I observe protests in town, see calls to protest on social media and I have friends who participate in protests.

I’m not happy with the way things are going in this country under our current administration but the problem is not our neighbors (the audience for the local protests). The problems are far more intangible and insidious.

I will admit I did attend a local protest earlier this year. It wasn’t a negative experience in any way, and plenty of people drove by and honked and gave a thumbs up. There was a feeling of solidarity being with like-minded people; however, when I considered what my objective was, I was unsure. What was I trying to accomplish by protesting? In truth, I wanted to yell. I wanted to cry. I was feeling a bit traumatized by the “news” and all the aggressive bumper stickers and political signage I’d been seeing for months. I felt called to join others who seemed to feel the same. But was venting or commiserating a good reason to protest? What was our message? My sign said “By the People For the People” and “Liberty and Justice for All,” but there was an assortment of signs/messages. Was I making others feel guilty or defensive about their political choices? And if I intended to help my neighbors “see the light,” I didn’t think it was an effective strategy. I don’t think protests are affecting change. Perhaps they are stoking the fire of unrest among like-minded people. Perhaps there is a danger of becoming numb to the atrocities or complacent amidst all of the insanity that is going on in the country. But I don’t think protests are changing people’s views (and hopefully they’re not having the opposite effect).

I recently attended a vigil for the children of Palestine and Israel held by the local Quaker community and we read names of children who have died in the conflict. It was incredibly moving, and I left it feeling a lot of compassion for humanity. Similar to how I feel after church on Sundays.

That is what I need. I need more compassion. Specifically, I need to give and receive more compassion. Life can be hard. The world can be harsh. We need to mind our hearts and be mindful of our speech and our actions. Yes, we need to speak up, i.e., protest, but also reach out — extend an olive branch.

I have a dear friend who is finding it difficult to be hopeful. I understand. We are all human beings with the need for connection, but we often seek that connection on our devices and through social media.

We’re fed via an algorithm that serves to reinforce and limit our view.

We need to connect personally. To unite, not separate. Talk about the problems in our communities and in our country, but also about the good stuff, because all is not lost. And we need to listen. That’s another drawback to protests. They are one-sided. A lecture as opposed to a dialogue.

Perhaps I’ve oversimplified our circumstances. Perhaps I’m speaking from a place of privilege and naivete. I respect the choice of those who opt to protest. There’s not one right answer. There is no perfect politics. It is largely an ugly business, which is, we’re led to believe, the price of democracy.

There’s a saying that might reflect how some are feeling these days — “We need to fight fire with fire.” However, if that’s our path, I fear we could really burn it all down.

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Deb Story is a resident of Saranac Lake.