reason for exercising some free speech energy.

Back to watching KTLA Channel 5 from Los Angeles. I just hope there are no Iraq or Afghan vets in the crowd that get triggered with stress. God speed. And God Bless our right to protest.