Unconventional becomes Conventional

One of the most common forms of conventional participation is protesting.  Just a few decades ago when a protest demonstration would occur the whole nation knew about it.  When this was done it meant that something bis was happening and there were a lot of people that were upset over it.  Today we see a different protest getting a thirty second spot on CNN, MSNBC, and other large media outlets.  What happen to the power that a protest once held?  Has this outrageous gesture become an status quo in American activism?  i think the reason why a protest demonstration is not taken as serious today as they once were for a few reasons.  One when something is done over and over again it looses it punch.  Our generation has gotten to use to seeing protest, so we don't get alarmed by them anymore.  Second, not enough people are getting involved in these activist movements.  We live in a society where if a situation does not directly effect us, we just don't care about it. We are a rather selfish generation.  It takes a massive group of people to get a point across to our government and other people not directly involved.  I think if we could grasp that idea then these demonstrations would get the attention they deserve.  Finally, we need to be a little bit more picky as to what we choose to stage a protest over.  This is a tool that can really change things if it is presented in a legitimate way.  Protesting Carl's pet shop because they don't sell pit bulls is not worthy of a protest.  OK maybe that was not the best example, but you get the idea.  So in the end this unconventional participation has become conventional.  The only way to fix this situation is by developing new unconventional participation methods.  This is just something that will have to develop on its own and over time.  i don't think the power of a protest is dead, but our generation has to give the power back to it.