RateItAll: The Opinion Network

It is a constitutionally protected right. Of course, it must be done in a civil and non violent manner. Otherwise, it becomes a riot, and has some undesirable consequences.

This is overdone. People who get adversity in their lives do a lot of complaining. Grin and bear it.

Protesting is the most fundamental of American rights; this country was founded upon the idea that that the citizenry has a right to protest policies that may be unjust or unfair. Saying that protests never affect the decisions of any government is absurd...governmental policies require public support in order to be continued. From the Revolution to the Civil War to the New Deal to Vietnam, all of those initiatives rode on public support. Now I understand why some people would give the topic a lower rating, because protesting is an activity that closely defined today with leftists and anti-globalization types, but of course, they have every right to protest policies that they view as wrong. The other day I saw an interview of Katie Couric where she claimed that our 1st Amendment rights, namely freedom of speech was a "privilege" that we could exercise. I was a bit troubled by that comment actually. Privilege here connotes that we have rights, but it can be revoked at whim, for instance, if the opinion was overly critical of the government or if it expresses an unpopular political opinion. What's key to any free society is the ability to be critical of our leaders or their policies. Liberty is a central precept which this country was founded on, certainly the right to petition, which includes the right to protest can be included under that. The right to assembly, to freedom of speech are all RIGHTS that we can exercise freely, given that it doesn't cause a public harm. This is very basic here.

When has a protest ever affected the decisions of the U.S. government, within say, the last 100 years? It might work in Mexico but it works here about as well as in Beiging. You want to protest call your Congressman or Senator.

White people don't protest. They vote, but mass demonstrations change public policy and voting doesn't. Illegal aliens can get what they want from the media attention generated by their demonstrations, as did homosexuals, the 60s anti-war zealouts, and civil rights marchers. Years ago a software company here in the People's Republik of Kalifornia came out with a video game in which you had to zap a Mexican bandido before you could move to the next level. Eleven (11) protestors held placards and shouted "racism" in front of the company's building. The media descended like vultures. The company pulled its product from the shelf. Voting don't mean sh*t anymore. Even if it did, the majority is demonized as oppressive if their opinion flies in the face of the elite. People of minority opinion on the march. There's where the real power lies.

Petitioning your government is a fundamental right and obligation. To organize and protest the actions of your government against those laws which you find unjust or for those laws you find just are the springs from which our democracy thrives. The problem I find is that many exercising this right become blinded by the issue at hand and trash the process that offers them the freedom to do so- wishing to impose their view point by force over the objections of a democratic majority. Ironically this is the essence of tyranny to which they profess to adamantly oppose. Don't like the war in Iraq? Protest all you like! Petition your government and vote early and often. But to lament your democracy as tyrannical because you can't impose your viewpoint on the masses who elected the officials who went to war is foolish. Be pissed off but be thankful you have the right to protest- others in many parts of the world could only be so lucky.

Make time for this-it isn't "crap"-not when it's for something you truly believe in.If you felt that something was really wrong,and you did nothing,I'd have to call you a lazy,worthless COWARD."

Well, if you got something to protest, go for it. I don't have time for this crap.

As long as it's done peacefully and legally, it's the American way!

I think it is a right, but not so much a duty. If a person does not agree with an issue, and chooses not to protest, I think that is their right. I don't feel that it is a necessity to speak out in protest.

If you must, sure. . .but your real civic duty is to not break any laws or harm anyone during your protest to make your religion the law of the known universe or tell me how hard your people work despite being here illegally. . .