Protests are most effective when done respectfully
With the light on its roof shining brightly, the car could be seen several blocks away. But this beacon wasn’t a police flasher, nor a light from a taxi or tow truck. It was a menorah. It should have evoked feelings of peace and goodwill.
But instead, several people walking down the street had different takes: “Do you think that’s safe … isn’t showcasing your beliefs just asking for trouble?” “In to- day’s world, I wouldn’t be drawing attention to myself like he is,” and “I respect it, but that guy’s crazy.”
Is that really where things stand in America?
Have we succumbed to fear by allowing the small-in-number-butloud-in-voice extremists to invade our psyche, scaring us into thinking that displaying one’s beliefs could result in verbal abuse and physical harm?
Are first impressions now firmly rooted in security assessments, with natural emotions relegated to the backseat?
Sadly, that wasn’t an isolated incident, as I’ve heard people say similar things with a sigh of inevitability, such as “having” to avoid restaurants and businesses for fear of being caught in emotionally charged protests.
While an understandable sentiment, that’s a losing proposition all the way around.
Innocent businesses would take a financial hit, and the bullies would win. John Wayne said that “Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
If we are to not lose who we are, we need to get back on the horse and saddle up.
•••
Protesting is in our blood.
More than just a unique American right, it is our duty when we perceive an injustice.
At its core, protesting is the people’s way of lobbying for change, and, if done smartly, can be an instrument of unmatched effectiveness.
Americans historically have used protests as a political tool: fighting unfair taxation imposed by England; opposing slavery; advocating women’s suffrage; seeking better treatment of Native Americans; pushing anti-war movements; and of course, tirelessly battling for civil rights.
But unlike protests where people stand united behind commonsense ideas, some demonstrations today have devolved into it’s-all-aboutme affairs, with protesters more concerned about going “viral” and shouting insults than fighting for something of substance.
Take some of the protests focused on the Israel-Hamas war.
If one wants to protest Israeli policies regarding Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, fine. If the message is to advocate a two-state solution, have at it. And if the objective is to advocate a cease-fire to end the hostilities, great.
But when Israel’s actions are equated with genocide, and when some presumptively link Jewish people and Jewish-owned businesses with Israel’s war strategy, much credibility is lost.
If the point of protesting is to change hearts and minds by raising awareness of a given issue, then logic dictates that protesters would strive to remain as respectful and on-point as possible. But too often, that’s not the case.
Take the accusations of Israeli genocide. The numbers tell the real story: Israel, a nation of 9.7 million, lost 1,200 people in the Hamas attack — not counting those kidnapped — many of whom were civilians.
A ratio calculation reveals that, had an attack on the same scale occurred here, it would have, proportionately, killed over 41,000 Americans.
Yes, you read that correctly. All things being equal, the United States would have lost almost 14 times the number of people killed on 9/11.
Protesters are free to say what they want.
But wouldn’t they be more effective by condemning Hamas and advocating for the release of all hostages, especially the Americans still held captive?
That sure would beat shouting divisive chants and protesting those who have zero say in Israel’s Middle Eastern policy.
Ironically, controversial protests often backfire.
The majority of people innately know that there’s a time and place for legitimate protests, and blocking streets and mobbing businesses isn’t it, since those actions often frustrate the target audience whom protesters are attempting to influence.
More important, we the people cannot stay silent and live in fear, for doing so would change the very essence of how we live our lives.
In this case, we should continue to patronize innocent restaurants.
We need to attend, not avoid, religious celebrations.
And we should never back down from espousing our beliefs. It doesn’t mean we won’t be on edge — and yes, maybe even a little afraid at times — but to run from these things with the mindset that “I don’t want to be targeted” is capitulating to the bad guys and succumbing to victimhood.
That’s not who we are.
In the same way that all of civilized humanity loses if we stop traveling to places that have been subjected to extremist actions — London, Paris, Jerusalem — we cannot become afraid to walk out our doors right here in America.
We must live valiantly, and teach our children that evil will not prevail, if for no other reason than to honor those who sacrificed for our freedoms.
It’s time to jettison derisive labels, find common ground and create real-world, concrete plans to deal with the problems at home and abroad.
How can anyone protest that?