One Person Protest - A Reflection
(bumped — This is what people-powered is all about. Worth thinking about in terms of what we all could be doing. -btp)Â
If change does not occur, you must be the agent for change. After President Bush’s veto and Randhy Kuhl’s vote against stem cell research, I decided it was time.
Without a plan, I made calls to the media, picked up my lab coat and biology degree, and peacefully stood outside the steps of Kuhl’s office. The local tv outlets arrived and filmed the interviews (which I am sure many have seen). The hardest part was not answering questions in front of a camera, but standing tall as a sole voice regardless of dissent. It made me think about Gandhi, MLK, and Susan B. Anthony - the struggles they went through to express their voice resonated in my mind. Unlike the past, we have a much easier path and so many tools at our disposal (blogs, LTE, petitions, civil rights, etc).
The reaction from people strolling by me was wonderful. I didnt expect several hand shakes, high fives, and ‘thank yous’. They came from all walks of life from motor bikers to construction workers to senior citizens. People can not agree with each other 100% of the time. However, it was reaffirming that everyone who walked by respected my view (even if a few didnt agree). When I explained to the handful of dissenters, they calmly listened and expressed their concerns of stem cell research. I’m still amazed how people with different views can have a dialogue and coexist in harmony, regardless of the outcome.
When I packed up the car and left Kuhl’s office, I never thought about the aftermath or how I would be perceived on tv. With a gazed look, I wondered about the children, adults, and friends who were afflicted with diseases and ailments which could be resolved by future advancements in stem cell research.
Finally, I realized that as a nation we have hit a wall. We have expressed our voices and opinion only to have them bounce back or fall on deaf ears. If the leaders of our nations refuse to listen, we must not go quietly into the night and hope something will happen. We must be the agents for change.
PS - Thank you everyone for the emails and kudos.
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Way to go! Glad to see you got some press coverage too… It’s all about getting the word out
[...] Update: btp here with a hostile takeover of Exile’s post - check out the latest one, not yet on WW’s page. Wait…whose voice is that? The caller in to the radio show? Why, it’s our own jaysmith36! Along with optimusprime and his 1-man stem cell vote protest, showing again how 1 person can make a diff. [...]
[...] Whether you areÂÂ holding aÂÂ individual protest in front of Randy Kuhl’s office,ÂÂ are among a large collection of protesters welcoming Dick Cheney to your home townÂÂ or travel to theÂÂ Washington D.C toÂÂ join thousands in expressingÂÂ their opinion on the war in Iraq.ÂÂ ÂÂ At these protests I’m constantly struck by the connection of strangers united for a common cause. I’m sure even the pics look the same (for pics from Cheney’s Rochester visit here).ÂÂ Lots of focused smiles and general feeling of doing something. [...]
[...] that? The caller in to the radio show? Why, it’s our own j! Along with optimusprime and his 1-man stem cell vote protest, showing again how 1 person can make a [...]