Protests: No expiration date for idealism

Re: “Protesters learned from the best,” (TNT letter, 11/27).

To say that the protest movement of today was spawned by the anti-war movement of the 1960s is, I believe, a short-sighted view. This country has a rich history of protest movements including the civil rights protests, union and labor protests, women’s rights/suffrage movement, the abolitionist movement, all the way back to the anti-tax protests that led to the Boston Tea Party. Protests, rallies, speeches and marches are all legal ways to influence people and government.

The letter writer seems to convey that with maturity comes an inevitable loss of one’s ideals. That may be true for some. But as a member of that anti-Vietnam War protest era, I can attest that it’s not true for all.

If he thinks the presidency of Donald Trump is going to make people go silent and stop protesting, he is in for a surprise. And it won’t all be young students at these demonstrations. Many will be like me – older, gray haired, still having hope and still believing in our ideals.

I expect a very active four years ahead.

This story was originally published December 12, 2016 at 4:18 PM with the headline "Protests: No expiration date for idealism."