A common wish of freedom and independence from Great Britain united colonists to fight for change in the American Revolution, just like hundreds of Americans took to the streets in protest of the Verdict of the Ferguson case, Thanksgiving week.
—Kelsey Tostenson
—Kelsey Tostenson
he United States of America started as just a jumble of thirteen colonies struggling to find their place in the world. A common wish of freedom and independence from Great Britain
united the colonists to fight for change in the American Revolution, just like the hundreds of Americans that took to the streets in protest of the verdict of a Ferguson case Thanksgiving week. America’s founding fathers wanted American citizen’s to have the right to assemble, as protests and boycotts were common occurrences leading up to the revolution and were powerful tools for gaining support, however some of the protesters that took to the street nationwide in November, made more of an impression with violence than with their words.
Police brutality is an issue being discussed more and more in the media. An emerging
desire for change has spread across America like wildfire. Protesters in Ferguson were completely within their first amendment right, freedom of speech, but just like a fire their high spirits got a little out of control as millions of Americans watched protesters burn cars, loot businesses, and act out violently. Even with good intentions this left a sour taste in many Americans mouths. Of course not all protesters were violent, but in every large group there is always a few sour apples, and they are the ones that people take note of.
In the Boston Tea Party, colonists boarded ships in the Boston harbor and threw barrels of tea overboard. They were boldly protesting a British tax on tea, but ultimately there could have been better means of conveying their point. This can be compared to the Ferguson riots, no matter how much someone disagrees with someone, it does not justify violence, it ultimately only ends up making that person bad. Furthermore these acts of defiance were ultimately hurting small business owners and in the case of the Boston Tea Party, the fish.
Throughout history there are so many examples of revolutions, violent and nonviolent. People tend to resort to violence and force, when they are most desperate, because it’s easier to force change rather than to inspire it. However, change takes time and nonviolent changes can sometimes be the most effective. Gandhi paved the way for people searching change in a nonviolent manner during the time of imperialism. He did hunger strikes and lectures, and when opposing forces made violent attempts to stop the protests it simply made them look bad, further promoting Gandhi’s message.
There are many parallels that can be drawn between current events and the days prefacing the American Revolution, but ultimately it is people’s right to protest. Just be mindful of the consequences whether they are positive or negative.
united the colonists to fight for change in the American Revolution, just like the hundreds of Americans that took to the streets in protest of the verdict of a Ferguson case Thanksgiving week. America’s founding fathers wanted American citizen’s to have the right to assemble, as protests and boycotts were common occurrences leading up to the revolution and were powerful tools for gaining support, however some of the protesters that took to the street nationwide in November, made more of an impression with violence than with their words.
Police brutality is an issue being discussed more and more in the media. An emerging
desire for change has spread across America like wildfire. Protesters in Ferguson were completely within their first amendment right, freedom of speech, but just like a fire their high spirits got a little out of control as millions of Americans watched protesters burn cars, loot businesses, and act out violently. Even with good intentions this left a sour taste in many Americans mouths. Of course not all protesters were violent, but in every large group there is always a few sour apples, and they are the ones that people take note of.
In the Boston Tea Party, colonists boarded ships in the Boston harbor and threw barrels of tea overboard. They were boldly protesting a British tax on tea, but ultimately there could have been better means of conveying their point. This can be compared to the Ferguson riots, no matter how much someone disagrees with someone, it does not justify violence, it ultimately only ends up making that person bad. Furthermore these acts of defiance were ultimately hurting small business owners and in the case of the Boston Tea Party, the fish.
Throughout history there are so many examples of revolutions, violent and nonviolent. People tend to resort to violence and force, when they are most desperate, because it’s easier to force change rather than to inspire it. However, change takes time and nonviolent changes can sometimes be the most effective. Gandhi paved the way for people searching change in a nonviolent manner during the time of imperialism. He did hunger strikes and lectures, and when opposing forces made violent attempts to stop the protests it simply made them look bad, further promoting Gandhi’s message.
There are many parallels that can be drawn between current events and the days prefacing the American Revolution, but ultimately it is people’s right to protest. Just be mindful of the consequences whether they are positive or negative.