I believe...

I believe in love and hate and that a life of indifference has no passion. I believe in hard work but not to a point where you miss out on really living. I believe in being educated but believe that our education system has many faults. I believe that everyone should learn a second language and travel the world. I believe in warm sunny days. I believe that being on the lake or in the ocean is relaxing, peaceful and rejuvenating. I love the water and believe that wakeboarding and snowboarding are the greatest sports on earth. I believe everyone should find a hobby that they love. I believe in being active and trying to live a healthy life style. I believe we should support our troops but don’t know if I still believe in the war. I believe that music and friends are good for the soul. I believe that falling in love is one of the best things anyone can experience. I believe materialism is way to often worshiped but can’t say I am completely innocent of the crime. I believe in God and that when it comes to religious views no one has the right to be judgmental of other beliefs. I believe rainy days are soothing and cleansing. I believe in forgiving and forgetting. I believe drama is overrated. I think everyone should find something they are passionate about and pursue it. I believe painting and singing are some of the most therapeutic things you can do. I believe that love makes the world go around and that mankind is instinctively good.

What is a Protest?

According to the dictionary a protest is “an expression or declaration of objection, disapproval, or dissent often in opposition to something a person is powerless to prevent or avoid.” Acknowledging this definition, a protest can happen anytime someone discontented with the circumstances around him or her takes the initiative to stand up for what they believe in, to try to make a difference. A protest can start with one person or can consist of thousands, generally the effectiveness comes with numbers but one person can make a difference. For example, the monk that lit himself on fire during the Vietnam War sacrificed his own life to gain attention to his protest. With the help of the mass media his actions were seen worldwide. Most people could not acquire the amount of attention that he did, but it is possible. However, I believe most effective protests have large numbers of supporters. A protest is only as effective as the attention it gains. Numbers seem to be more effective because they garner more attention and can physically have more power. For example, the writers strike in Hollywood would not be effective if just a couple of writers joined, but with mass numbers, they have put many shows at a standstill, caused many people to loose there jobs, caused networks to loose dedicated watchers, and have even postponed major awards shows. Numbers give a protest the means to gain public attention, which leads to attaining more power, which in turn helps generate results. Attention garnered and results are what make a protest successful.