Protests.

Ho just heard on the news about the American protests because of Trump becoming president...
Obviously I don't think it will change anything it what are your thoughts? Also, a friend of mine says Ww3 is round the corner.. What do you guys think?

I am not a believer but may God bless America

The pessimist in me says the protests won't change anything because protests don't mean anything in this country. People who protest against hate and cry for love and peace are not taken seriously. We're called libtards. Dirty hippies. Lazy. You name it. Libtards is the worst though. That one always stings.

To love others and want equality is considered a joke to most of the United States. Laughable. Naive. We've been discredited because we want people - all people - to be treated with respect and decency. Being politically correct is despicable now. Telling it "like it is" and insulting every non white person around without care is smart and attractive. That's modern America as I see it. That's being patriotic. Spreading hate.

I wish we could win back the word patriot. I think of myself a patriot because I believe in the ideals this country was built on: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door!" - Statue of Liberty

What happened to us?

Https://medium.com/@trentlapinski/dear-democrats-read-this-if-you-do-not-understand-why-trump-won-5a0cdb13c597#.ede8cjoj4

The protests are really frustrating me. What these kinds of protests do is only further the notion that "one side" is all of those things you listed, Jane. It goes both ways, and it's incredibly frustrating.

I understand acting out in anger. Often most feelings are acted out in anger (which is why I try so hard to focus on root causes and getting to the bottom of the "real" feeling). The "real" feeling in this case may very well be anger, but it's also from fear, hurt, disappointment, embarrassment, feeling like they are not valued (they in this case meaning protestors, and again, just ideas).

In Portland (Oregon) looting and destruction is starting to happen. This discredits the true protest and makes it all look ridiculous to the "whole" of the outsiders looking into it. I know now a lot of people are scared because of the protestors. Just being here at work for 45 minutes and I've had my seniors calling me asking if there are protests here (tiny, rural town, there isn't) and if we felt it was safe for them to come in. 80 year olds.

This just breaks my heart. People are hurting and this is a way to try and get people to listen but then it spurs into this because of the few "rotten apples" that loot and destroy.

At this point its safe to fear both sides... How dumb.

Maggie, I read the article and have read many like it trying to discredit the beliefs of someone like me. It's a condescending piece, especially when at least 1/3 of my FB friend's list is on Trump's side. Plenty of friends who label themselves as #bernieorbust too. I'm not in a bubble. I understand what happened with Bernie (Wikileaks isn't a secret), but I had to put on my big girl pants and get over the "pissed at Hillary" feeling because my friends were already being hurt by Trump's campaign. What would his presidency do? I pride myself on making opinions based on fact, not feeling. I still have no idea what to think of Trump because most everything in his campaign has changed at one time or another...except? His hate speech about Muslims, women, Mexicans, Blacks, etc.

Britt, you're not the type of person to call a liberal a libtard because you disagree with them. But I've been called it too many times to count. I overgeneralized in my last post and made it sound like only liberals are fighting for love and equality. That's not true. But most of those liberals out there protesting are angered that the hate allowed by Trump has been endorsed through his election. And it's not just liberals out there, it's anti-Trump people from all backgrounds protesting a campaign of hate that won. For the most part it has nothing to do with his policies because nobody knows for sure what his policies are or will be come January. But we know what he thinks of women and what they're worth because that's remained consistent. We know he thinks Mexicans are rapists and we need a wall. The wall has been his main platform. We know he thinks no Muslim should be trusted. We know he thinks Blacks are a problem and the police need to be more heavy handed, not less. We know he doesn't believe in global warming or climate change or protecting the environment. Policies aside, he thinks or at least has made us believe he thinks all of these things, and it's encouraged a lot of closet racists and sexists to come out, loud and proud and violent.
I've read his 100 day plan.
I fear Donald Trump drastically underestimates all of the red tape and obstacles involved with being president. But we'll see soon enough.

Back to the protests. I know. They are scary and those few bad apples make it so, which sucks. My only experience protesting was Occupy at UC Davis and I had zero fear then because literally no one I saw was being threatening or physical. And a bunch of my fellow students got sprayed by police right in the face while they were sitting down.

Brooke, we can remind people who are anti-Trump that letting Trump bring out the worst in us would mean he wins. Not just the presidency, but our hearts.

The worst is coming out on both sides and that's unacceptable. We can't let the hate campaign change any of us. We can reason and express every feeling without stooping to threats and insults. Leave the threats and insults to our president elect.

Guys, Google Portland, Oregon.

There are thousands rioting. A HUGE car lot was vandalized big time and now they're in the pearl district, which is the high end stores and upper class type place.. I don't know how to describe it. I don't make enough money to breathe their air ;)

I'm sick watching this. I've seen it on the news before but never here. What's confusing is Portland is the most liberal city in my state where it was one of three counties that voted blue.. the rest were red. Why hit this place if any at all? I have never really understood protests and I absolutely cannot wrap my head around riots like this. It took my neighbor 3 hours to get to the VA hospital (he had fractured ribs)nbecause they're walking and blocking off free ways. It should only take 40 mins to get there for reference.

Just babbling now. I don't get it.

