I don't think Americans like protesters, period

Left or right, it doesn't matter.

Back in the early nineties the protesters that got all the attention were anti-abortion, and I think it hurt the repubs.

The last four years it's been anti-war protesters, all the time, and honestly, right or wrong, I think it hurt the Dems.

Most Americans don't protest, nor do they understand the psychology of doing so. I'm not a big fan of protests either, and the only ones I really consider worthwhile were some of the civil rights protests, and a few environmental protests I've seen aimed at very specific issues.

I still remember those protesters busting in during Bush's convention speech, interrupting him. I had a premonition we were going to lose then. What foolishness that was.

Before anyone starts saying I'm trying to 'oppress' them ' or deny them their rights somehow (whine whine whine), I believe it is an absolute right to be able to protest.

I'm just saying most Americans don't like it, and it may end up hurthing most causes.

I think a lot of people see almost any protest as disrespectful, and disrespect to many is worse than any policy that people are protesting against. Let me note, that I don't agree with that sentiment.

Protests are good and necessary in any working society.

What makes us uncomfortable about them is the heavy police presence and potential for violence.

It's vital for people to organize and demonstrate solidarity in numbers.

Sue

I'm just trying to explain what the general public thinks, IMO.

Large groups chanting slogans is just a turn off.

...as you even admitted to in the OP.

It's a sign of a healthy democracy, for sure. But politically, they don't accomplish much, and most of them backfire. I think that's just the reality, sorry, but it is...

what goes around sooner or later comes around and then anyones whining won't be welcome anymore whether said complaints are legit or not..Just a thought..

Remember last spring, when a MILLION pissed off women went to Washington to tell the Repuglicans that they were DEAD WRONG in their antiabortion and antiwoman policies? How much real coverage did that get? How many mainstream news outlets told the truth, instead of saying "thousands?"

The point is that people are encouraged to dismiss big demonstrations as a whole lot of nothing because the demonstrations don't get coverage in most mainstream news, and are undercounted and barely mentioned in the few news outlets that admit they've gone on.

There is no way that a handful of screaming Jesus people who are now being overrepresented in the mainstream press are suddenly going to be taken particularly seriously. They've downplayed real demonstrations for far too long.

It's the MEDIA folks, and they shot themselves in the foot on this one.

We believe people have an inalienable right not to sit and take it.

Did you even read my entire post?

nobody who cares is calling this protest....EVERYONE who LOVES AMERICA is doing Pro-Peace Marches, Vigils, Rallies, Artistic endeavors, and events....

Here's a summary of what happened this past week....PROOF THAT EVERYONE LIKES PEACE...
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=3365376#

As long as Americans themselves abhor protests and protesters, our government is free to do whatever it likes.

That's the typical mentality of a protester. You're out there saving the world. Most Americans work and take care of families, and have lives. They know what's going on. They don't need groups chanting slogans to figure things out. And that goes for left or right protesters.

The only successful protests I've seen in my lifetime have been some environmental ones aimed at specific, concrete issues.

I think the left needs to come up with some new ideas, the protests ain't working.

then the government, and corporations will take it upon themselves to work in the best interest of the people? Please......

peaceful antiwar demonstrators at Kent State. I have no illusions about this country.

media hates protest. protest of ANY kind is tthe people speaking out. The corporations are in charge, and anything that challenges that authority must be capitalized upon -or marginalized.

We as a society are made to feel guilty for speaking out.

and I think it's a paradigm shift that needs to move in the other direction. Reclaiming language is a start. I handed the local law enforcement spokesperson and the newspaper a new one when they referred to a peace vigil as an anti-government protest. I think this has been deliberate and its become entrenched.

Though protest is good and healthy, the American masses seem to turn away from protesters (and their causes).

Even though there has never been a real "Leave it to Beaver" America, we (collectively) turn away from anything that further disturbs that image.

One caveat, MLK devised protests that drew people too, rather than away from.

I think you're right.

were not popular at the time. Keep in mind, for but one example, why he wrote his Letter From A Birmingham Jail. It wasn't because his protests were popular.

Today, comfortably removed by forty years from the civil rights protests, it's easy to embrace them. At the time, they were not "popular" ... which is why they were necessary in the first place. Who the hell ever needs to protest in favor of anything that's already popular?

We give great lip service to 'freedom' and 'dissent' but, when the rubber hits the road, we fail to realize that dissent is, by its very definition, taking an unpopular stance.

