Back in high school, I knew some students who lived to go to protests.
It didn’t really matter what the protests were for or against. They just liked the idea of protesting.
After all, when you’re yelling, “Hey hey! Ho ho! (Something, something)’s got to go!” or “What do we want? (Something!) When do we want it? Now!” does it really matter what the something is?
Last year my part of the country hosted the G8 Summit, the G20 Summit, a few Infiniti G25′s and probably a Gee Whiz Summit over in the corner for good measure.
There were a lot of protesters. And I bet a significant number of them couldn’t articulate what they were protesting, or offer any viable solutions.
They were just there for the party.
Which kind of ruins it for those who really know and are passionate about the issues.
So I had a bit of a chuckle when I saw the slogan on the above poster for Occupy Wall Street.
“What is our one demand?”
Dude, shouldn’t you figure that out before you protest?
Aah, maybe not…?
But as Christians we are told:
…And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way. Keep your conscience clear. Then if people speak against you, they will be ashamed when they see what a good life you live because you belong to Christ. – 1 Peter 3:15b-16
I think that gets the message across better anyway. Something we should all aim for.
But hey, while we’re here and talking about protests, let’s have some fun.
Here are some things I’d like to protest, if I had the time:
- single-ply toilet paper
- “fitted” sheets that are too small and peel away from the bed in the middle of the night
- polyester (Yeah, you can call yourself “microfiber” but we still know what you are.)
- the extra “U” in all those Canadian words like “neighbour” and “colour” (Yes, I’m Canadian, but I never use the extra U. Think of all the ink cartridges it saves! Plus it just plain looks wrong.)
- people who use their hand-held camcorder to record a video off their TV, then post it onto YouTube (Dude, a video with such poor quality should never be posted. Please save me the click and don’t.)
- all that extra hair that started growing from my ears when I turned 40 (What is with that, anyway?)
- the word “bling”
- that guy in the office who insists on retelling every sitcom that he watched last night, word for word
How about you – what would you like to protest, if you had the time?
Chris Gagner (4)
Liz McLennan (3)
David Rupert (1)
Juan Cruz Jr (1)
Kevin Martineau (1)
Mandie (1)
Rachel (1)
tinafreysd (1)
{ 43 comments… read them below or add one }
I have long protested antenna balls. It’s my own personal mission in life, and I think I’m making a difference!
Especially those yellow ones with the happy faces. Like this >>
Soldier on, Jeff!
*Hail to the V commericials
*driving 6 mph below the speed limit
*generic Q-tips
*Starbucks employees with superior attitudes
good lord, Larry, now i’m all worked up…
Oops, sorry Sharideth! Fortunately, I haven’t seen the commercials. Looking at those other three, I can see why you’re worked up!
Hahaha! Great Post!
I would protest:
the simpsons to end.
gieko commercials.
fast food prices going up….(really, you want me to pay only 4-5 bucks less than my meal at the Olive Garden!) It should be like 10-15 dollars less! lol….
Two words: gecko burgers.
Thanks, Arny!
let’s see.
getting weird, time-wasting electronic calls. phoning the telephone company, being kept on hold for 20min., all the while hoping I’ve pressed the right button that the electronic voice has told me to, then having the live person tell me that I should have called the police or dial *57. getting another weird, time-wasting call, dialing *57 to be told by another electronic voice that the weird call has been traced and if I want to pursue the matter, to call the police!
having the city where I pay my taxes faithfully or else!, tell me that they are no longer going to clear the snow that they have plowed into the end of my driveway out. and, tell me that they have made it illegal for me to shove said pile of snow back out into the street from whence it came!
I have to go calm down now. the anticipation of the aforementioned situation has caused some considerable agitation in my being.
Wow, I didn’t think this would get people so worked up.
No wonder those protesters seem so stressed.
Ok Bernadine, next post will be about things we’d like to celebrate!
I’m not sure what I would protest but I wholeheartedly agree with the first two on your list.
Amy Nabors recently posted..Voting for a Mormon
Yep, that was the voice of experience talking. Thanks for sharing, Amy!
This is so true and hilarious!! I would have to add menus with print so small even with 20-20 vision I am looking for an extra candle to read by!!!
Susie Lindau recently posted..Haunted at the Stanley Hotel
Maybe I’m getting old, but print just seems to be getting smaller and smaller. Hmm…maybe I’m just getting bigger!
Not being able to take a nap in the middle of the work day, my twins teething, sparkling vampires, and the word moist.
Rob Shepherd recently posted..Oh God
You too, Rob? What is it about that word, huh? I can’t even bring myself to say it.
Hope your twins are through their teething soon!
Haha, my friend who’s really easy-going about nearly everything in life gives me the evil eye if I ever say moist. It’s an interesting word for people to loathe.
Kim Wilson recently posted..What to Do When You Don’t Know What to Do
Sounds like possible fodder for another post!
You’re Canadian? Eh?
Well, at least you understand the importance of not using those unnecessary U’s!
