Unfortunately, those of us who stay at home and complain why the GOVERNMENT doesn’t do anything about a myriad of things find that “militant” others get arrested for complaining. The complaint is also about why others do not do anything about what bothers us. We are great complainers and after all, much about what is said and done is said rather than done.
It may be the quality of the complaint. Perhaps if the “protestor” using his/her constitutionally protected right to “free speech” is doing it the wrong way. Perhaps “protestors” do not have their hats in hand and are on their knees begging to be heard. Squeaky hinges do get the oil. The loud chanting voices and refusal to “move along” brings police to get the protestor to move along or they have to be hauled away and arrested because they are disturbing the police.
We receive pictures daily of riots caused by protestors who are tear gassed and beaten by rod or Billy-Club wielding police – in other countries. Peaceful protests sometimes do not get publicity. Bloody heads and fires started and cars overturned and burned get a lot of attention.
When protestors are demonized they are not asking to be heard, they are saying things the authorities don’t want to be heard. “Militancy” is the next step and TERRORISM is not far behind.
Free speech is meant to be heard. If there is an element of protest in that speech it should be listened to. If not listened to and it is unheard, free speech can turn ugly. STRIKING workers tell us something when we can’t go to where we want to go or buy what we want to buy. We are being told something. Why is it some complaints are easier to be heard than others? Maybe it is WHO does the complaining.
At least that is how it seems to me. I am happy to be a citizen of the United States living in the land of the FREE and the HOME of the BRAVE. The free and the brave should listen when others speak about the condition of the home we all live in.
Some cases in point: FRENCH STRIKERS (public employees) and U. of Tennessee students appearing in BLACK FACE (depicting the Jackson Five). In Iran students protest the death sentence of a “reformist” scholar who was sentenced to death for “APOSTASY”. And, in front of the White House there is the arrest of protestors against the U.S. AIDS policy. Finally there are the 50 protestors who broke into the U.S. Army Post in South Korea. All of these are in today’s NY Times.