Two years into the administration of President Donald Trump, I understand your frustration. I understand your need to protest, gather signatures, block the halls of power, and peacefully use any other means that are at your disposal. I share your anger and desire to do something/anything to make sure your voice is being heard. I salute your ability and celebrate your decision to rise up against anything that doesn’t sit right with you. In my eyes, you are true patriots.

There is a lot of talk about how divided we are as a country. We are a collection of 325+ million people and there is a multitude of ways to see the world. Yet, now is the time to speak. If you see the world differently, tell us. Don’t be silenced by the divisions; comfortable people don’t force change. Discomfort lurches toward action. Action shapes and reshapes our country; almost always for the better. So, protest. Protest with all that you have.

But some words of caution. Offer your dissent without disrespect. Be civil in your disobedience. Follow in the steps of men like Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Destroy a neighborhood and lose respect. No one should ever doubt why you were there. Anarchy cannot be in charge; your message should be the thing people leave with and not the frustration you allowed to get out of control and bleed into destruction.

Chaos doesn’t change the world, but neither does being passive bystanders. The struggle for any protestor is finding a balance between the two. I say these things as someone who has done more than preach. This president has forced me into the streets. He has me signing petitions, calling representatives, donating to causes I hold dear, and voting with a passion that I haven’t mustered since I proudly voted for President Obama in 2008. Still, I don’t want anyone to doubt my intentions. Some people may resort to violence and intimidation to get their way, but that doesn’t have to be us. In the words of Michelle Obama, “When they go low, we go high.”

Be good to each other,

-Nathan

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