Honk For Peace
March 20th, 2007 Ryan Jones
The New Yorker posted a coversation between adults as imagined by children but even funnier was the bottom part titled How College Kids Imagine the United States Government.
It got me thinking about a protest group I saw yesterday. Somewhere on Woodward and 9mile was a group of people all holding signs that said stuff like “Honk for peace” or “Honk to impeach Bush.”
While I like that they’re trying to encourage peace (to avoid a political debate, we’ll avoid my feelings on impeaching Bush), I had to question what good they were doing by standing there with their signs.
If you want peace, do something about it. You’re on the right track, but making me honk my horn isn’t going to make any difference in the world whatsoever. Most Americans already want peace – why wouldn’t they? The problem is, what can we do about it?
If you want to make a difference in the world don’t just stand on a street corner, do something about it. Go down to your local soup kitchen and volunteer, get involved with habitat for humanity or UNICEF.
Plant a tree, feed a homeless person, donate money, mentor a child, coach a team, help out at your church, launch a free web service, or if you want to voice your opinion write an editorial for your local newspaper.
I appreciate where you’re coming from, you have the right mindest – but I think you can better apply yourself to reach your goal.
There are plenty of ways to get involved and actually make a difference in this world; standing on the corner and asking me to honk my horn isn’t one of them.
Entry Filed under: Main
3 Comments
1. renee | March 21st, 2007 at 10:40 pm
the protesters at 9 and woodward (ferndale) have been there since the war started. they’re out every monday at rush hour, rain or shine. huge controversial issue with the honking, one protester was arrested last summer for that. anyway. just thought i’d share. oh yeah. and half of them are from a veteran’s group.
2. Disco/Kung Fu | March 22nd, 2007 at 6:56 pm
Yes but by them holding those signs they put the idea of peace into the head of every passing motorist. Every motorist might think ‘what can I do about peace’, sure, most will dismiss it, but the protestors are raising awareness. Raising awareness is an important thing, people who actually do things like mentor children and donate money are a very small minority, by bringing the issue to a larger audience, they ARE doing an important task.
Also, nerds will write about them on their blog, so people from as far away from Australia are forced to consider the prospect of actively participating in the movement for peace throughout the world.
I think I’m gonna get another beer,
Disco/Kung Fu
PS. Hope you’re well HG 🙂
3. Ryan | March 22nd, 2007 at 8:34 pm
Holy Shit Stu… you’re alive!!!
How ya been man?
Hit me up on AIM sometime (thehockeygod)
Haven’t heard from you in forever… glad to see you’re ok.