Protesters

[Simba T Lion]

What are your views on them? Not necessarly the ones that appear for new and breaking and major events, but the ones that are constantly around, protesting for what they believe is right. Such as protests against veal and fur by P.E.T.A or other like groups, or abortion clinics, or even that guy that protested at Mr. Rogers funeral.

I personally see no problem in the thought of it, and doing something in an attempt to get your view across, but sometimes a protesters actions affect individual people involved with the cause they are against. When a single person is picked out and abused in any way because they are somehow related to the cause, then I think that it has gone too far.

[Namaste]

I have a lot of respect for them, basically because they're out there sticking up for what they believe instead of whinging about it down their local pub like a lot of people do. And people who take the piss... well let them, it takes a lot of guts to go out and support something like that.

However, it kinda gets uncool when the people are up their own arse like a few on the anti-war protest last year. If you weren't a socialist you were a facist according to them. Oh and when people start planting bombs in protest... sure you have something to say, but why hurt people by saying it?

[piccolo]

Protests are fine... as long as I agree with the protestors! ;)

OK, seriously, I agree with MoonRat, and I admire people for standing up for what they believe. In the times I've spent in Spain it seems that they're far more up for getting off the barstools and marching down the street when they want something done, and it's that kinda behaviour that keeps people interested in politics and stops the sort of apathy we see in the States (and, to a lesser extent, here).

Political activism is good - stand up for your beliefs.

Picc.
xxx

An afterthought: That said, I do think you have to be careful not to be hateful towards others, i.e. calling people fascists because they support the war on Iraq, or "God Hates Fags", but that is only my opinion.

[Toadborg]

I have respect for people willinjg to fight for what they believe, to make the world better, but less repect for those that protest for largely selfish reasons.

With regards to targetting individuals, it may seem wrong if this is a powerless person involved with the subject of the protest but i would find it difficult to fault if it was a powerful person who could be said to be responsible for the decisions being made........