I'm sure many of you have been watching the news (where it can be found) about Standing Rock. I have been watching daily, have made donations, shared any news that seemed critical to share. In one of my posts, I said I was "appalled at the way the protestors are being treated, and in awe of their courage and determination."
Someone pointed out that they are not "protesters," they are "Water Protectors." The choice of words makes a big difference. Caught up in a FB scrabble of opinions, some were complaining that the protesters were disruptive, a nuisance, that they don't have the right to gather on private property. After unwrinkling your forehead, consider this: What if they had used the word "protectors" instead? Does it make sense to describe protectors as a nuisance, or disruptive - that they have no right to protect? Different words create different points of view. We should all be Water Protectors.
And People Protectors. Right now, some 2,000 vets are convening to shield the protectors from what looks darkly like a militia at war.
Resources for Water and People Protectors: https://medium.com/@patti.mulligan/5-ways-to-be-a-silent-trump-protestor-71a549113119#.htl6g9q17
Someone pointed out that they are not "protesters," they are "Water Protectors." The choice of words makes a big difference. Caught up in a FB scrabble of opinions, some were complaining that the protesters were disruptive, a nuisance, that they don't have the right to gather on private property. After unwrinkling your forehead, consider this: What if they had used the word "protectors" instead? Does it make sense to describe protectors as a nuisance, or disruptive - that they have no right to protect? Different words create different points of view. We should all be Water Protectors.
And People Protectors. Right now, some 2,000 vets are convening to shield the protectors from what looks darkly like a militia at war.
Resources for Water and People Protectors: https://medium.com/@patti.mulligan/5-ways-to-be-a-silent-trump-protestor-71a549113119#.htl6g9q17
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