Right to Protest

 Democracy has some inbuilt assumptions.

One of them is a right to peaceful protest. The prime example of non-violent protest would be Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela.

It really does not matter how serious the ruling party thinks the issue being raised is. If a number of people think it needs to be raised, it is serious for them. The rest of the citizens can decide for themselves and either support, oppose or be neutral to them.

But if you take away that right, it can have serious consequences, as history has often shown.

It is in the interest of the government in a democracy to heed such protests, and do something about them before they go out of hand. It's just a part of the democratic structure.

A Novel Protest

I protest. Against what, you may well ask. And you should. Because this is the mother of all protests. Like some war (I forget which, there are so many of them) was to be the mother of all wars. Who the father was, is an irrelevant aside.

The same problem as in wars is now pervading protests. Every other day, there is a new one. I get a headache just trying to remember who protested against what yesterday, and what they will protest about tomorrow. Sundry airline employees have regularly joined their grounded brethren (and sistren?) in protesting the non-payment of wages. Never imagined that flying high could come at such a 'high' price.

People are doing things like going for a swim in a novel protest form hitherto unexplored, simulating what will happen to them if a certain dam is built, extended etc. Bank employees think that all the cash that passes through their hands should belong to them, and therefore keep protesting. You name it, and there is a protest, either for or against something. If elections are around the corner, the issue gets even more vexing.

My protest is against all the protests. Just chill, drink beer so that the airline gets money to pay its pilots if you wish, but for God's sake, stop protesting!

Statutory Warning: Cartoonists beware. Protesting with a cartoon is no longer good for your health.
BTW, is it easier to think of a toon when you are in a 'car?'