I would protest, um, gosh, I can’t even think of anything! Can I come back to this?
Amy recently posted..The past is the past
Take your time, tee it up, and come on back whenever you’re ready, Amy!
I’m going with Malcolm in the Middle. I would protest it because my kids just discovered it on Netflix. “Can you repeat the question? Yes, no, maybe, you’re not the boss of me now…… ” BLAH.
And farting. UGH!
Amy recently posted..The past is the past
Ooh, another TV show I haven’t seen. Thanks for the warning!
I’m tracking with you on farting, Amy, but…what’s the alternative?
My family says if you don’t fart, you’ll explode. I would like them to prove it. :p
Amy recently posted..The past is the past
Most of the shows my kids watch. Terrible.
seekingpastor recently posted..What was THAT All About?
We need to get our own kids show, Matt.
I would like to protest self-checkout lines with folks who have no idea how to use them.
Also, I would like to protest people with mullets. Let it go dudes, let it go!
Moe recently posted..Battle of the Wills
Ever see someone with a mullet at a self-checkout? Hmm…
…I’m that guy in the office.
Does it make it better than I don’t recap it, but that I actually reenact it?
Jess recently posted..Shepherd’s Pie
Ok, re-enactments work for me. Good call, Jessica!
I want to protest anyone who is challenged when it comes to using technology in public. I am not talking about their cell phones, but about using bank machines. If it takes you more than 5 minutes to deposit or withdrawal money from your account, you really need to go inside and talk to a teller! Let the rest of us who have places to go and people to see get at our money and get on with our lives!
Then again, that is not a Christian response and I should be more patient. I know my kids will quickly remind me that I will be that person one day – REALLY SOON.
Just curious…did you get stuck behind someone at a bank machine this morning?
no, not this morning but recently yes.
And don’t get me started on people who can’t seem to remember how to drive in either heavy rain or snow!!
Great post Larry. My students have been asking me what I think about all this protest mumbo jumbo
Personally, I think they should put a ban on censorship. Kidding, kidding. I would like to protest fleas though on behalf of my dog.
Clay Morgan recently posted..10 Television Characters I’ve Wished I Could Be
Yep, time to disperse the sit-in those fleas are having!
I would protest people who play their music on the bus without using ear plugs. If I wanted to hear your type of music then I would be playing it myself!
I would protest people who have conversations on the bus and they talk to the person next to them as if they were across the room. I have no interest to hear your conversations!
I would protest people who cross the street with children and do not use the cross walks that are meer feet away (whether there is traffic or not)! I have no words for the emotions that I feel when I see that!
I have many things, but I will stop at this
While we’re talking about buses, I remember a lady sitting across from me on a bus many years ago who was clipping her nails and letting the shards fly everywhere. Something about buses. Maybe they should post some bus etiquette at the door.
Funny thing is, there is a bus rules thing posted. One of the things it says is no radios (which tells you how old the rules are). I would have thought that clipping your nails was a given, but I guess not. When I worked at a DRs office patients would clip their nails in our waiting room. SO GROSS!
I would have to protest the “mis-placement” of self-serving bumper stickers. Why is it that whenever I spot the “Coexist” sticker, it is on a car or mini-van of a driver that it causing extreme havoc on the other drivers of the road, mainly in the form of speeding, running stop signs or my favorite – riding on the exhaust fumes of my vehicle.
Now you may ask, “how do you know the car behind you, has a “Coexist” bumper sticker?” Well, after several days of feeling violated while driving through a school zone, I pulled over and then behind the speed demon, and then laughed hysterically! You see, the mini-van that is always running late, causing everyone else to feel in a hurry, screams out, “Coexist”!
Accepting the diversity in one another is extremely important ~ a key ingredient to this world of ours being a more peaceful place. Seems as though this car’s bumper sticker should have read: “If you can’t see the grill on my car, I’m running late!”
Carol Rives recently posted..Treasured Guidance
Maybe the sticker should be on his dashboard instead of his bumper!
Excellent point!!
Carol Rives recently posted..Treasured Guidance
Hmm, what would I protest?
The phrase ‘pin number.’
The phrase ‘bless us, O Lord FOR, these thy gifts.’ It makes no sense.
You don’t ask God to bless you FOR something else. You ask God to bless you AND something else, in this case, the gift of food.
It should go ‘bless us, O Lord AND these, thy gifts…”
Actually, I protest this one all the time. I have most of the grade seven and eight students in my school converted, now on to the rest of you!
I’ve only heard that once before, but it definitely made me say, “Huh?”
Glad you are on the case, Peter!
You made my day Peter. It has been a worth journey seeing your post today.
Jenny Sanders recently posted..How and where can You buy iPhone accessories?
Kids will always be kids that’s why parents needs to guide them. By the time they reach the age of 13-14, they’ll be more connected with their friends and environment.
Mike Stewart recently posted..Reason For Failure in Cake Making
This is very usefull post. Anyway, it was hard to find it – maybe consider doing some SEO for your blog?
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