More on why bothering to Protest
Meet these these two women from the protest at the Brighton 12 corners. One is very active- one is not. Well at least not yet.
I start chatting with the one on the right. She is a pistol. Rapid fire responses about all things Bush, the loss of civil rights, and the cost of the Iraq war. She is yearning for other opportunities to air her views - this as I recall was her second protest. I’m told she isn’t aware of all the vigils and demonstrations that happen here in Rochester.
Then there is the women on the left.
Look - the war is just wrong. I’m just becoming active - looking to do more. Why am I here? “Google Marine Wedding that is why I’m here”. This is why she came.
But do protests make a difference?
Not if the media doesn’t cover it says the women on the right. Sure - media coverage is important but I want to offer a different perspective.
Without this protest these two women would likely have not met. Instead, someone very active and some who is looking to do more - stood together on a street corner, learned each others names and chatted. I know sign-up sheets were circulated so maybe they will end up at another event togeter.
I didn’t ask this at the time but would assume that the women just becoming active would be receiving reinforcement that there are other people like her. So she will likely head further down the road to involvement. That on-ramp I keep talking about.
Do protests make a difference? Sure - it gets people outside their comfort zone and bonds them to each other. Over time it creates a common bond for a group of people. It gets people together.
Is it going to change Randy Kuhl’s (ed. note: or Jim Walsh’s or Tom Reynolds’) mind? Probably not. Like I said in this post. These participants are speaking for others that are not ready to speak. This is an on-ramp to further involvement.
The Marine Wedding picture was very sobering and extremely upsetting. Where can I get one of these signs???
The red Support the Troops, End the War signs were brought by the Iraq Summer group of AAEI, I believe there are a bunch left at the Peace Storefront on Monroe Ave.
It might not change their minds, but at least they know that there are constituents (and constituents being the MOST IMPORTANT word in this sentence) who are concerned with the direction of the war and the direction of our country.
One of my biggest disappointments this summer (and there weren’t many of them) was not being able to organize a protest while Tom Reynolds was on recess. I posted on numerous sources (three or four blogs and in a community forum) about my plans and with the exception of two people, never heard from anyone who was interested in taking part.
Protest is a fundamental part of democracy. With it, our democracy is strong. Without it, our leaders get comfortable and they’ll then use that again us, trying to silence us at every turn and shouting us down. I relate this point to one event: the American Revolution.
Do you really think we would be the country we are today if a bunch of silent citizens dominated the thought process back in the 1700’s? Do you think we would be independent? This country wasn’t built from people who would rather stay silent than fight for what’s right. This country was built on people who opened their mouths when they saw something wrong and they pressed the issue with their “leaders.”
Protest is good. Protest is productive. It’s not about sending a message… it’s about spreading a message.
There was a similar Vigil on Ridge Rd in front of the Mall targeting Reynolds. It was sponsored by the Westside local MoveOn group, while the Brighton one was co-sponsored by the Eastside MoveOn group.
The Westside group has been at Reynolds’ office several times over the summer concerning the war. So take heart, there is a movement happening, even in Greece.
Absolutely.
Great point.
I on Berman’s photograph back in March.
It tore me to pieces.
The rest of the essay can be seen on her
Must be a lag in the comments posting………anyway the last part got clipped.
The rest of her essay can be seen on her
Well - not really a lag. I had SPAM filter duty and found both of these comments in our SPAM filter.
Looks like it got clipped again.
I’m thinking you are trying to link here. It is at the NYT and requires a free account.
Fair enough.
Here is the site sans html
http://ninaberman.com/index3.php?pag=prt&dir=marine
I just stumbled across this blog in the course of checking referrals from my own blog, and as a fellow protester, I would say you that nailed it. I started protesting weekly with a group of 5 or 6 people in May. We are up to about 60 people every week. I have made so many new friends of like mind, and I am certain that we will be working together for a long time to put things right in this country. It’s such a relief to know that so many others share my frustrations, and together we will turn that frustration into positive change.
In addition to the folks who stop by to stand with us (many come back each week), or offer support, I have to think that an awful lot of conversations get started in the cars passing by that otherwise wouldn’t have happened. That’s something. We are planting the seeds , and if enough of them take root in enough places, we will make a difference. Keep at it, and we will too…see you on the other side of the revolution!
Pam
Wyandotte, MI