You got it exactly opposite. I'm in favor of all protests regardless of whether the government has deemed them acceptable and legal. I accept the reality that we have already signed away that right and quietly watched it eroded. Any right, freedom, or responsibility that Americans chose not to execute or just hand over to the government, the government will willingly take and keep permanently.
You keep saying you've clarified......which is it.....do you only support government approved protests or do you support all protests regardless of government approval.
HockeyDad wrote:
Very pleased to read the above. I was misled about you due to posts #28 and #35, but I am closer to your post here than any limited choices you tried to foist upon me.
At one time I would have bought into all protests regardless of the cause for reasons of keeping government from picking and choosing where to assign freedoms etc, cuz that ain't real freedom. But over time I have witnessed that violence and intimidation can have a boomerang effect so I hate to see "my" side propose it. And I hate to see the "other" side employ it because, well, I hate violence. I didn't say don't allow it, I said I don't support it.
But sometimes violence is needed to change over a government, then it is not a protest anymore, it's a revolt. Death may occur under those conditions, I can accept that bloodshed, but not in a protest. So be it, though my preference would be through elections, alas...
You still can't limit the question to government approved (not every protest is about government) nor legal/with permits as not all require that. Some folks picket your business, they block exits, rough up employees or patrons, not justifiable. But they assemble in proximity, not your private property, beseech passersby to stop trading with you, send mailers, leaflet the neighborhood, **** yeah, good stuff.
One more thing, slipping in "protest zones" enough times to make it an interchangeable term with "legal" is an unfair characterization of my stance. I despise the zones but can see situations less about government usurping rights, like say a college campus has a group wanting to protest some cause...sure, designate an area for thair circle or literature table, whatever. Not all causes require bringing the institution to its knees. Some might, I agree, but not the plight of the sand plover eg.
I used to be an absolutiste like you, but now I do see some gray in the black/white.
