Saturday, November 10, 2012

Protesting... like... stuff... and all.


The right to assembly (and protest) is fundamental to the democratic process.  Voting is not (and should not be) the only way the people can make their voices heard.  Further, one cannot support the right to assemble (and protest) only when he agrees with the cause of the protesters--otherwise, you are not talking about a right in any technical sense.  Nevertheless, your right to protest doesn't prevent you from being criticized for the views you express in the context of your protest.  Apparently some 400 students at Ole Miss (University of Mississippi) protested the reelection of President Obama earlier this week.  Protest all you want, I say.  But what exactly are you protesting?  Elections?  Democracy?  Voting?  If you don't like the president or his policies, perhaps what you don't like should be made more specific (protest tax hikes, protest Obamacare, protest the alleged mishandling of the Benghazi affair).  Otherwise you appear to be protesting the very system of rights which legitimize your protest.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/11/08/2-arrested-as-anti-obama-protests-escalate-at-ole-miss/
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-57547048-504083/election-protest-at-ole-miss-had-racial-overtones-prompts-unity-vigil-in-response/
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/08/us/anti-obama-protest-at-university-of-mississippi-turns-unruly.html?_r=0
http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/election-protest-ole-miss-escalates-arrested-17666000

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