It is a rainy day here in New Jersey. As I flip through all the typical news channels on this beautiful Sunday, I find no hint of solutions-based dialogue. However, I did hear a few interesting points of view from both sides of the aisle. The one issue I seem to not be able to get off my mind, is what is taking place with the protests on college campuses across our country. Look, I get it, I was young and dumb once too; some may still argue the former - but it is a fundamental American right for students to protest and have their points of view voiced. It crosses the line when it transitions from verbal expression to physical expression. What started as a peaceful protest, of students learning to navigate through a messy world (that we handed to them) attracted and had a magnetic impact of pulling in more extreme opinions, that were ignited by the media and other internet platforms. We need education of issues at these college campuses, not dis-respect of our flag and institutions, or fellow citizens. Nor the media on the left and the right, adding gasoline to an already fuming fire.
It does not matter the opinion you have on the issue being protested above, if you do not respect the flag that gives you the right to protest to begin with. Having the right to protest should be a cherished value by Americans. We should use it to impact real change. We should NOT use it to dis-respect the institutions that protect this fundamental value and other fellow citizens.
We need leadership across private industry and public office to have a voice and speak out publicly, about everything they are thinking privately. Why have a voice if you don't use it?
-VC
Great points. It seems like we're more divided than ever and partly because of the news media / propoganda campaigns twisting the narrative. Lack of leadership at all levels is another piece of the puzzle. God bless