Not All Protests are Created Equal

Just to our north, in Madison, Wisconsin, public workers are protesting to protect their collective bargaining rights.  Collective bargaining is defined by Merriam-Webster as "a negotiation between an employer and labor union usually on wages, hours and working conditions."  For over two weeks, thousands of people have slept inside the state capital, standing (or laying on) their ground.  The Christian Science Monitor reports that the public servants' actions reflect most American's opinions: they want collective bargaining.  The protests themselves seem to be at a stalemate, as both sides are taking action but neither one stronger than the other.  A big problem: 14 Democratic representatives (whose presence is required to vote on the proposed bill that is being protested) are taking refuge in unknown Illinois motels.  At this point, there is no clear answer.  To hear both sides of this unresolved issue, please watch this video from CNN.

Across the ocean, a different protest wages on:  one against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi.  Hundreds have been killed as people rebel against his 40+ year long regime.  An interview with Qaddafi about the conflict is HERE.   Anti government protests across the country have been swift and strong, says the New York Times.  It also reports:

Colonel Qaddafi lashed out with a level of violence unseen in either of the other uprisings, but the rebels fought back and won tribal leaders and an increasing share of the military to their side, seizing the eastern half of the country.

Overall, the situation is not a good one.  People are dead in the streets and families are seeking refuge as their ears ring with the cracks of machine gun fire.  For a detailed explanation of what is going on, please watch this video.  VIEW WITH DISCRETION.

News outlets label both occurrences as "protests," but do they do so accurately?  My opinion: no they do not.  Unless they include the thousands of adjectives that separate these events, news sources do not do either bloody, peaceful, dangerous, hateful, organized, effective, national, fair, or terrifying "protest" justice.  

Protests in the streets of Libya.

Protests at the State Capitol in Madison, Wisconsin.