Monday, March 23, 2026

Something I support whole-heartedly

Whenever you see videos of “protestors” blocking traffic in order to vent their spleens about … whatever … the people trapped in their vehicles are being coerced into listening; when you see videos of “protestors” getting their stupid on in restaurants with loud-speakers and airhorns, those patrons are being constrained to listen.

Usually followed by public officials snivelling, “They have a First Amendment right to protest.”

Be that so, no private citizen has the “right” to force another into … anything. I don’t care how “righteous” or “just” your cause is, nowhere in your First Amendment right does it mention anything about obliging me to listen.

“… the right to be let alone – the most comprehensive of rights, and the right most valued by civilized men.”
~Justice Louis D. Brandeis, in his dissent to Olmstead v. United States

Blocking a throughway, causing traffic to back up, resulting in drivers being trapped in their vehicles and having to listen to your bushwa is a violation of the civil right of the drivers to be let the hell alone. And I tire of it.

Intruding into the private space of a restaurant to berate the patrons with bullhorns and shrieking, forcing the patrons to choose between the meal or leaving is a violation of the civil right of the patrons. And I tire of it.


I also support his deas on suitable punishments.

2 comments:

JNorth said...

There is no right to "protest". There are rights to free speech and to peacefully assemble, but that's not the same thing.

Jim M said...

This is why my truck has big brush guards. Unfortunately they are very sharp in spots.