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This is the only thing that makes sense. The people, governments, and institutions being protested only know one language: violence. Otherwise, they will hold o

by mnm1 9y ago

This is the only thing that makes sense. The people, governments, and institutions being protested only know one language: violence. Otherwise, they will hold onto their power no matter what, as long as they can. People often forget or never learn this. There are lots of parents teaching their children all sorts of fantasies about government, armies, and police, that these are institutions that should be respected and trusted rather than feared, disbelieved, and toppled. Attitudes like that lead to the ineffective protests we've seen lately. The people being protested do not care if there are millions in the streets if those millions will never pose a threat and those millions cannot pose a threat if they have delusional misconceptions about their role and the role of the people they're protesting. A lot of power and responsibility lies with parents and many of them are too clueless to see the world for what it is, let alone teach their children to react to it properly.

ZenoArrow 9y ago
> "This is the only thing that makes sense. The people, governments, and institutions being protested only know one language: violence." Not true. They also understand money. I'd say money is the best thing to focus on if you want a truly effective protest. Violence is too easy to condemn by those not taking part. That's why I'd say we'd be better off arranging protests as boycotts rather than marching in the street. That said, there is a sense of community with collective gatherings like street protests. I'd say fostering connections between people is probably the main strength of protesting in the streets.
- posterboy 9y ago
  The threat of economic reprimand ("money") is indirectly and maybe unknowingly a threat of violence.
- criddell 9y ago
  > That said, there is a sense of community with collective gatherings like street protests. I'd say fostering connections between people is probably the main strength of protesting in the streets. Yes! After Trump was elected, I went to my first street protests and I was shocked at how positive it felt. The sense of community and togetherness was amazing. I talked to more strangers that day than I had in the previous year. People were kind, and funny, welcoming.

by mnm1 9y ago

ZenoArrow 9y ago

> "This is the only thing that makes sense. The people, governments, and institutions being protested only know one language: violence." Not true. They also understand money. I'd say money is the best thing to focus on if you want a truly effective protest. Violence is too easy to condemn by those not taking part. That's why I'd say we'd be better off arranging protests as boycotts rather than marching in the street. That said, there is a sense of community with collective gatherings like street protests. I'd say fostering connections between people is probably the main strength of protesting in the streets.

posterboy 9y ago
The threat of economic reprimand ("money") is indirectly and maybe unknowingly a threat of violence.
criddell 9y ago
> That said, there is a sense of community with collective gatherings like street protests. I'd say fostering connections between people is probably the main strength of protesting in the streets. Yes! After Trump was elected, I went to my first street protests and I was shocked at how positive it felt. The sense of community and togetherness was amazing. I talked to more strangers that day than I had in the previous year. People were kind, and funny, welcoming.