The American Spectator

Reader Mail

(Page 3 of 15)

/p>

Thanks for an enlightening article. I had never credited the rabble I see on the local evening news as being fueled by anything as brain-straining as resentment. I call them Rebels Without a Pause, moving from one gathering of "bought and paid for" rage to another. Just look at them. You know they did not get there by shelling out their own money for bus, train or plane fare. They are Rent-a-Mobs, pure and simple. We have ads in our local throwaway papers offering "employment" to protesters. You don't have to have an emotional or political or ideological investment. All you need is nothing better to do. They attend protest rallies like they used to go to open air rock concerts.

As for the rest of us, the Silent Majority -- that is a misnomer. We are the Busy Majority. We work. We tend to our families, our communities, and most of all we mind our own business, not foisting our personal beliefs on others. That would be the silent part. Some call it apathy. I call it keeping our priorities straight. However strongly we might feel about backing the war in Iraq or George Bush or anti-abortion, how many of us would or could take time off from work, fly to D.C., and risk getting who-knows-what thrown at us by anti-war scum, just for believing we are entitled to voice our opinions, too? They are anti-war conducted by our military but enthusiastically endorse it in the streets, with rocks, bottles, feces -- all in the name of peaceful protest.

p>When you reflect on it, what difference has any over-estimated (in numbers as well as importance) march ever made -- except to the beleaguered sanitation crews in over-time after the brawl is over? Who gives a soft yawn? Who is persuaded or converted? I'm not. br> -- Diane Smith br> South San Francisco, California /p> p> Mr. Judge takes a far more intellectual route to explaining the behavior of those engaged in "protest culture." My simple theory has always been that they are products of a childhood trauma known as not having been picked for the dodge ball team. You see manifestations of this not only in those that bang pots and sloganeer such famous hits as, "Bush lied, people died" or "hey, hey, ho, ho, Western civ has got to go." The yelling, screaming and tantrum throwing seem to be a cry for attention and an uncomfortable demand for affirmation. I have also noticed that these people often end up as the head of the condominium association. You know the type -- they are always first to turn up at your door when your Christmas decorations are violating the condo code. Now it would not be fair to tar all those who suffered the post-traumatic stress of group non-selection rejection syndrome. Some come through it quite well -- it's called getting over yourself. br> -- Ron Pettengill br> London, United Kingdom /p> p> TAKE THIS

topics:
Education, Trade, Business, Islam, Abortion, Constitution, Law, Supreme Court, Military, Iraq, Iran, Russia, Israel, Africa, North Korea, Nuclear Weapons, Energy, Oil, Unions