Instead of getting visibly angry, some people express their hostility in passive-aggressive ways designed to hurt and confuse their target. And if it could be put into a visual image, it would look like this:
You may think this is an image from recent school vaccine protests, but its not, its an image from December 2012 in response to the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary school. Do you remember this occurring? How much of an impact did this make?
Recently in July 21, 2020, 164 pairs of shoes were left to represent nurses dead from COVID.
More recently in 2021, nurses are leaving their shoes outside of hospital when their contracts are terminated because they refused the hospital vaccine mandate. This gives you a visual of what will become a nursing shortage.
Fast forward to today, we have “Operation Shoe Drop” where parents are leaving a pair of shoes with a note at the grounds of their child's school to peacefully “protest” school vaccine mandates by sending a message to the district that if a vaccine mandate were to become reality, they will not comply. After a few days some parents collect the shoes and they are donated to charity. Although, what actually has been happening in NJ is that the school janitors are collecting the shoes as they are being put out on school property and throwing them in the trash.
The protest continues in many blue states. According to one update NY parent "Don't be discouraged, every voice will be heard and I think this is great for Elmira to show our voice in a very gentle and non-conflicting way you don't have to show your face, you don't have to say your name but leave a pair of shoes to show where you stand."
Of course I don’t agree that this makes any sort of impact. No one hears you when you are calm, use a gentle voice and do not invoke conflict. No one hears you when you hide your face and do not directly confront the problem in the correct place. The only people who care about the shoes are the janitors who are now picking them up, not realizing its a protest. Your individual school does NOT CARE if you leave, found out by many who have already left over masks.
Stop hiding your face.
Stop being passive aggressive.
Make your anger visible.
Express your hostility at School Board meetings, claim your time to invoke verbal conflict and properly fight for your kids. I am NOT telling you to chuck your kid’s shoes at the heads of the BOE. I’m telling you to stand up and voice your opinion like a grownup. You can be hostile, unpleasant, uninhibited, caustic, vitriolic, abrasive, flippant, and rude. Exercise your freedom of speech without violence. As long as you do not use your hands, you are within your right of the law to speak out against injustices.
Write and call your legislature TELL THEM you are the parent and you make the best medical choices for your kids. Call and write your congressman. I’m aware that our senators Menendez are Booker are tools, write them anyway.
Gather other parents, we need all hands on deck now. Starting a revolution is UP TO YOU!! If you don’t do it, no one else will. If you don’t speak out, no one else will. If you don’t start gathering parents to go to BOE meetings, no one else will. Many parents have already been speaking out at BOE meetings since June. FIND THEM.
I have already started the long game by working along side of organizations like Arise New Jersey and NJphipac. In addition, I’m working with Kristen to get our people into political positions so this doesn’t happen again. I am also doing my own “get out the vote initiative” to get more people voting for the right people. We’d love for you to help us out and you can sign up HERE.
We are just not at a point where silent protest and passive, no-face actions will bring the desired results. Its up to you to engage people with your voice. Stop cowering behind passive aggressive action. Find your voice. Speak up.
I am not shy and most certainly will make my voice heard at the next BOE and I have a Facebook Group dedicated to watching the BOE: https://www.facebook.com/groups/360445792353845