10 May—The premature ejaculation of the Supreme Court’s likely termination of the pregnant abortion issue, which many consider a miscarriage of justice, has inspired a wombful of protests and demonstrations. (Did I write all that?) And insofar as influencing the justices or anyone else, all the protests and demonstrations are nothing but a waste of time. Not because of what they’re protesting, mind you, but simply because protests and demonstrations in general, for good causes and bad (and that’s just a matter of opinion, of course) are a waste of time and energy.

Peaceful or otherwise non-violent and non-destructive protests and demonstrations, like the ones Joe Biden and his keepers aren’t discouraging but not quite encouraging on the never-ending abortion issue, are especially futile. Do they seriously expect demonstrations—or popular sentiment, for that matter—to influence the Supremes, who are supposed to be above such partisan parochialism?

Believe that and you’ll also believe politicians do what they do in constituents’ interest first and foremost. The truth is, protests and demonstrations interest and influence pols only as they affect their own electability. And even then, given the intransigent laziness and gullibility of the great unwashed, pols know they can ignore popular sentiment yet continue to hold office.

Violent and destructive protests and demonstrations always get more attention from everybody, every medium, every agency, usually in direct proportion to the violence, vandalism, mayhem, and destruction; but they’re nevertheless pretty useless in influencing the corridors of power and in all events must be eschewed on principle and in practice.

Certainly, protests and demonstrations serve a purpose in allowing people to broadcast their opinions and feelings, to show their support or opposition, to get whatever it may be off their chests, usually in the company of others of similar disposition. And doing it with the pack is part of the thrill, the mystique, the security of demonstrating, an implicit confirmation that you’re doing the right thing; an expectation that your co-demonstrators—your partners in crime, as it were—will support you. Dream on.

You can protest in sit-ins, picket-lines, parades, and whatever passive and active demonstrations float your boat. You can get excited at a demonstration. You can express yourself vocally and visually and of course physically. You can blow off steam, just so long as you don’t do any of it violently or destructively, of course. Blow off steam but don’t erupt or explode.

But do you really think that anybody other than you and your fellow demonstrators and other supporters (who have had the good sense not to join the party, as it were) of whatever cause it may be is going to give a good goddamn? Do you really think that protests and demonstrations sway anybody’s opinions? Even reason and logic can’t usually do that. Even?

When you think about it, revolt or revolution is merely protest taken to the extreme, usually after less assertive forms of protest have failed.

But if protesting and demonstrating make you feel good, go right ahead. It’s great to get it off your chest, isn’t it? You may even feel you’ve accomplished something beyond gratifying your own altruistic ego. Just realize that you’re showing how you feel. And that’s all . . .