PROTECTOR NOT PROTESTER

We attended a peaceful protest yesterday…but that word protest…I must reject it… because, in our minds, we are not protesting our American Democracy… we are trying to protect it. Standing on the corner, holding our posters we wanted our message spread. Some people beeped their horns and waved as they drove by…or when the light was red. While other people driving by or stopped at the light vehemently protested…. They called us names, gave us the finger and yelled, “You should have your fat #@&$#’s arrested.” One group saw democracy in action…in the other anger was ignited… proving, if the election didn’t already, that our states are anything but united. That same evening we attended a concert…billed as a mystery concert meaning the performer was a surprise…… It turned out to be a band from Australia and Jamaica …their name is Natalie Rize. Their music was filled with messages of unity and hope and liberation…. They sang about how, on the school of Earth, we need to learn we are one love, one family…one human nation. They talked of accepting everyone for who they are and before the concert ended they sang how tomorrow will be a better day if we all used the word LOVE… as a verb…the way it was intended. I was moved by their music and thought back to standing on that street corner… as we were about to leave… and I thought it’s an easier message to sing about…than it will be to achieve But if something you cherish is not working…you don’t immediately throw it out the door you work to find a way to fix it…so it works better than before. And the only way to fix it…to protect our democracy… to ensure the rights of every human are not diminished or completely cease… as Natalie Rize might sing it…is piece…by piece…by peace. So the next time you see us standing on a street corner holding a poster… think of our mission…and please…don’t immediately reject it… remember we’re not protesting our American Democracy… we are trying to protect it.