None of that is okay. Protestors shouldn't be blocking traffic, especially ambulances. No violence is good violence. Protestors need a voice and a leader to follow. Someone who understands the importance and value of peaceful protesting and activism. Someone who can inspire liberals to take the core of their belief system -- that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect -- then transform it into a positive movement meant to unite everyone, not divide us further.

Who? Bernie? I don't think he wants that particular brand of responsibility.

This is sickening and saddening watching the protests and violence unravel.
I remember when there was riots, looting and violence in the UK and it was disgusting to watch. I cant remember now why it happened, I think it was because of racial crime committed on innocent minority race a who ended up dying, if I remember rightly though.

When I sit back and look at everything, every one's words, even mine, at the current chaos in USA (if I shall call it so) and the since forever-chaos around the world...I find one major sickening problem: The labeling.

Too much labeling, everyone has a tag, "white" "black" "brown" them with brown skin, we white skin, them white people, we with dark skin..bla bla bla it's just weird. Everyone is used to these labels as though it is normal; I don't get it. We will never be hatred-free if we don't get out of these labels' suits.

Hey guys, small interjection:

People are starting to wear safety pins on their clothing (just one) to signify solidarity, safety, and support of each other - it doesn't matter your political party, who you voted for, nothing. If you want to peacefully, subtly let others know you are not racist, sexist, homophobic, or similarly inclined, wear a safety pin. I am going to wear one on my shirt tomorrow and every day for awhile. The concept comes from the UK following Brexit. I hope it goes viral.

http://www.vox.com/presidential-election/2016/11/10/13586322/trump-brexit-safety-pin

<3

I saw that and i was going to do that glad someone else is. Okay i ha vent slept. What a roooough night ( nothing coming from the election ) I hope the riots will die down,, seriously

A woman died in the traffic on the freeway while she delivered her baby in the back seat. A close friend of my friend. She's Hispanic. Not that that should matter at all and typically I would absolutely never care or say a word about it, but she was in the minority they're rioting for. And today she is dead. A baby is without a mother starting day 1 of her life. A husband now has to raise his daughter without his wife.

When will people wake up and realize that the media and politicians goal is to divide us? I'm seeing memes posted from liberal pages that are the same freaking ones the conservatives were just posting about the other side making it an us vs them. We are all being played and a handful of people are playing right into the game. What makes me crazy is I can't go, I can't help, I can't do anything but watch a beautiful city get destroyed and my friends lose their loved ones. And all I can do is hold them while they cry.

This isn't about Trump anymore. If love trumps hate, and that's a slogan I see frequently on these protesters boards.. what the hell are they doing? They're everything they're fighting against!

Trump has already shown his hatred towards everything or everybody that is not american.Needless to say we are afraid of what lies ahead when he becomes president. I hope he can be fair but his words and attitudes are not reliable at least for us in South America.

Britt, I agree. Protest and dislike Trump all you like - peacefully. These people will use any excuse for a night out on the town trashing it and making peoples' lives miserable. They are everything they are supposed to be standing against; it's pathetic.

As i said, I currently fear both sides and honestly i feel so divided as a country. The Divided States, and it feels like i have no one in my fighting corner.

I pray that no more death happen, that we do become united. I just worry because Trump (at least to me) seems to have ran for the division, to make us argue... And it worked.

im not sure.

This rioting is not what needs to happen. *hugs* Everyone PLEASE stay safe.

So I'm doing the safety pin thing, and now going to post on Craigslist offering myself as an escort for anyone scared to leave their house to run errands.
Baby steps.

I don't condone violence in any form, but there should be a distinction made between anger toward bigoted and dangerous ideas and anger directed toward people for race, religion, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Let's encourage protestors to remember why they're angry and not cause more problems. Britt, I'm horrified by your story.

Btw, I just punched someone in the mouth for calling me that word 3 days ago, I thought I broke my damn hand, I told him not to say it, there's three words I don't tolerate, the "C" word, The "R" word and the "N" word.....people need to understand that you have to respect others regardless of your political or religious views. Like I'll call trump a maggot, but if someone says hey, I don't appreciate that word. then I have to respect their feelings. It's wrong to resort to violence, but it feels good from time to time. lol.....seriously, it should never come to that.

sadly Britt, that may be the only thing that brings this country together as crazy as that sounds, because nothing else seems to be working. You can't keep oppressing people ALL THE TIME and think that eventually they are going to keep turning the other cheek, because eventually they will rebel and come for you.

If Republicans did even a smidgen of this, we'd continue to be called racist bastards, zealots, hypocrites etc. But violence and destruction (of other liberals property..) is okay? No. I don't claim that.

It's dividing this country more. The people who agreed with the protests originally are now lumping the peaceful protesters in with the anarchists that did the damage. People do and think what the freaking media says. A bunch of garbage.

