Why don't we use our right to protest?

Question

Immigration is a hot topic. Most of us agree that illegal immigrants should be deported and that the amnesty bill is not in our best interests at all. I've not seen one person totally disagree (other than a few democrats, Bush, and McCain).

Of course, this being a republic and not a democracy, we have no votes, no say on specific bills. Some of these bills affect us directly, the everyday hard-working people, rather than the officials making these decisions for us.

In fact, I think it's one of very few subjects both parties can agree on - that we don't want amnesty. We don't even want the illegals we already have. We need to band together now, more than ever, to say not no, but hell no to amnesty. Why have I not seen anyone taking this to the streets of Washington? In the distant past we've seen people protest many things, and brought about change.

Why have Americans become so complacent?

Answer 1

June 14-16 the demonstration in the capital will be on! Watch your television and maybe you'd want to attend. May the voice of the people be heard and acted upon!

Answer 2

We need to go about it in a more productive fashion. Consider, for example, the time you will lose from work if you go out and protest; very likely you won't be paid for it, and it will be in essence a waste of time. You have to know that the politicians won't listen to a crowd if those people don't agree with the politician; at any rate, how does he even know those are his constituents out there protesting, or that they constitute a majority of said? On top of that, large crowds have a nasty habit of declining into a mob at some point; I don't think that would much help our side. And even if they do listen to the protestors, what guarantee do we have that the change will be any more than a paint job? In other words, they may just change the wording or the presentation of the bill so that it appears better, but so that they can still use it to bring about what they want.

Instead of protesting, which I've always viewed as somewhat immature, encourage as many people as you can to write to their representatives. Just like in "Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone," they won't be able to ignore an influx of thousands of letters. One of them will eventually get through, which opens the door to a whole realm of possibilities.

Answer 3

We've become this giant Silent Majority. We keep giving Uncle Sam an inch every time,and now we've given him so much that we don't even see where it all began. This Patriot Act is a bunch of B.S.. As for that Amnesty Bill,let me see some gringo American bend over in the hot blazing sun for eight to ten hours a day for $8.00 an hour.I keep hearing about the illegals from Mexico,but I haven't heard a peep out of anybody about those illegal Irish. In fact,a special panel was supposed to be formed to decide whether they stay or go back to Ireland.

Answer 4

You can assume that if politicians in Congress as well as the President are supporting these bills, that they are hearing from their constituents that it is something they want.

It's safe to say that if nobody you know agrees with what's going on in Congress, that your friends don't form a very good cross-section of the country. Be careful about generalizing too much from your small number of acquaintances.

May I suggest a different question? Ask "Why is amnesty for ilegal immigrants a good idea?" I think you may find the answers thought-provoking.

Answer 5

The only people i have noticed really protest are people completely and totally affected by a topic (for example the parents of a dead soldier). Where i come from (Northern New Jersey) I am hardly touched by ilegal immagrants. In fact, my dad owns his own landscaping business and benefits from them. Although I have not completely formulated my opinion on immagragation, I beleive we are not protesting because it isnt a very big deal to most us. As some studies have shown, only 25% of this country follow what is going on in the world at large, and that is enough proof to answer your question.

Answer 6

Because i'm not sure we know what we stand for as a whole. There is no common ground. The immigration issue just widens the gap between this group and that. I would first ask, what the heck it is that we stand for as a nation? Who are we as a people? I think we're lost right now, confused, distracted, fractured so before we can ever hope to respond to an issue like immigration or how can we even as a people respond to such an issue given the state we are in?

Answer 7

The 'right to protest' isn't actually that easy to use. A successful protest requires getting thousands, tens of thousands or more people together in one place at one time. That's a substantial logistical effort. It also requires that the media recognize your protest as newsworthy and report on it in a way that helps rather than damages your cause.

The special interest organizations that have the resources and know-how to stage protests are all pro-illegal. The media is pro-illegal, and would spin any such protest as racist or, at best, nativist and reactionary.

Answer 8

Before you protest, you'd better have a plan.

Explain to us all your plan to find, roundup and deport 12-13 million people. That is more than the total population of Colorade, Nevada and Arizona combined - more than the total population of the country of Denmark.

Then explain how you are going to get the government to enforce the laws already on the books - namely the laws against employers hiring illegals.

Once you tell us what your plan is, then we will discuss protesting in the streets.

Answer 9

Because police shoot rubber bullets, water hose, injury, basically abuse people who protest. I don't want to be thrown in jail for protesting but every time you protest it is a real possibility. It happened in Washington about a month or two ago but I didn't see it on the news you can find it on you tube though. It happens in LA a lot. Protests do happen but the news doesn't cover it as well as it should because they support a different agenda.

Answer 10

The best thing we can do is get on the phone, call your elected representatives, and voice your opinion. Then, if and when they don't vote like you want them too, Call and remind them that next election, Daffy Duck will get you vote faster than they will.

If half of someones constituents call, that will get their attention. Also, I believe in not doing business with companies, that hire illegals.