Last night, members of the Vanderbilt College Republicans engaged in a counter-protest against the Occupy Nashville movement. Upon learning this, Occupy Nashville promised to do which of the following?
a) Promised to shout down the voices of the counter-protestors.
b) Give the counter-protestors time to speak at the General Assembly.
c) Moved to deny the counter-protestors space to air their views.
d) Bake cookies for the counter-protestors.
The answer(s?) under the jump.
b) and d). However, it sounds like only b) might have actually happened.
That's right, Occupy Nashville - this group of supposed rabble-rousers - not only ensured that the Republican students had access to the plaza to air their views, but they also gave the Vanderbilt College Republicans a warm welcome and time to speak at the General Assembly. In turn, it also seems like the Vanderbilt College Republicans - this group of supposed hate-mongers - were respectful of the goings-on of Occupy Nashville and didn't try to disrupt their proceedings.
Indeed, at the end, members of both groups were able to engage in one-on-one discussions afterward. I doubt that participants on either side changed the other's mind, but it seems like there was a genuine and peaceful exchange of ideas.
At its best, this is what democracy looks like.
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