×

Protesting is a freedom, rioting a crime

Anna Marie Shomento, Minot

It is disheartening to me to know that the inauguration of the new President must be protected from violence by National Guardsmen and many law enforcement officers. This will be the second disruptive inauguration ceremony that I can recall in my lifetime.

How many of you remember President Trump’s inauguration day? In a recent op-ed article Adriana Cohen recalls CNN’s report of that day. “Six police officers were injured and 217 protesters arrested Friday after a morning of peaceful protests, and coordinated disruption of Donald Trump’s inauguration ceremony gave way to ugly street clashes in downtown Washington. Bursts of chaos erupted … protesters smashed storefronts and bus stops, hammered out the windows of a limousine and eventually launched rocks at a phalanx of police.” CNN added, “Anti-Trump protests also broke out Friday in U.S. cities, including New York, Seattle, Dallas, Chicago and Portland, Oregon.”

Protesting is a freedom; rioting is a crime. I truly believe that the majority of Americans do not condone violence whether it a riotous attack on the U.S. capitol building or riots causing burning and destruction in cities like Kenosha, Minneapolis, Portland, Seattle and Chicago. Those are the actions of a few extremists on both sides of the political spectrum. The crux of this violence is a “my – way – or – the – highway” frame of mind.

There is such a strong emphasis on diversity today, and yet, many people do not realize that “thought” is also a diversity. One of our greatest freedoms is freedom of speech and thought. Why are we so reluctant to allow different ideas to be heard? Why do so many American universities not permit their students to hear speakers with diverse ideas? Why did Amazon, Apple and Google unplug Parler, a site for discussions among conservatives? Listening to contradictory ideas does not require us to accept those ideas nor does it require us to act in a violent manner. “If you don’t believe what I believe, you’re my enemy” is a prevailing, but destructive, attitude!

I believe that our founding fathers, who fought diligently for our precious freedoms which are the envy of much of the world, would be ashamed of us for our careless treatment of the freedoms they held so dear!

Newsletter

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *
   

Starting at $4.62/week.

Subscribe Today