Last week I attended a rally, a protest of sorts, that came up suddenly in response to the firing of Jeff Sessions as Attorney General and the appointment of a replacement out of the defined order of succession. This is not something I regularly do. I had expressed concerns in emails to my elected officials but given their tepid responses, I decided it was time to do more than write my Congressman and Senator. Clearly, they are not listening to my singular voice. When my wife and daughter decided it was time to protest, I agreed, and together we went in search of the rally.

The gathering took place in the parking lot of an office building that contained my Congressman’s office. I was surprised at the number of people there and was further amazed at the number of senior citizens like me. Perhaps the shared memory of the abuse of power during the Nixon administration was a driving force for many of us. Yet, I was equally pleased to see the number of energetic younger people who, absent the Nixon experience, felt compelled by present circumstances to engage civically.

The gathering was peaceful and energetic. Young and old, we enjoyed each other’s company and carried placards urging, among other things, that the Mueller investigation be protected and allowed to run unhindered to completion. Several speakers addressed the group – all focused on a peaceful protest. The rise in hate crimes and incivility was noted, and one theme above all was emphasized; that the rule of law should be followed. As I stood there with my wife and daughter, I was pleased that this protest had no comparison with those of the ‘60s – after all we were arguing for the rule of law not against it.

We spent some time alongside a curb that lined a nearby highway, placards raised, cheering when a car drove by and honked in support. My wife pointed out to me that there was one woman in a car driving by who shouted to the crowd, “You should be ashamed of yourselves.” This heckling hadn’t registered with me, but after my wife and daughter both recounted it to me, it caused me to ask myself, why would any of this be shameful and how could someone driving past in a car have knowledge of the character of any of these people who were gathered in peaceful protest?

As I later mulled this experience over, I reached for my dictionary and learned that Webster defines “ashamed” as:

“feeling shame: distressed or embarrassed by feelings of guilt, foolishness or disgrace.”

I admit that there are many things I could have done better in my life, but gathering in peaceful protest and listening to neighbors and fellow citizens speak for the rule of law and the rights we all share is not one of them.

So, after giving this some thought, I’ve concluded that an invective shouted from a passing car merits all the consideration that the heckler gave to others. “Shame” is a personal judgment arrived at following reflection. There is none here.

 

Kevin Deeny