Friday, March 11, 2016

Where I Will Stand



As the woman walked by me waving her Trump sign, she yelled, 

“Y’all are stupid! Go Trump!” 

I stepped forward with my hand extended and she noticeably flinched backwards as I did. I called to her, 

“I respect you. Don’t worry, I respect you. You are politically active and I think that is what is important. We are both just trying to be patriots by standing up for what we believe.” 

It was then that she hesitantly took my still-outstretched hand. 

“I believe I am a patriot.” She said, “I belong to the Daughters of the Revolution and my family goes way back.” 

I responded, “I think that is wonderful. We may not agree politically, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get along.” 

We talked and then this good woman thanked me, smiled, and waved as she walked away. 

When I had learned that Donald Trump was coming to my town of Fayetteville NC, I immediately began organizing a demonstration to voice my disagreement with him and his platform. I feel strongly that his policies are either without substance or would be harmful to our Nation. Ultimately, I feel that his character and language are not dignified, and someone so deliberately hateful and abrasive should not represent us all as President. I feel these things so strongly that I stepped out of my comfort zone to stand up for what I believed, publically. I chose to get involved. 

Through social media, I reached out to a few like-minded individuals and received a permit to protest through the County. I worked with the Sheriff’s Department and the Coliseum complex management to learn what they needed from me and my group. 

I set forward rules for our protest; 

Be Safe, Obey the Law, Be Respectful, No Weapons, No Vulgarity. 

Our group was small, but as the day for the protest grew close, several other groups asked to stand with us since I had obtained a permit. I agreed, inasmuch as they followed our guidelines. 


Yesterday, we stood by the parking lot entrance and held our hand written signs, waved, and smiled. Many people waved back, a few flipped us off or shouted rude things, to which we responded with peace signs, or yelling back, 

“But we love YOU!” 

My friend Blanca would always say, 

“Enjoy the rally! Have a nice night!” All in all, I felt very positive.

As the afternoon rolled on, more people joined us from the alternate groups. Some chanted, “White, black, red, brown…We don’t want Trump in our town.” And although chanting isn’t my favorite technique, I figured it was relatively benign.

Later, we moved closer to the Coliseum where there was foot traffic. I met others on both sides of the political spectrum. 

I want to mention my new friend Mr. Stinson, an avid Trump supporter. He is also a Vietnam Veteran and when I saw his hat and tell-tale leather vest, I had to talk to him. 

Never miss a chance to thank a Vet. 

At first, he wouldn’t shake my hand because I was a protester, but when I told him I just wanted to thank him for his service, he humbly smiled and told me that the real heroes were the ones who never came home. My husband and I talked with him for almost half an hour, hearing his stories of war and Southern politics. When he learned my husband was active duty military, he reached for his hand to thank him in return.

Police officers were all around, walking, chatting with each other, and observing. Like bored life guards, they were relaxed but keenly attentive, scanning both crowds. I thanked several of them for doing their difficult job. I asked a few if they were tired and if their feet hurt. They would laugh and confirm yes, to both. 

It had gotten dark and individuals who had gone inside the rally and had been kicked out by Trump were starting to join the line of protesters. The rally would be ending soon and I had small children waiting at home who needed to be put to bed on a school night. Most of my friends had either left, or were leaving with me. It was time to go. 

By the time I got home, things at the Coliseum had escalated. I walked into the house to see videos of lines of police officers separating angry, chanting protesters from screaming Trump supporters, inflamed from the rally. (Can I just say that our law enforcement don’t get paid enough?!) 

I was so disappointed. 

I believe in good, better and best methods. At first, these images made me reflect if protest was the best way to get my message across. I wondered if it only served to solidify the views of others by hardening their determination when faced with resistance, even when they are only lukewarm in their resolutions. Perhaps, I was wrong. Maybe yesterday, I was only working against myself.

On the other hand, I could see people soften and change when I talked to them. Actually, I think it was when I listened that they opened to me. It was their own voice that made them receptive, not mine. But my voice was there too! and I hope that my presence mattered and that it helped. I hope my actions last night honored my beliefs and my community.

I was there partially because I believe that Trump exemplifies intolerance and hate in his behavior. How could I protest that by using those same methods? I believe in being the change I want to see. I believe in diplomacy. 

But diplomacy broke down last night. 

Honestly, I can see fault on both sides, even the side that I am on. I can see that we need to choose not only a good way to protest, but the best way to protest. 

To be clear, I know that we cannot negotiate with much of the extreme radicalism coming from the Trump movement, and instead must stand, courageous and immovable, in the face of it. But we must never sacrifice our principles through any thoughtless instigation. 

I obviously believe that politics does not have to divide us, and to confront each other does not mean we have to contend with each other. It is important that people who believe in temperance and peace always show up. 

This is what I know: education, peaceful discourse, and compromise can be keys that unlock our political differences. If any of those are missing then progress cannot be made. I believe that protest has a place in that formula. I implore both sides to reach out… and choose what is best.



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