Letter: Protest an effective way to make your voice heard

Editor,

In Thursday's Daily Lobo, Shelly Sintas described protesting as "a lazy way to make your opinion known." She also claims that if you don't vote, your government won't listen to you.

But what if you felt as if your vote wasn't counted and you sat back silently? There were countless voting irregularities in 2004, notably right here in New Mexico, where nearly 20,000 ballots curiously didn't designate a presidential vote. The claim that most college students did not vote may be unwarranted.

While voting is, at the core, the anchor to determining leadership and regulation, there are a multitude of ways to voice your opinion and make a difference. Protesting is one of the most precious ways to open minds, stand up for something and affirm your beliefs. It shows strength in numbers and helps people find the courage to speak out.

Sintas says that "just a handful of people cannot change a world." But Margaret Mead said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

My dad joined others in protesting the Vietnam War on the UNM campus when he was a student. Some protest the war in Iraq in front of the Bookstore. I invite you to drive by the federal courthouse at noon on Thursdays to view a moving silent protest. Don't write off protesting - it is a beautiful and necessary right, in its purest form.

Drea Kendall

UNM staff