What's not being said here is the initial call to what is going on now, you never heard any of those supporting Hillary say they were going to protest the outcome, that language came from the trump supporters. Now you can say, well they didn't think they were going to lose or whatever, but the truth is, the alt-right, not necessarily republicans, because they basically just hijacked the party, they were the ones calling democrats, weak, and thought that it would be an easy task putting them in their place. Not an opinion, fact, all one has to do is replay some of the garbage that was uttered even before the results were in. While I don't condone the violence and utter stupidity of property destruction, I do condone the right to protest peacefully and respectfully, however that being said, don't gloat and talk shit to those who are angered by the outcome, because they will show you that they aren't weak or easily handled. It's good to see so many young people finally passionate about the political process, hopefully they'll stay that way and make it better for all concerned. In the end, the blame lies in two places, the hateful rhetoric that has inflamed these passions, and the stupidity of allowing ones self to be baited.

Bob - astutely put. I agree entirely, especially with your closing sentence.

Bob I definitely agree with you on most of your statements. The way I originally read your post was you were in support of the destruction to get a point across, and I apologize for my misunderstanding.

Stupid question: what is this alt-right I keep hearing everywhere? This just started popping up all over and I've no idea what it is lol

It depends who you ask, some believe it is extreme conservatism, while others link it to White nationalism and supremacy, Islamophobic, xenophobic and homophobic, a lot of phobics. But me personally I think it encompasses two groups that support each other and don't realize it, when they do, america will definitely be doomed. Those two groups are strong conservative white nationalists, and your extreme conservative self righteous christians, and many times they are one and the same.

Was it something like 49% of the American population didn't bother to vote. If people want to protest something, protest that...try and raise awareness of political apathy.

I respect everyone's right to protest pretty much anything, even if I don't personally agree with it but Trump won fair and square (as fair as any election is these days).

Maybe next time actually let Bernie Sanders run and you wouldn't be in such a pickle. Having said that, if Trump had lost you know the protests would be his supporters and it'd be 100 times worse.

I know a handful of people who didn't vote (the #bernieorbust crowd) or voted Green or Libertarian. All of these people (that I know) thought Clinton had it in the bag, so felt no need to vote for her. The 'why should I vote for "the lesser of two evils"' crowd played a huge part in the turnout and results. I'm stunned by how many people didn't vote. Stunned.
I know Trump supporters who are registered Democrats. For the life of me I can't figure out why these people voted for him. The whole "antiestablishment" idea must have some great appeal, although I still don't know what it means in this case beyond that Trump has zero political knowledge/background and zero years in public service. He's a selfish guy who's lived his life selfishly.
There's no way to know if Bernie would've won. My whole family voted for him. We believed in his message, but Clinton won and at first I felt she was the "lesser of two evils," but my mind changed. She was a great candidate. A person I would've been proud to call President.

Trump winning fair and square is not what people are protesting... People are protesting what they view as a threat to their human rights and the human rights of others. Also, how fair is fair and square when even Trump admits the electoral college is a disaster for democracy? Clinton won more votes. The way the electoral college is set up is someone's vote in Arizona, for instance, is worth more than someone's vote in California.

How thrilled were you guys about Brexit? No shock? No protests?

134 people were arrested in the Portland, OR protests.

109 of them did not even vote, though they were eligible.

I can't help it... that infuriates me. What's it called? Voter's remorse? Or non-voter's remorse in this case. Should've voted!

Although I guess one might argue that these protestors are protesting both Trump and Clinton because they wanted neither? I don't know. The only people I know personally who are protesting voted for Clinton (and they're protesting peacefully). My parents and several friends participated in the Hands Around Lake Merritt protest. It was really beautiful. Lake Merritt is a 5 minute walk from where I grew up. People linked their hands the 3.4 miles around the lake. Unity.

This isn't to anyone here because everyones been respectful, but:
Protesting isn't going to stop because people are called whiney. Tons of people are mocking and minimizing the protests, but these are not adults throwing an adult tantrum and derogatory or condescending comments will make them feel ashamed. They feel they're being verified: "If people don't understand why we're protesting, that's part of the problem." Throughout U.S. history, people have protested. Boston Tea Party, Civil Rights, Women's Suffrage, antiwar, Gay Rights, Labor Movement, Black Power, Occupy... The protests right now are anti-Trump, but I think many if not all protesters feel they are protesting something larger than Trump himself. Much larger than any one person. Hate. Inequality, discrimination, racism, sexism, homophobia, xenophobia... Hate. There have always been bad apples who use protesting to act out violently. Like any denomination, it's unfair to lump everyone in with the outliers. That's where I stand.

The biggest political protest has been going on in congress for 8 years and financed by the taxpayers. The 'i refuse to work with him" protest from the other side, they said it and they meant it, and yet nobody uttered nary a word when they did nothing for 8 straight years, now all of a sudden they have full power, they are going to save the world.....more like destroy it, to be honest I certainly hope trump has a good presidency, for my kids and children around the world, ALL, not just a select few. but you'll have to forgive me if I don't seem to be all that optimistic about it. "Drain the swamp" was a message, he not only is keeping the swamp, but adding some pond scum to it as well with his cabinet selections. Many of my associates didn't vote and actually cited "Gore", as "my vote didn't really count then, it won't count now. The electorial college is antiquated and needs abolished, it serves no purpose, let every personal vote be counted. It's going to be interesting.

The non voters I believe made it happen like with the UK coming out of EU

It's art time.