When our Efforts Backfire: Warren, King, DeVos

I believe in peaceful protests. I believe they have enormous value at numerous levels for both those protesting and those on the receiving end of the protests. I believe in our capacity in this nation to voice views that are not shared widely or at all. (Well, generally speaking, it is allowed.) I think we can and do message in important ways through non-violent marches and demonstrations and protest signs. I even think shouting works. So do sit-ins.

But, we need to be really careful. Sometimes, our best and noble efforts get in our own way and undercut rather than benefit the causes for which we care. And, at other times, our effort to follow rules and bar protests causes the opposite of the desired result: it does not silence the opposition but emboldens them. Seriously.

Two examples and then the lessons to be learned I hope. Recently, there was invocation of an extremely old Senate Rule to silence Senator Warren from reading a letter from Coretta Scott King on the Senate Floor. The letter was read to describe Senator Jeff Sessions and signal the risks inherent in his impending appointment as US Attorney General. The video taken of the whole scene would be comedic were it not real.

Did the Republicans really think that silencing Senator Warren would be effective? She asked for leave to continue. She was denied. Did they forget that there are a myriad of outlets for sharing one's views in today's world? Just ask our President about tweets. Consider the number of followers -- of Senate debates versus Twitter. She wasn't silenced; she moved her message to a bigger stage.

And, as the New York Times rightly noted (and I use their language), the Republicans did shut off Senator Warren's microphone but in its place, they gave her a megaphone.

Today, protestors (I assume on the left) tried to block Secretary of Education DeVos' entry into a public school. Apparently, she eventually got in later but all you had to do is look at her face as she was led away: she was disgusted and perhaps frustrated too.

There are many reasons to object to Secretary DeVos, not the least of which is her lack of educational experience in the public sector -- where most of America's children attend school. We all should want her to learn more and gain an understanding of what is happening in and ails America's schools. Shutting her out of schools will not do that. Letting her in and providing her with remarkable tour guides is a vastly better strategy. And, who knows, we might be surprised: perhaps she can and will learn. And if she doesn't shame on her for failing to listen and learn.

For better or worse, Betsy DeVos is our new Secretary of Education. The likelihood in the near term of getting rid of her seems remote. So, wouldn't we be wiser to give her access and information and wise counsel so she can do a better job that she might otherwise do? Might we get her to see reason and light and alternatives to charters and vouchers? And, might we help her see how public education must serve our students well? Our nation depends on these children for our collective future.

Ironically, the actions of the Senate and the protesters both made Senators Warren and Secretary DeVos look better; they looked like they were being victimized and marginalized and disrespected. Two women no less. And they were being treated in just that way. Here's the point: if you want to promote the qualities of Jeff Session, go ahead. You don't need to silence Senator Warren in the process; in silencing her, you gave her arguments air and fire. And, if you want to object to Secretary DeVos, go ahead. There are lots of reasons to be worried about her capacities, her experience and her behavior with money and her views on religion. But, by blockading her, you are giving her attention and you are enabling her to legitimate her concerns with public education. You want the reverse of that; you want her to become better -- to increase her knowledge threshold.

A Democracy is complicated business. So is getting one's point across. I think we would do well in these contentious times, where the ground is regularly shifting beneath us, to pause just a bit and reflect on our strategies and our goals and ask this question: what actions will be best to get us to our desired goals? Clearly in these two described incidents we accomplished the inverse of our intended result.

And, frankly, what message do our children get about quality conversation and quality dialogue when we shut off microphones and close doors? Saying "shut up" doesn't work to silence kids in our homes or schools. Slamming a door doesn't invite resolution of a tough substantive disagreement. These actions provide short term benefits and pleasure for some (seeing Senator Warren silenced or Secretary DeVos escorted away) perhaps. But, long terms goals are much worthier and deserve our time, our attention and our effort. We need to focus here on what matters. We are losing our collective way.