Protests

“Not My President!” Hmmm. Let’s analyze that. Since Donald Trump has not yet been sworn into office, does that mean that these guys are anxiously anticipating the day when he is sworn in so that they can proudly announce, “My President?” (That reminds me of Hosea who named one of his kids, “Not My People.” Later on, the name was changed to “My People.” What a touching story. (Hosea 1:9, 10; 2:23)

Do our protesting friends mean that? Or something else? Well, a little analysis might turn up a little angst and anger. Are these guys proclaiming that when there is a President Trump in the United States that he will not be their President? Does that include a recision or denunciation of their citizenship? If so, this is pretty unusual.

Looking back a ways, I recall a certain LBJ who sparked wholesale protests. No citizenship renunciations that I recall. Then he was replaced by RM Nixon. Whew! The streets were crawling with protests. And stores were smashed and looted as well as cars. What a scene. No cancelled citizenships. Substitute Ford came along and all the protesters were either relieved or so worn out that they seemed to go into hibernation.

I do not recall any uproar over J. Carter. Everybody loved the bumbling peanut farmer from Georgia. They just did not want to elect him a second time. R. Reagan was loved by everyone who did not hate him. When the air traffic controllers announced that they did not want to work, President Ron graciously gave them time off. In fact their leave was indefinite. Whoa! The protest networks burst out of their caves.

First Bush had a pretty easy course, thanks to Saddam H. Bill Clinton “felt their pain” so not one protested that. The second Bush did not evoke too much negative emotion as the country was recovering from 911. I recall some initial complaints that the Supreme Court had “pronounced” him President, but what else could they do? He won the Florida vote in every way that it was counted, except the method he, himself initially proposed. SCOTUS used the rule of Law and then the several method of counting confirmed that they had not erred.

Seems like the protesters, looters, and crybabies are not as active during Democratic administrations as in the other one. There did seem to be some “One Percenters” objections, but again no revoking citizenship during the current administration. Most of the hoopla now is about a pipeline across the northern plains. The chances are good that it will not spread to the general population. We all burn gas and appreciate the lower costs compared with oil shortage days and $5 gas.

Now the protests have again begun all over the country. And groups of disillusioned and disappointed protesters have been marching all over. And have you seen the signs? “The Cubs are not MY World Series champion!”

Our protester friends are ignoring some basic facts. One, the protest must concern a specific incident that has precipitated a demonstrable harm. Second, the protest must encompass a specific, actionable remedy to the resultant condition. And finally, the specific action must not, itself, inflict a harmful result to innocent parties.

Our heritage in the South, of sit-ins fell within all of these constraints. The restaurant sit-ins were by specific individuals who had been denied service on account of skin color. The bus protests were initiated by a lady named Rosa who refused to yield her seat to a polite gentleman who demanded that she give him her seat. “There’s plenty in the back, Bub. Help yourself. I was here first.” Whatever happened to “ladies’ privilege?” But I digress.

At least our Cleveland protesters are not breaking rule number three. No one is hurt by their silly protests, unlike the seemingly orchestrated actions to protest the election results. They have not suffered any damage. Second, they have no remedy to propose other than to behave like spoiled children. And third, their escapades appear to be designed to inconvenience the maximum number of non-affected, and probably uninterested parties.

When I was a kid, we played all kinds of ball games. Every once in a while, the guy who owned the ball would be offended and behave like a spoiled rich kid. “I am taking my ball and going home.” The protesters are further handicapped by not owning the “ball.”

Our response to the ball-boy and to the protesters is pretty much, “So long. Good riddance. Don’t let the door hit you in the....” (Back) One proviso that was self-imposed was that he was no longer playing ball. The rest of us “made do” with whatever we had. But for him, the game was over.

Those who proclaim that “Trump is not my President,” have not thought through the ramifications of their declaration. Mr. Trump will become President, so if they are removing themselves from under that Constitutional overlay, they must repudiate their citizenship. Game over.

Consider the consequences of rash statements. That is a mark of maturity. Little kids can declare, “You are not my mommy.” But if pressed, they will repudiate that when Mommy walks away. They eventually learn to think before they speak.

When is the next protest? One about a hurricane or tornado? How about an earthquake?  Do black lives matter? The majority of aborted babies are black. And why not protest the murder of innocent, often black, teens in many, if not all, of our major cities? Don’t their lives matter? Protest away.

There is a demonstrable harm. There is a viable solution. There is no “collateral damage” to bystanders in protesting such matters.

Protest away. Make it count. Don’t be like a spoiled rich kid. There is one other option. Instead of protesting, pray. Prayer changes things.