In these contentious times, Americans are turning more and more to "civil disobedience" to make their feelings known. The problem is, the demonstrations have little "civil" about them. It's almost as if protesters here have taken their cues from news footage of Middle Eastern protesters pumping their fists and chanting slogans. American protesters seem to have glossed over three key points.

A protest is not about the protesters, it is about the position.

A protest is about numbers, not noise.

A protest is not about might, but right.

Some have criticized the restrictions put on protesters at Brigham Young University in the preparations for Vice President Dick Cheney's visit. But the most powerful protests are often understated.

Images of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. quietly leading his followers on marches come to mind. So does Mahatma Gandhi, quietly standing in the sea making salt to protest the industrial limitations put on India by British colonialists.

Just as reasoned, earnest letters to this paper tend to have more power and sway with public opinion than the bombastic outbursts of the outraged, so, too, a protest carried out with dignity and respect holds a high-minded tone that points to a noble ideal. Passionate sputtering often simply locks the opposition into a defensive position and limits dialogue. Reason quickly gives way to ranting. The fierceness of the infighting undermines any hope of compromise or even understanding.

America sees such things today in the posturing of its political leaders in Washington. Instead of a lofty dialogue the nation gets loutish diatribe. Positions are hardening. Progress is in peril.

America is an optimistic nation — a nation that believes right will win out. Information, not invective, should be the watchword. If a position staked out by protesters has merit, others will embrace it. If it doesn't, all the chanting and charade in the world can never create a groundswell of grass-roots support.

It's not about the protesters, it's about points of view. And the best way to get that point out to the world is to behave in a manner that lets opinions take the spotlight, not the people espousing them.