Go home, already!

Is anyone else tired of these so-called activists who protest all around town and campus? \nTake, for example, the Starbucks protesters who were out near the coffee shop two weeks ago -- a year after Starbucks was built. That place is packed almost constantly. It doesn't look like the protests are working. \nBut do the protesters get the hint? They're still out there with signs that say "Stavebucks," chanting to shut the shop down. They don't realize they are wasting their time and have been for a year. \nWe want to live in a developed area and have modern conveniences, such as a nearby Wal-Mart, Target and lots of restaurants, yet we protest coffee chains. It wouldn't surprise me if those protesters sneak in for a cup of coffee after the protesting is done.\nNow Tracy "Dolphin" McNeely is tree-sitting in Bloomington to try to prevent the destruction of trees for the middle-income housing slated to be built in the area.\nI'm sure she uses napkins and notebook paper, both of which are made from trees. I saw a photo of her with a copy of The Herald-Times, which is printed on paper made from trees. It seems it is OK to cut down trees if it satisfies her personal interests.\nHow about Julia "Butterfly" Hill, another tree-sitter who spoke on campus last week? She was paid about $5,000 by Union Board, lectures committee director Nick Hillman said, to speak about sitting in a tree for two years. By accepting the $5,000, Hill is merely kindling the capitalism she opposes.\nIf we don't cut down trees, we can't build anything. But we must build more housing because the population continues to grow. I'm sure these women (before installing themselves in trees) went to the local mall and grocery store and drove on city streets.\nThose places were built through development, including cutting down trees. We can't have modern conveniences if we leave every green pasture and red oak in its place. If "Dolphin" is against development and growth, why does she live in a developed area? \nNot to mention the fact that she is breaking the law by sitting on someone else's property. Maybe we should all go sit in her yard for a while and see what she thinks about that. \nThe Constitution gives us many personal rights, which we may exercise as long as they don't hinder the rights of our fellow citizens.\nThat said, the police should arrest her. \nTake for another example those protesters who complained about the environmental impact of the proposed I-69 extension. I'm sure all of those who object to the proposed highway drive on highways and complain about traffic. \nThey have no right to complain about traffic jams after hindering proposals that might have solved some of them. \nIt seems people want to protest everything, yet they are often unjustified in their protests and hypocritical in their actions. We choose to live in a developed area because we want the conveniences, yet we protest the minute they're not exactly the way we want them to be.\nYou just can't have your cake and eat it, too.