After re-reading my original post discussing my perception of a protest, I think my ideas were reinforced through the course but did change slightly. I wrote that I thought non-violent protests, created a more positive environment for change thus making them successful. I still agree with this. However, I now realize there are many non-violent forms of protests that can be unsuccessful. For example, the non-violent protests of Cindy Sheehan, which I would not consider a successful protest for various reasons. I guess I realize now more than ever, that simply because I protest is non-violent, that does not make it successful. Likewise simply because a protest may seem violent (example the Animal Liberation group), that does not completely invalidate it.
I also wrote that a successful protest will lead to change. Although I still believe this, I have expanded my view of what we should consider change. For example, I used to think that immediate social change would validate a protest. After, participating in a Take Back the Night march (to protest sexual assault and raise awareness of these crimes), I realized that maybe “successful” is simply relative. By just having my voice heard by a few bystanders on the forty acres, I felt as though I had accomplished something. Maybe I did, maybe I changed one person’s view of the prevalence of rape in our society, but maybe I didn’t. I won’t ever really know. All I really know is that I felt like I grew as a person form the experience and that I stood up for a cause I thought was worthy. So I guess after analyzing all these various forms of protests and protest groups, it’s hard for me to label one more successful than another, protests aren’t as simple as I thought. This is why I might view the protests of some groups we studied as unsuccessful or maybe even pointless, but in reality protests no matter how big or how small, represent an important part of what unites us as humans. That is the need to have our concerns and thoughts heard, and the desire to create change, for what we as individuals think is right. Protests seem to me to be some uniquely personal statement about a person, something I hadn't thought of before.
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2 comments:
I agree that non-violent protests can create a better environment for a change in our society. However, I don't think that they are successful. It really depends on how much people are involved in the protest. Some of the Civil Rights Movements were non-violent, and most were successful. Therefore, I guess some non-violent protests are successful and some are not. But then again, I think that goes the same for violent protests as well. War can be a successful protest. For instance, the American Revolution was a protest against the British, and it turned out successful. I think everything depends on the situation and the impact of the protest.
I think you make an interesting point when you say protest unites us. Although we think of differences and division when we hear of protest, we sometimes forget that at the same time we are bonding with people who share the same idea on a particular subject.
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