[Discuss] Protests - what actually are they?

[Timothy Collett]

On Nov 24, 2006, at 5:58 PM, Thomas Dalton wrote:
> There is disagreement IG at the moment over whether it's appropriate
> to use to protest option as a first step in complaining about
> something, or if it should be a last resort.

I would say that no matter *what* it should be interpreted as,  
protests should not, in polite and civil society, be the first step.

*Unless* what's being protested is a very extraordinary and sudden  
action (eg, stripping a noble), the first step should **always** be  
bringing your grievance politely to the person you feel has wronged  
you and trying to get recompense that way.

I have always been irritated at people who, when they see a problem,  
*say nothing* for ages, and then, when nothing is resolved  
(naturally), they suddenly burst out with protests or lurid  
accusations, without having taken any of the reasonable steps to  
rectify the problem ahead of time.

Timothy Collett
Anaris Family

--

No woman can call herself free until she can choose consciously  
whether she will or will not be a mother.
-- Margaret H. Sanger