We tried to stop the Iraq War. The GOP treated us like it treats protesters now.

As a former conservative Republican who supported the Iraq War, this op-ed by Cindy Sheehan really hits home. It’s amazing (and sad) to see those who exercise their constitutional right to protest labeled as an unruly mob during the injustice...and then see their concerns validated years later.


Today, we take as a given that women vote, or that segregation is unconstitutional. But we got here because people marched, protested and, in some cases, subjected themselves to deadly violence to make their voices heard. Gains we take for granted, from the eight-hour workday to same-sex marriage, came about because Americans fought for them, often through protest, not because these things just happened.

But if you only listened to some politicians, you’d be led to believe that Americans are obligated just to sit down and take it when we see we’re being mistreated by our government. Wrong. Whether you believed Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony or Kavanaugh’s denials, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat — I’m neither — the notion that protesters demanding a full, fair hearing and a credible investigation of Ford’s sexual assault allegations were a “mob” to be dismissed, instead of citizens to be addressed, is not only repugnant, it flies in the face of history. And those trying to silence protest, not the protesters, should be ashamed.

Last month, in an interview with the right-wing outlet, the Daily Caller, Trump remarked: “I think it’s embarrassing for the country to allow protesters,” adding, “In the old days we used to throw them out. Today, I guess they just keep screaming.”

Actually, it’s his statement that’s an embarrassment.

The president doesn’t get to “allow” or disallow protest. The Constitution guarantees that right — to peacefully challenge our government and demand a response to injustice. It’s something that should transcend party politics, but far too often doesn’t. If the elected representatives currently in power won’t respect this, they’re abandoning oaths they’ve sworn, misinterpreting founding principles to suit their own partisan ends and showing themselves to be un-American.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/outl...treats-protesters-now/?utm_term=.33da8a26ae57

Newenglanddeac said:

As a former conservative Republican who supported the Iraq War, this op-ed by Cindy Sheehan really hits home. It’s amazing (and sad) to see those who exercise their constitutional right to protest labeled as an unruly mob during the injustice...and then see their concerns validated years later.


Today, we take as a given that women vote, or that segregation is unconstitutional. But we got here because people marched, protested and, in some cases, subjected themselves to deadly violence to make their voices heard. Gains we take for granted, from the eight-hour workday to same-sex marriage, came about because Americans fought for them, often through protest, not because these things just happened.

But if you only listened to some politicians, you’d be led to believe that Americans are obligated just to sit down and take it when we see we’re being mistreated by our government. Wrong. Whether you believed Christine Blasey Ford’s testimony or Kavanaugh’s denials, whether you’re a Republican or Democrat — I’m neither — the notion that protesters demanding a full, fair hearing and a credible investigation of Ford’s sexual assault allegations were a “mob” to be dismissed, instead of citizens to be addressed, is not only repugnant, it flies in the face of history. And those trying to silence protest, not the protesters, should be ashamed.

Last month, in an interview with the right-wing outlet, the Daily Caller, Trump remarked: “I think it’s embarrassing for the country to allow protesters,” adding, “In the old days we used to throw them out. Today, I guess they just keep screaming.”

Actually, it’s his statement that’s an embarrassment.

The president doesn’t get to “allow” or disallow protest. The Constitution guarantees that right — to peacefully challenge our government and demand a response to injustice. It’s something that should transcend party politics, but far too often doesn’t. If the elected representatives currently in power won’t respect this, they’re abandoning oaths they’ve sworn, misinterpreting founding principles to suit their own partisan ends and showing themselves to be un-American.


https://www.washingtonpost.com/outl...treats-protesters-now/?utm_term=.33da8a26ae57

Click to expand...

Jesus-once upon a time, this would be a few days of headlines. Dude is such a constant barrage of terrible that some things get lost in the shuffle.

deactherunner said:

Jesus-once upon a time, this would be a few days of headlines. Dude is such a constant barrage of terrible that some things get lost in the shuffle.

Click to expand...

My fear is that he's steadily being "normalized", not only by the supposedly liberal news media, but with the general public as well. People, including even some liberals, have just started tuning him out. Fox has even stopped covering many of his campaign rallies live, because the ratings are dropping. That may seem like good news, but it basically means that lots of bad stuff he and his minions are doing may never be publicized or gain attention, and to regain attention he may become even more outrageous in his words and actions.