What is the point in holding up signs protesting things on a random street?

Question

I can understand going to the white house to protest, but there's a group of people who stand on a pretty standard street, with nothing particularly notable near-by, protesting the war in Iraq.

I'm trying to write a paper and I want to focus a little on this group, but I can't come up with any particular reason why they would be standing there. I mean, what's the point of having cars honk if they agree with you? Most people know there's a war in Iraq going on, it's not like the government is trying to hide it or anything.

What are some of your opinions on this? I'd love to hear anything you have to say (not about the war in Iraq, but generally protesting with signs).

Answer 1

It is left over from the 1960's, where people think they should protest anything they don't like.

Answer 2

If nothing else, it gets people talking.  A lot of times, the point is just to demonstrate to everyone that there are a lot of people who feel this way.  I'm not sure what the point of the honking is, to be honest.  I think it's a traffic hazard.

As much as I normally don't care for people standing around holding signs when they could actually be doing something, it does typically get people arguing.  And that's when stuff gets done.

Answer 3

You should talk to those people, I'm sure they are highly opinionated and motivated.  And, they are exercising their Constitutional right of free speech, which with Bush & Co in the Whitehouse isn't acceptable like it use to be.

Answer 4

It makes the protester feel like he/she is doing something.  It gets publicity through the media, and that is what affects the "thinking" of most people.  It appeals to emotions rather than logic.

Answer 5

As long as they have a right to do it, who cares?  Celebrate the right to protest anything...or you will be next!

Answer 6

Off course people should protest things they don't like: where ever,whenever.

If they don't, nothing changes and apathy breeds contempt for the institutions of our society.