In this country, the right to peaceful protest is one of our core values. However, the definition of “peaceful” may need some scrutiny, as evidenced by last Wednesday’s immigration marches (hat tip: Instapundit).
Already in Tennessee, reaction to the wheelchair protest over TennCare policy has lawmakers ready to establish some rules of engagement: although protests are perfectly legal, blocking public streets and the entrances to/exits from public buildings is not.
Sen. Charlotte Burks’ comment got my attention:
“There was staff here that had children in day cares and couldn’t go get them, and I saw a couple of them crying, and this should help that,” Sen. Charlotte Burks, D-Monterey, a co-sponsor of the bill, said before casting her “yes” vote.
Regardless of how strongly you feel about an issue, keeping others from entering or leaving a place of public business is simply unacceptable. Protest, wave signs, grill steaks at the door (making the occupants hungry), whatever… but be polite.
I am sad that “peaceful” is not really what is being done. While I understand what the struggle is about, I think their approach is just misguided.
I sympathise with the point of your argument that a basic civility must be respected by a citizenry. Being a father, I am especially sympathetic to the parents who were delayed picking up their children.
It seems to me that we need to also scrutinize what it means to be a responsible citizen. I am tired of the entitlement attitude represented by some (Bullhorn Rachell) in the Tennessean article.
Citizenship implies a responsibility and accountability to our…neighbors. I loose patience with people who evidence a lack of that very basic care.
Thanks for the post.
Bosphorus