Useless protests have no clout

On Saturday, January 21 this year, millions of people in nearly 700 cities worldwide assembled for the Women’s March, calling for female empowerment, and rallying against the just inaugurated President Donald Trump.

The hats were great and the placards even better. However, on Monday, January 23, the new US administration went about its work as planned. Absolutely nothing came of this protest and there was no follow up.

In 2003, the world assembled to protest the prospect of war in Iraq. A few weeks later the US was at war. Do protests have any clout and are they productive, or are they just a bit of social theatre to make protesters feel virtuous, useful and in the right?

Protests come and go – and ignore the real problems. They are really “mindless, knee-jerk reactions by left-wing liberals” and don’t have a lasting effect. Many protests just give angry civilians the chance to vent their anger.

The media adds to the confu- sion and destruction as they are looking for a sensational story, and the protesters respond enthusiastically to the coverage while looking for media sympathy.

Protests, in fact, have become increasingly repetitive and boring, and instead of helping to transform society, have become just an unimaginative pastime based on nostalgia. It also gives the unemployed some excitement and something to do.

In the same way the Trump-Israeli decision will soon peter out as new disagreements and disputes evolve in an unfriendly and violent world. John, Germiston