Protest is a part of democracy

I could not agree less with Nicole Shoshenskiy's guest editorial in the Sept. 21 Pilot. I sincerely hope the education and professional skills Ms. Shoshenskiy had to leave the Flathead to realize are not supposed to include a knowledge of history.

The protest sign, in all shades from far right to deep left, is the true national flower of democracy. Politicians, as public figures, are accountable for their positions and policies. That accountability includes all legal forms of public opposition and protest. Political dissent of all stripes has marked this country for well over 200 years and is far more American than apple pie.

If you want well-disciplined citizens uncritically applauding their political leaders, you will find them in places like North Korea, Cuba and Iran. None for me thanks. I'd rather have unruly, messy democracy.

Otto Hallgren

Whitefish