The First Amendment is a privilege. It gives us an opportunity to speak what we believe with a hope for change or at least an understanding. However, it becomes difficult to speak when you get an unwanted fist in the mouth or a sign pushing you away. Ironically, the more violent opposers do have important points to share, but it is hard to hear their story over the fighting and brutality. In light of the current election, violent protests and riots have been a popular topic, but events like these are not unusual. Eons ago, human beings would solve difference of opinion through bloodshed. Society has taken a more modern way of problem solving, but many times the result is the same. Public awareness is shared in many different ways; social media, advertisements, rallies, sit ins, protests, riots and even public shootings or terrorist attacks. The question is, do these help your cause and truly influence the nation or send people running, figuratively and literally, in the other direction?

In light of the recent events in San Jose, California at the Donald Trump rally and all the uncontrollable events in this election, our country needs to open their eyes and see that we can take our “freedoms” too far. For the most part very little is ever resolved and neither party is ever fully represented. Why is that when, in this country, it is so easy to share your views? Because people stop talking and start yelling, aiming punches, throwing insults instead of a valuable argument, so in the end nobody’s stance is respected, much less working to gain anyone for their cause. For example, look at the San Jose event on June 2nd. Throughout this election Trump has been talking about building a wall, he says, “Mexico is not sending their best.” To generalize, because this is not a political piece, Trump views the majority of Mexicans who come to this country to be the cause of crime and the drug trade. According to an article on cnn.com about the protests in San Jose, the “protesters waved Mexican flags and one could be seen burning an American flag.” The only effect this has is solidifying Trump’s argument and does nothing to disprove it. Not only will it not make a point (or at least the one they are trying to make), but it will also cause people to lose respect for that party and they will not listen in the future, causing a stalemate, and nothing will be resolved. I am not a Trump supporter for many different reasons and I’m afraid to say that actions such as these will only push Trump into presidency, instead of proving that his stance is wrong. The First Amendment is vital to what makes our country great; freedom is what makes the United States of America unique. But with great freedom comes great responsibility and I’m afraid that we have been abusing our freedoms and tearing our country apart from the inside.

It would be unfair to say that these protesters are a representation of all Mexican citizens, but they will all be thrown into the same category, making it very hard for the respectable residents to break out of the stereotype, just as all Muslims, Germans, African Americans, Christians, etc. have been thrown into the stereotype of terrorists, Nazis, gang members or close minded religious freaks because of what some subgroups do in the name of their “category.” As a Christian who comes from a conservative home I would like to speak for myself, because if I do not I will be associated with those who protest and throw out obscene comments in the name of Jesus. I do not agree with gay marriage, abortion, sex before marriage, etc., like many of the Christians whom I know. However, I can not speak my mind on these issues without immediate backlash, because ones before me have not done so through calm reasoning with any willingness to hear the other side, but with protests, ridicule, anger and in some cases violence. On behalf of myself and others who believe in a just God, I am truly sorry for the actions of those who have not acted with respect to groups who do not share our beliefs.

The USA is like a family, we all have different opinions, personalities, beliefs, but in the end we are also stuck with each other and must learn to coexist. We are the children fighting over a toy and then a parent confiscates the toy. Now neither child has the toy and accuses the other for getting it taken away instead of admitting they are partially to blame. In the same way, these fights don’t resolve any problems, they only cause anger, disrespect and loss of support for the cause. By all means use your right to Freedom of Speech, let your voice be heard. No matter what you have to say, do not let it be buried, especially by your own actions. However, do unto others that you would have done to you. You will not earn respect by acting in anger, you will only push people away and in turn you will not be heard.