Opinion: Why all the protest?

Editor’s note: This commentary is by Mary Daly, who lives in Peacham.

I am appalled at all the reasons folks find to protest about something. It seems to be the “thing to do.” Do we not have something better to do with our time? Where is all the anger and angst coming from? Can we be productive and not destructive with our time and energy?

So news casts had all the fresh news of what is terribly wrong with the world. Colin Kaepernick is upset with Nike because of a shoe decoration he doesn’t like. Mobs of protesters are showing their anger all over the country about what is happening at the border. Additionally, I have noted an increase in protests and hate issues recently. What is going on that is so bad?

Wikimedia Commons/Mike Morbeck

Colin Kaepernick, former quarterback for the San Francisco 49ers

Apparently Colin Kaepernick is sponsored by Nike for a large amount of money. None of the articles I looked up could be quite sure how much, but they all know it is a lot. So Nike decided to decorate a new sneaker with a Betsy Ross flag. Mr. Kaepernick protested because the flag was made during the time of slavery. Nike is losing more money by pulling all the shoes from the market. Oh, and Kaepernick no longer plays in the NFL.

So I looked up the biography of this terrible person, Betsy Ross. She was raised as a Quaker and continued that religion the rest of her life. Her first husband was an upholsterer and she continued in the business until the 1820s. They lived in New Jersey. It is not certain that Betsy Ross actually designed the flag but she did make flags as part of her business. So Mr. Kaepernick’s reaction is not appropriate in my mind. Could it be just another way to get in the news again?

So now the border issues protests. Have any of these hundreds of people who are protesting actually been to the border to actually see the conditions and what is really going on? Do they remember that these illegal aliens are breaking the law? I understand that the drug cartels are taking advantage of the situation to send huge amounts of lethal, illegal drugs to their markets which will undoubtedly kill many Americans. Do they believe that the children who are brought across the border by the drug dealers aren’t being pawns of these dealers?

What about the Immigration officials who are working under extreme conditions? I believe they are doing the best that they can in these horrid conditions. This is a horrendous situation and deserves our support, not our hate. If the protesters think that these officials are not doing enough, wouldn’t it be better if they decided to help not hinder the situation?

There are specific laws about people coming to the United States. You should not be able to walk or swim across the border and not be breaking the laws of this land. Are we sure we want waves of law breakers swarming into to our country and using our resources? Why are these people deciding to start walking across borders and arduous territory? Why are they assuming that it will be nirvana in America? What are they being told and by whom?

So, if the protesters are so upset that they have to do something about it, maybe they could be constructive not destructive. Maybe they could donate money to the cause to improve the conditions. Maybe they can even go to the border and get their hands dirty by physically helping for a change. I’m sure there is plenty of work for everyone to get their hands dirty.

The bottom line is that these thousands of people are breaking the law by coming here without following the legal procedures. The protesters need to understand that simple fact.

Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/Mike Morbeck

16 thoughts on “Opinion: Why all the protest?

  1. Yep Mary it boils down to the left that never grew up finding whining not
    working so they revert to stomping their feet and crying until they get their
    way. Krapernik is the last person in the world Nike should be holding up
    as a spokesman, using a overtly privileged mulatto from a well to do
    White family who can’t even hold down the second spot in his field reaks of
    hyperbole. He not only insults Betsy but all the men/women/children that
    contributed to the independence of the country he’s free to act like a azz hole
    in. Since I don’t beleve in protesting bull crap I’m just going to say Krapernik,
    Your brillow head big nose ugly head offends me. Lets get rid of that which won’t be missed by any..

  2. It’s in the handbook, say stuff to make people hate America, doesn’t have to be true, just needs headlines, eventually it sinks in for some people as true. Easier if they were not taught any American history.

  3. Protests? Because the silent majority tolerates this form of misbehavior. At some point they are going to rise up an shout “ENOUGH”!!!!!!!!!!! Until that happens, we’ve all got to sit back and ignore these idiots who don’t have a clue.

  4. Mary hits the nail on the head!!! I constantly see groups of protestors from my office window in Montpelier. Interestingly enough, they are the same people over and over. My first thought is “don’t they have jobs?” My second is “do they really think that yelling, screaming obscenities, blocking traffic and otherwise interrupting the lives of everyone else does any good?” Frankly, they look like a bunch of two year olds throwing tantrums. Grow up. Shut up. And, put up. If you aren’t part of the solution – and dressing up like a vagina or calling everyone who disagrees with you a racist/fascist/bigot/xenophobe etc., etc. is NOT a “solution” – you are the problem.

  5. “What is going on that is so bad?” Are you serious, lady?! Did you type this commentary from under the rock you’ve been living under?!

    • Biskit, You must be one of the out to lunch protesters with nothing to do with your time.

    • She’s part of this thing called reality. It’s found outside of ones phone,tv or Internet. She’s a crazy one all right, I bet she doesn’t believe everything they post on the Internet! Outlandish I say, probably into that old school thing called critical thinking too, how passé.

    • Biskit, I think vtdigger is more your style. Many of us born here and those who have lived many years in Vermont to enjoy our lifestyle despise what has become of this state due to carpetbaggers, freeloaders, agitators and protestors financed by out of state money and imported politicians. This is not the Vermont I grew up in. If you don’t like it here, you can always move back to Port Richey.

      • Dano: Are you implying that people are not allowed to have different opinions on this site? I believe you are intitled to share your opinions.

    • Hey Biskit, unemployment at all time low, more minority’s employed than ever, gas prices down, stock market up. Maybe stop watching wacko, far left, mainstream media

  6. Agreed, Mary. It appears to have also escaped Nike’s and Kaepernick’s bountiful pool of knowledge that
    Quakers were at the forefront of the Abolition Movement from the beginning.

    As Thomas Lifson and Senator Ted Cruz pointed out, Colin Kaepernick is a classic example of the adage, “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.”

    • Jack,

      I agree “A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.” especially when it comes to History
      if you listen to Liberals all of US history is bad………. Thin-skinned fools !!

      Just think if theses liberal Idiots were alive back in the day when we were fighting for
      our independence ………….. they’d be collateral damage !!

Comments are closed.