Like Justin Gardner, I’ve got to wonder if conservatives might learn something from yesterday’s protests:
Again, congrats to all of you who exercised your right to protest yesterday. It felt good, didn’t it? Not treasonous at all, right? Just remember that the next time you see somebody protesting against decisions you agree with.
One could say much the same thing, of course, about some on the left, who have reacted to the tea parties with derision, ridicule, and attempts to smear every participant as a kook based on a few isolated examples.
However, the last time we saw protests like this, the roles were reversed and it was the right who was condemning the predominantly leftist anti-war protests and calling their participants anti-American. Nothing could be further from the truth, of course; the right to protest is enshrined in the First Amendment and has a long and admirable history from
the Colonial Era, to the Abolitionist Movement, to the Suffage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement.
There is nothing wrong with protesting against your government’s policies, even when war is involved, and some would say that it’s your duty to speak out when you believe something wrong is happening.
April 16th, 2009 at 9:41 pm
[...] asks: Will The Right Learn From The Tea Parties ? Conservative for Change has the video of Glenn Beck explaining what the tea parties were all [...]
April 16th, 2009 at 10:50 pm
Except, as a counter protester at those “anti-war” rallies, I saw people advocating fragging of officers, mutiny, the assistance to the enemy, etc. Protesting policy is one thing. Treasonous activity is another. I’m all for Peace rallies. I respect those that can live a pacifist life. War is horrible. But those people should not associate with those that advocate actions against the USA. ANSWER and IVAW are not patriotic organizations. ANSWER is supported by the communist party and IVAW is filled with fake veterans, lying through their teeth.