Common Sense: Silent majority
The “silent majority” is a Vietnam era term from the late 1960s and early 1970s that described the many Americans who did not agree with all aspects of the emotionally-charged calls for change that were reflected in countless demonstrations and protests.
These millions of Americans broke their silence on Election Day and through the candidacies of those who they supported. That is not to say they might not take to the streets on occasion, but their way was less about the public protest and more about fixing it through a slower, deliberative process.
Not surprisingly this brings me to the Eric Garner decision. I cannot help but wonder how many of the tens of thousands who took to the streets are registered to vote or actually did vote. Statistics show that few New York City residents voted in the last two elections. And the groups with the lowest turnout by far were the under-30 group and minorities, which not coincidentally were the age and racial groups that primarily made up the protestors.