Protests put pressure on French PM
Protests put pressure on French PM - Mar 29, 2006
The stories I am hearing lately (and the images being seen from France and those here in the US , of illegal immigrants and legal immigrants), about protest and dissent  lead me to wonder about the laziness of the general populace here in the US. In France  students and workers are banding together to bring the daily grind to a halt with their protests.
Here in the US, people who may be affected by proposed changes in immigration law have mobilized by the thousands and are making sure their voices are heard.
I am aghast that the other citizens who claim that they are upset by the current administration's behaviour and incredible incompetence...I just can't figure out why we can't be like them...banding together, bringing the country to a standstill...
I suppose people are afraid - but that's what they count on, is our fear. Our unwillingness to put our principles to the test, to hold our collective feet to the fire in the name of something bigger than any one individual has me saddened to say the least. I suppose it's asking a lot of people to stand up and put their voices together to make a difference (or let's say get a president impeached).
Oh sure, we can 'count' on our local representatives (or should I say perhaps you have faith in *your* local representatives - I personally don't)- but what's better than protest? I am not saying let's go riot in the streets - but if we were to 'band together' and cause a ruckus - don't you think they'd listen - or send out the riot police to douse us with tear gas...
But in this land of youthful democracy the methods of letting your voices be heard that stand out in my recollection (and from those boring history books)Bostonthe Bosotn Tea Party, and the protests over the 'war' in Vietnam (of which I got a chance to participate in...) - people sat up and took notice...
I think it's sorely needed and I think our voices should be raised in unison and in one of the oldest American traditions in protest if you feel your rights are being violated.
The stories I am hearing lately (and the images being seen from France and those here in the US , of illegal immigrants and legal immigrants), about protest and dissent  lead me to wonder about the laziness of the general populace here in the US. In France  students and workers are banding together to bring the daily grind to a halt with their protests.
Here in the US, people who may be affected by proposed changes in immigration law have mobilized by the thousands and are making sure their voices are heard.
I am aghast that the other citizens who claim that they are upset by the current administration's behaviour and incredible incompetence...I just can't figure out why we can't be like them...banding together, bringing the country to a standstill...
I suppose people are afraid - but that's what they count on, is our fear. Our unwillingness to put our principles to the test, to hold our collective feet to the fire in the name of something bigger than any one individual has me saddened to say the least. I suppose it's asking a lot of people to stand up and put their voices together to make a difference (or let's say get a president impeached).
Oh sure, we can 'count' on our local representatives (or should I say perhaps you have faith in *your* local representatives - I personally don't)- but what's better than protest? I am not saying let's go riot in the streets - but if we were to 'band together' and cause a ruckus - don't you think they'd listen - or send out the riot police to douse us with tear gas...
But in this land of youthful democracy the methods of letting your voices be heard that stand out in my recollection (and from those boring history books)Bostonthe Bosotn Tea Party, and the protests over the 'war' in Vietnam (of which I got a chance to participate in...) - people sat up and took notice...
I think it's sorely needed and I think our voices should be raised in unison and in one of the oldest American traditions in protest if you feel your rights are being violated.
posted by Colette at 12:06 PM
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