My brain is in gear. We are no longer a nation of respectful, thoughtful debate. Yes, the left is largely to blame but the result is that no message beyond pithy chants and obscene signs is getting out. Both sides should allow the other to have its say and then counter with the other side in a respectful, civilized manner. When a demonstration permit triggers a counter demonstration at the same time and place, it becomes merely a street fight, as you noted. The left can win by shutting down the right’s right to be heard. The right cannot win by being silenced when we have facts and history and common sense on our side and are prevented from speaking them. Conversely, thanks to media complicity, the left can win by being silenced by the right. It is a lose/lose for the right and a win/win for the left.
Your arguments are contradictory. It does not matter what both sides should do, or that we would like to be a nation of respectful, thoughtful debate. If the Left can win by violence and shutting down the right’s right to be heard, there is no way they will give up that tactic. They would never bother to “allow the (conservatives) to have its say and then counter ... in a respectful, civilized manner.” But as you note, “The right cannot win by being silenced and ... prevented from speaking.” So we must fight back, or lose by forfeit. I do not like that this is so; I am too old to fight, and too old to take a beating. But I will not shut up. So, if the police are ordered to ‘stand down’ (as they have been at times and in some places), I would prefer to have some street-fighters on my side, rather than not being allowed to express my opinion.