The Hiller Instinct: Hiller Instinct: Planet protest

Normally, it's their subject or size that makes them newsworthy.

But judging by the number of protests this past week, this isn't a normal time, as the world has become planet protest:

Even if you don't understand the words, you know what they mean: "We're mad as hell and we're not going to take it any more."

With so many issues generating anger, one could easily explode:

The bombing of a holy shrine in Samarra puts Iraq at the center of worldwide protests...pitting Shiites against Sunnis, and Muslims against the U.S. In Iran, Lebanon, India, Indian-controlled Kashmir, and Turkey.

There's also violent protest in turkey by Kurds who want to establish their own government.

Israel is a target of some of these protests as well, triggering a demonstration in France against anti-Semitism.

Then there are the ever-widening protests against the published drawings of the prophet Mohammed, in Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Hong Kong, and Germany--signaling the seriousness of the cartoon controversy.

In the Philippines, protesters want martial law to end and the president to quit...

In Ecuador, protests have shut down two major oil pipelines...

In Indonesia, rioting students set fire to a building owned by a U.S. company over work issues...

While in Boston and Baltimore, Americans protested against an Arab company taking over ports here.

Florida actually had two demonstrations: one against restrictions

On immigration, the other by neo-nazis against minorities.

One explanation for all these demonstrations is that protests work!

Marches by the suffragettes helped American women win the right to vote...

Demonstrations led by Martin Luther King helped black Americans win civil rights...

And protests again the Vietnam War helped end it...

Like a pressure cooker, protests let people let off steam.

But pressure cookers cook, too. And what all these protests are cooking is worldwide rage. If it boils somewhere, to me it looks like a recipe for a revolution.

I’m Andy Hiller, and that’s my instinct.

(Copyright (c) 2006 Sunbeam Television Corp. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)