Rights Are Like Muscles: You've Got to Exercise Them

My daughter and I fly out late this afternoon to Washington DC. Another pair of friends is flying as I write. Let's hope their connecting flight to Houston Hobby goes okay...

That daughter has gotten a pretty hard time at school from the other kids about going to Washington DC:
"Protesting doesn't do anything."
"Bush doesn't care about the protest!"
"What in the world does protesting do??"

So she asked us what protesting will do, which caused me to ask myself precisely what it will do:
1. Protesting tells people here and there and all over that "By God there are a lot of people like me who have come to the conclusion that this is a fool's endeavor."
2. Protesting puts in front of the TV cameras the fact that there are significant numbers of people who not only believe this, but put themselves on the line so that others know.
3. Protesting makes this country live up to its Constitution. Its Bill of Rights allows that "Congress shall make no law...prohibiting...right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
But those are just empty words on a document unless people test them to make sure they still have that right. We're testing our Constitution in Washington DC this weekend.
4. Protesting challenges the media to actually cover the anti-war movement. The press found and/or created an interesting spokesperson in the form of Cindy Sheehan, so they finally gave the anti-war movement some attention. But their interest is fickle and dubious in nature. This protest in the nation's capitol will be hard to ignore.
5. Protesting energizes and causes those of the same inclinations to network and deepen ties and commitments beyond just one day. Hugs and tears and e-mails are exchanged, and all of those are the glue that will hold together a movement which can in time make a difference.
6. Protesting builds a patriotism within the movement. The idea that we can assemble to tell the President and our elected leaders en masse that what they're doing is wrong--and not go to prison for it--is what makes this country unlike so many in the world.
7. My daughter is going to get a great civics lesson even past the parameters of the protest: there's the Supreme Court building. What they do there is...
And I will take her to the Wall, which is one of the most brilliant monuments to one of the most foolish of this country's mistakes. We'll go to most of the other monuments as well, honoring examples of outstanding governance too.
8. Protesting emboldens each one of us personally to dare to think that we can, and maybe, oh dear God maybe, make a difference. Being passionate and angry and silent will do nothing. But coming together can possibly do something.

So I'm glad my daughter asked me why we were protesting. One of the great byproducts of being challenged on your beliefs is that you have to also ask yourself why--and then answer.
Tomorrow as we go to the nation's Mall to manifest the eight items noted above, we will have you folks in mind--the Kendall County Democrats who would like to be there but can't. We hope to represent you well.