Protesters, politics, left and right: Let’s agree to disagree agreeably

“I’m mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore.”

Well, not me. At least not right now. That’s a quote from the film “Network.”

But that was the sentiment expressed by hundreds of people at TEA parties in Newnan and Peachtree City on Wednesday, April 15.

People were so incensed by what they considered to be unfair treatment and taxation from the government that they took to the streets and protested.

I’m sure it felt awesome. Being around like-minded people, fighting and hoping and praying for change. In a crowd like that, it almost seems like that which you are fighting for is tangible.

If more people would just come to your side and see and hear your passion, they too would be convinced and the goals you are speaking out for would be reached.

Yes, on Tax Day, the shoe was finally on the other foot. One question I’d like to ask the TEA partiers is how did it fit?

You see, most of the time there are protests it is for liberal causes.

In George W. Bush’s two terms as President, there were people out protesting the war in Iraq.

But those people were crazy, right? They were left-wing, pinko, peaceniks who didn’t know what was right for the country. They were unpatriotic and their actions were considered treasonous, at least by some.

Those crazy nuts.

What about the people that protest for gay rights, ending third world debt, civil rights, equal pay for women and other issues that have citizens on the march?

Yep, they are all loony tunes too, at least according to some.

Well, the people who protest for those things aren’t crazy, and neither are the people who attended the TEA parties.

I may not be stirred to protest for any of those causes, and I may disagree with some of the ideas behind them, but everybody has the right to their beliefs. That is ultimately what America is about.

What I truly hope is that the people who were moved to attend the TEA parties, assuming those were their first events of that kind, pause and reflect on what inflamed their passions to do so in the first place and consider what led to other people on other issues take up the fight for causes that they believe in.

You may not believe in gay rights, but lots of people do. If they are crazy, then TEA partier, so are you.

It takes a lot for someone to decide to make plans to attend a rally. In the middle of the day on a Wednesday, people had to take a longer lunch or call out sick to work, pull kids out of school or find a babysitter.

You don’t just willy-nilly decide to show up and protest on a whim and most people are all too willing to let something slide or let somebody else speak for them.

If you believe in something so much that you go out in public and make your voice heard for something that you believe in, you are becoming an active participant in this democracy.

All who do so should be applauded and, regardless of where you stand on the issues, you should afford their viewpoints the consideration and respect that you wanted for yours.

For all the people who protest and experience dissent and you leave it with the statement, “Perhaps we should agree to disagree,” please carry that frame of mind to other issues.

It will be a greater country if you do.

[Michael Boylan is sports and features editor for The Citizen.]

Protesters

Submitted by Davids mom on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 5:00am.

If you believe in something so much that you go out in public and make your voice heard for something that you believe in, you are becoming an active participant in this democracy. All who do so should be applauded and, regardless of where you stand on the issues, you should afford their viewpoints the consideration and respect that you wanted for yours.

For all the people who protest and experience dissent and you leave it with the statement, “Perhaps we should agree to disagree,” please carry that frame of mind to other issues.

It will be a greater country if you do.

Thanks Michael Boylan!

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Davids mom....

Submitted by meanoldconservatives on Mon, 06/01/2009 - 8:03am.

Wow, someone has a reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally short memory here. How many people were on here lampooning the tea partiers for protesting? Not just their desire to protest (even though now you applaud the rights of any group to protest), but when it was scheduled. Some laughed about the local ones occurring at noon on a workday. Seems like I even recall one particular blogger lampooning the timing of the big one down at the capitol. Something about "Excellent planning - direct traffic conflict with the Braves crowd. Good luck! Oh wait, that was you.....

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