Which is a better way to show patriotism: to participate in a protest, or to attend (or organize) a parade?
Share why if you wish.
Asking — and answering — life's interesting questions
Which is a better way to show patriotism: to participate in a protest, or to attend (or organize) a parade?
Share why if you wish.
This is a tough one. We celebrate events, like the Fourth of July, with parades every year.
On the other hand, the U.S. was literally founded on protest, protest against British rule. (BTW, I’ll never forget seeing a bumper sticker years ago on a truck in Concord, Massachusetts, that read ‘Real patriots don’t protest!’ In Concord of all places!)
I’m going with protest on this one. Although I do admit that sometimes protests can go too far and become violent, which is obviously bad.
There is a time for communal celebration, such as when you’ve played a role in and just achieved an advancement in civil rights, or when society needs to recognize and appreciate a population that often goes overlooked.
But I believe that the act of protest, the challenge to our nation to live up to its ideals, should be weighed as an act of patriotism right alongside celebration. America falls far short of its written aspirations. Millions go hungry or homeless. Millions more attend underfunded schools. Racism persists deeply within many of our institutions. Efforts toward diversity, equity, and inclusion are often dismissed as unimportant; in fact, leaders are currently erasing entire populations’ struggles from our history books.
The advancements we celebrate today only occurred because of the protests of previous generations. Join in and continue the fight to shape America into the country we want it to be.