In other words, "D'oh!" :dunce:

they are working for PEACE...

the original remarks are VERY condescending....suggests that these Patriotic Americans are not even Americans...

Look at the PHOTOS on this thread and you will never suggest again that these people are not Americans, and that they are hated by Americans...these photos show AMERICANS..REAL AMERICANS...telling bush* to shut down his oil-y wars and BRING OUR TROOPS HOME NOW !

These photos from the Pro-Peace events March 16-22, are the most Patriotic events ever...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3365376

It must be a reply to the Original Message, since it sure has nothing to do with what I posted. :shrug:
Did you use the wrong "Reply" hyperlink?

Has it really accomplished anything?

The Civil Rights sit ins and so forth were effective in part because those images were broadcast all over the whole country, and the fire houses and dogs.

If that movement was going on today, you would only read about it in the alternative press.

divestiture and boycotts are probably more effective today--starve the beast of the money they are using to lie to us and oppress us.

I am not advocating this, but it seems that the protests that have an impact are when people actually act and stop something from happening, chaining your head to a tree to stop it from being cut down, or blocking a road to keep traffic from getting in (or out), and/or staying put until you get what you want.

I don't think people have the will to do that yet, or enough people are pissed off to support it from their barcolounger.

Marching around for an afternoon is more of a moral and solidarity booster than anything else.

from suffrage to civil rights to the vietnam war. i am anticipating some very real protests if this government is not stopped. i do not want to live in a fascist state and i don't think you do either. what other option do we have?

ellen fl

If leftists (or pro-lifers) want to have a positive impact on the population at large, they should take a very different approach to political demonstrations. When people see a bunch of "hippies" or "religious fanatics" shouting angrily and chanting or doing silly things like stripping naked or wearing funny masks or holding up gruesome pictures, I think it is easy for the average American to label and dismiss the protestors. And I think the behavior of a lot of these people turn people off and hurt their causes.

A successful demonstration would be a bunch of conservatively dressed. solemn, rational people with thoughtful, non-inflammatory signs, amassing peacefully and listening to speakers who choose their words very carefully so as not to alienate those who currently don't agree with them but who can be convinced.

The smartest thing leftists could do to enhance the power of demonstrations would be to leave the bandanas and torn blue-jeans at home, show up in shirt and tie and act like business-school grads at their first accountant convention. That would thwart the impulse to label and dismiss them. It would be appropriate for trying to communicate an idea to people not like them, who need to be converted to the idea.

Wouldn't be as much fun, but I guess people have to decide if demonstrations are social events or real efforts to affect public opinion.

And the absolute worst thing that can happen is for somebody to burn the American flag. Always some group of idiotic, wannabe anarchists who undermine the whole effort by finding a TV camera and setting an American flag on fire. When that happens, every responsible protestor should jump all over them. In front of the cameras.

Just some thoughts.

I agree with that, all of it.

that many of todays protests have become quite diluded. They have been watered down by every special intrest group that attends every social issue rally there is. I think that if every single person who attended a protest wrote a LTTE or emailed their elected officials or even showing social awareness by boycotting a specific group/company/agency involved with what your protesting, would have a much more dynamic impact than small number protests can usually provide.

Now when you start talking about a few million people descending onto Washington DC all at once rather than a few million people scattered among more widespread areas around the country, the impact is exponentially bigger.

Local news can easily overlook a protest of thousands. In many places it gets a "mention" on the local news, then on to other things. The protests message gets dissipated as national media wont give it much more than a 5 minute segment on the evening broadcast.

Harder for the National media outlets to ignore a few million protesters in a concentrated area. It can't be brushed aside as if there were a "few people here and there" kinda attitude.

Or at least thats how I see it.

think Dem, Green, Repub, Libertarian, or whatever...they think American-U.S. Protests are American and any labeling of Dem bad, Repub bad for protesting is the end of the country.

As above, the media is a corporate entity wedded to the military, banking, certain politicians and other corporations and foundations.

Corporations fear protests aimed at them and their greed, thefts,lies and exposure of the truth.
Politicians fear protests - same reasons.
Military brass fear the truth.

They need to control our voice and what they think is their police.

They are trying to throw out the laws of this nation. There won't be any protests then.

A peaceful, lawful protest for humanity and rights is a beautiful thing. If things get worse, Repubs will be protesting along side Dems.