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| "Student Riots" (Paris, 1968) photo by Reg Lancaster |
According to Hemant, protests rarely win anything other than "firings and beatings" (132).
Do you agree with Hemant? Do you think our society glorifies protests? Or do you think our society looks down on protestors? Under what conditions are protests effective? What kind of person is likely to be a protestor? Do you consider yourself to be such a person?
Only answer these questions after you've read part three, chapter four and all the preceding chapters.
I feel society both glorifies and looks down on protesters at the same time. I think the glorification of protests is not necessarily a bad thing. The powerful idea that if enough people see a need for change, changing the world is possible is crucial for hope for our lives. A different question asked the difference between whining and advocating for change. Certain protests have blurred this line which is why looking down on protesters occurs. I feel for a protest to be effective in this day it must have one crucial element: media. The media might not change what is being asked, but it brings attention to the issue, which means it is effective. Although I would not have considered myself willing to protest, my classmates and I threatened to walk out of a class after a lawsuit against our school came to light. The media waited at our school doors for us to leave. We never walked out of class, but just the threat was enough to earn a segment on the news, attention from lawyers, and our town to look down on us for “whining.” I consider myself to be a person who stands up for what I truly believe is right, which is what I think a protester is.
ReplyDeleteRikki, I agree that society glorifies and looks down on protestors. People see protestors as disruptive and they can be misunderstood but on the other hand can be historical figures and cultural representation. The media is the number one hotspot for protestors to speak up and issues be resolved or shut down. I also consider myself to be someone who stands up for what I believe. I am not a crazy shy person and am not afraid of telling a person how I see the issue.
DeleteI feel like society glorifies protests. We see protests all of the time, at least I do, on the news. I don't see them as a bad thing, unless they turn violent. We see protests that turn violent or get out of hand sometimes, which is not what I would support. I do appreciate the fact that we have freedom of speech here in the U.S. and we are able to speak out on things that we feel passionate about. Protesting is effective if it is done peacefully and gains attraction. A very passionate person is likely to be a protestor. I am not against protesting and could see myself going to one if I felt the need to.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Randie. I think that for the most part, society supports protestors. Obviously, there are always going to be people on either side, but I think that often people can look past their beliefs and see WHY people are protesting and appreciate their passion for the cause. I also agree that a protest is beneficial and productive, as long as it's peaceful. The second a protest turns violent, no one cares about the cause anymore, just that the group turned violent. I would go to a protest also, as long as I felt it was safe and effective.
DeleteI believe that protests in a generalized sense lead to conflict; in that aspect, Hemant has a point. However, I believe that whether society looks down on or supports protests is dependent on the reasoning behind the protest. Protests are effective under the condition that they are well organized, executed properly, and have an adequate cause. I do not believe there is a “specific type” of protestor; everyone has the ability to protest under circumstances they find appropriate. Yes, I believe that, for the right reason, I or anyone else could be a protestor. (Not sure about hunger strikes I get hungry).
ReplyDeleteSadly, yes I do agree with Hemant. Although I do not fully think what he said is true, I believe that more times than not, protests lead to violence or conflict of some sort. I do think that our society gives protests the attention they seek because it is sort of difficult to ignore a protest. In order for a protest to be successful in my opinion, the protest and law enforcement must both be peaceful and nonviolent. Therefore there is enough exposure for the protesters as well as getting nobody hurt. The kind of person to likely be a protestor is someone who does not like their situation and thinks that it is unfair, as well as being brave enough to speak up about there situation. I do not consider myself to be the person that would protest, I sometimes have trouble speaking up on what I believe is right or moral.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with Hemant that protests only bring “firings and beatings”. Protests have brought about many laws and regulations that have changed the Unites States for the better, one example being the Civil Rights movement. But I do believe that our society looks down on protestors. I believe that protest acts of interrupting people’s daily lives such as sitting down and traffic and destructive acts such as destroying artworks are what have made modern-day views of protestors to be increasingly negative. In order for a protest to be effective, it needs to be peaceful, but bold. It needs to be fighting for the greater good, and it needs to show why it is for the greater good. Sadly, while I would someday like to be, I do not find myself to be the kind of person to be a protestor. To be a protestor is to be a bold, fierce, and outspoken person, and I do not exactly embody those traits.
ReplyDeleteI feel as if it is a mixture of both, that our society both glorifies and looks down upon protesters. When it comes to effectiveness, me personally I think that a protest does not have to be violent or end with "firings and beatings" in order to win or prove a point. Yes, having something like that happen does draw attention and publicity to the protest or the issue that is being protested, but a violent protest is ultimately looked down upon and even less effective. For example take Martin Luther King Jr, King gave his famous "I Have A Dream" speech at a rally known as the March on Washington which had involved 200,000 civil rights protesters who had peacefully marched on the nations capitol and gather in front of the Lincoln Memorial. Due to Kings peaceful demeanor, non violent protest, and effective speech and motives, the civil rights movement ultimately achieved victories with the passage of the Civil Rights Act in 1964 and the Voting Rights Act in 1965. When it comes to me being a protester, I do not find myself being the kind of person to partake in the act of protesting.
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