We Americans are fortunate to live in a country where we can be pro-life, pro-choice, support gay marriage, and choose whether or not we want to enlist. We enjoy listening to music with strong messages and seeing movies that may offend others. Over all, we have so much freedom as men and women that we sometimes abuse that freedom.
I'll be the first to admit I have a prejudice against protesters. I don't even find picketers to be so bad, because at least you're strapped safely in your Honda and as long as you don't have a “Bring the troops home Now!” bumper sticker, you should be perfectly safe from egging or sign slappage. However, my prejudice began on a smaller scale because my friend and her husband decided to ruin every meal or positive thing anyone else has attempted to do for his or her self.
Imagine getting a new scarf and sitting down to lunch with Mr. and Mrs. Protester. You tell them that you are going to collect food and blankets for the homeless at the church you all attend. You feel pretty good until they tell you that your scarf is from a sweatshop, the drive is pointless because the blankets aren't made of natural fibers, and the food isn't organic. After this, Mrs. Protest calls Mr. Protest to ask him if it's okay for their preschool-aged children to have whole-wheat baguettes because they don't want them ingesting chemicals and they are crying while watching you eat yours. You decide to leave and with rebellion in your heart, you go to Wendy's to get the greasiest burger you can find. Who's in front of you in line? Dun-dun-daaaahhhh! It's Mr. Protest! He looks at you without the slightest guilt that his wife is at home getting tofu ready.
After an occurrence such as this, my loathing for protesting has expanded as far as the intersection before work. While I have nothing against people being firm and honest in their beliefs, there are more constructive ways of getting your message out without protesting everything that goes against your own personal values.
When I see people blocking traffic because they are marching with signs that say “Stop aborshin,” or “We want lower taxis,” I think: "I'm pretty sure you mean taxes, so get back to work or school and learn to spell. Then, maybe it will at least appear that you are making some kind of point rather than causing car accidents and being a lazy bum with nothing better to on a Monday other than attempt to shove your opinions down people's throats.
"At least if you're handing out fliers to get me to vote for a cause or protest one, I have time to digest it and really view your argument. If not, I'll have something to spit my gum into before class."
Besides fliers, you could hold organized public speaking events that will allow the people who actually want to listen to attend. Offer refreshments and appear somewhat non-threatening.
You don't get a shy child to open up by screaming at them, but rather by being calm, willing to listen to their ideas, and a little treat doesn't hurt either. It's the same for busy adults in the workforce. If you address them not by force, threats, and a fanny-packed MADD
member yelling through a bullhorn, but rather with a method that allows them to respond comfortably, then they will be more receptive to your message. Besides, people who disagree with your platform may not listen to you anyway. Save the bullhorns and signs for your next pep rally and maybe people will vote for your candidate.
If protesters actually lived what they were preaching and explained reasons other than “I heard on a TV show that it was bad” (if you paid me enough I'd say anything was bad, wouldn't you?) I might listen to them. If you want to protest, that's fine, as long as you have clear reasoning and aren't making people uncomfortable. If not, maybe you'll see me blocking traffic at the picket lines, yelling “No more protesting!” with my hot pink whistle and fanny pack to match.
