I attended a forum at the University of Maine at Augusta on Thursday, Oct. 27, with members of the Occupy Augusta movement. I was intrigued enough to then visit their camp in Capitol Park the following evening (once I was dressed properly for the cold!). I received a lesson in democracy that taught me more in one hour than I thought I could learn, but the fact was, I was hungry for it.

I will tell you that as a single, small woman, I never felt safer than with these people. It was quiet as I walked toward the tents, but for the low rumbling of a generator. I was welcomed as I approached by several people, given a tour of the impeccable kitchen, political action, medical, and arts tents, and invited to gather around a small fire for a few minutes before the General Assembly.

(The fire, by the way, was contained and off the ground, with permission from authorities.)

There were all friendly faces greeting me. I was eager to see consensus-building in action, as I am studying the process in graduate school. I was offered a chair to join the circle. We introduced ourselves and were briefed on the meaning of various hand signals to be used, a fascinating subject in itself.

There was an extensive agenda at the meeting, from kitchen duties to logistics surrounding the impending storm. I watched a hallmark of the process of building consensus, the resistance of taking a majority vote to make decisions. Instead, information is continually offered and evaluated, sifted, with much mutual respect. Most decisions were arrived at efficiently and effectively.

Some decisions took a little longer to make, as in all meetings, but most important, there was a marked departure from the power struggle that majority voting can produce and a subtle, warm feeling as hands wiggled in agreement. I was very impressed with the level of skills displayed around the tent — there seemed to be expertise on every subject. Mostly, they had everything that I and a lot of people are looking for — community. It’s just that it was so cold, and I thought of how these people were either crazy or very brave. Their impeccable conduct assured me of the latter.

I had such a good time down there that I was a little shaken to read the article “Neighbor occupied in Augusta” on October 29. When I read the online comments, I was disturbed by many of them.

The protesters were viciously accused of everything from vagrancy, violence, and drug abuse, to lack of the all important government permit for camping — and this from people who call for less government!

It seems a neighbor is afraid to let her daughters play in the yard across the street, and occasionally hears disturbing drumming. I only hope her daughters don’t grow up in fear of unknown neighbors, or even worse, drumming.

If it were my daughters, I would be introducing them to a democratic process that hasn’t been seen in decades, and we would be making snowmen with them after the storm. I would be introducing them to some of the finest people I have ever met. By no stretch of the imagination have these people been anything but welcoming, inclusive, tidy, neighborly, and patriotic. They run a tight ship with no one in particular in charge, with mutual respect.

Show me a workplace like that — I need a job.

But most important, I need my neighbors. Sure, they might need a shower, but that is the smell of democracy, the sweat and toil of people who are doing the hard work of making democracy. The constitution of the United States guarantees them the right to do exactly as they are doing. It’s time we stop criminalizing them, and the many they stand up for.

They have a right and an ability to speak. They are waiting patiently until we listen, respectfully. They may have to wait a while, but I think it is worth it.

They do, too.

Stacey Jacobsohn of Augusta is a full-time student, small business owner, and avid community volunteer.