Decorum in Dissent: A Lesson from the Past

Dear friends, today I wish to share a story from my youth, a tale that taught me the value of decorum even in the midst of dissent. It was a time of upheaval, a time when voices were raised in protest, and I was one of those voices. But it was also a time when I learned that how we express our dissent matters as much as the dissent itself.

The Protest

It was the summer of ’68. The air was thick with the scent of change, and the streets were filled with the sound of dissent. I was a young man then, full of fire and idealism. I joined a protest march, my heart pounding with the thrill of standing up for what I believed in.

But as the day wore on, I noticed a shift in the atmosphere. The peaceful protest began to take a turn towards aggression. Voices raised in passionate debate became voices raised in anger. The decorum that had marked the early hours of the protest was slipping away.

The Lesson

It was then that an elderly woman, a veteran of many such protests, took me aside. She looked me in the eye and said, “Young man, remember this: Decorum is not a sign of weakness, but a mark of strength. It is easy to let anger guide your actions, but it takes true strength to maintain your composure in the face of opposition.”

Her words struck a chord within me. I realized that in allowing my passion to turn into anger, I was not helping my cause, but hurting it. From that day forward, I made a conscious effort to maintain decorum, even when I felt my blood boil.

Decorum in Today’s World

Decades have passed since that summer day, but the lesson I learned remains as relevant as ever. In our current climate of division and disagreement, it is all too easy to let our emotions get the better of us. But let us remember that decorum is not about suppressing our feelings, but about expressing them in a way that respects others and fosters dialogue.

So, my friends, as we raise our voices in protest, let us also raise our standards of decorum. Let us remember that it is not just what we say, but how we say it, that truly makes a difference.

Until next time, remember to stand strong, speak your truth, but always with decorum.

Kev