Montana Sees Big Numbers In Weekend Protests, But Why?

If your social media feed is anything like mine, you see a whole lot of posts from a whole lot of folks with a whole lot of opinions about our country.

This past weekend was no exception, with all of the protests that took place around the country, including several here in Montana. If you're anything like me, you probably feel trapped between two sets of people who continue to try and convince the other they're wrong.

Saturday was a bit of a mixed bag.

As the nation celebrated the Army's 250th Anniversary, all across the country, "No King's Day" protests were taking place. There were protests in Billings, Bozeman, Butte, Helena, Missoula, and other Montana cities.

It's my understanding that most of the protests were peaceful. So, if you're wondering why people were protesting, it seems that not only was Saturday the birthday of the Army, it was also the birthday of President Trump.

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Ah, yes, the guy that we love to hate, or is it hate to love? Either way, he is a polarizing figure that a large portion of Americans are convinced is trying to take their rights away. (which is interesting because if we had a King, protesting might not be allowed)

I wouldn't consider myself a "right winger" or a "left winger".

I'm someone who wants what is best for America, while making sure that I'm free to live my life as I see fit without government interference. I'm not concerned with who you love or marry, I don't think the answer to our issues is "raising taxes", nor do I believe that either political party represents me and what I value.

Sound familiar?

The truth is, I think there are a lot of us "somewhere in the middle" folks out there, especially here in Montana. It's just the "squeakly wheel gets the grease", and folks who tend to be extreme on either side tend to be a little louder than the rest of us.

Meanwhile, I'm still trying to discover the rights I've lost along the way.

I can already predict how this is going to go. Folks will read this, and those on the "right" will blame the Democrats for everything wrong, and those on the "left" will talk about non-Montanans elected to office and how Trump is destroying our country.

Wash, rinse, repeat.

So, what can we learn from the past weekend? Probably nothing. Other than the United States is still the greatest country on earth, and we're still free to gather peacefully and share our opinions, and we're protected by the greatest military the world has ever known, and every few years, we have the chance to make our voices heard at the ballot box.

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If that sounds like an oppressed country to you, I don't know how to help you.