More Anti-War Photos

All demonstrations are by definition voting with our feet, and every single pair of feet is counted by the ruling class as they know, not only is a mass public demonstration significant, but it always represents millions more who support us but cannot be at the demonstration.

Demonstrations are also a means to bring together a wide variety of people to exchange ideas, literature and information on actions taking place. I signed 2 voter petitions, one petition to stay the execution of Tookie Williams who may be murdered by Republican Gov Schwarzenegger and Democratic Atty Gen Lockyer in October, bought books and magazines that are not readily available in the bookstores, and met lots of old friends I am not always able to see on a daily basis, all of whom are political activists who had something to say about what they are doing and thinking.

My own morale was boosted by the amazing cultural display from signs and costumes to sizziling brass bands and drum corps. We put on an excellent display of what a society dedicated to peace can do to further culture, and it is culture that makes us human.

We all observe all kinds of things at these demonstrations, and one thing I always observe is how many young people are there and who they seem to be. This year, it was wonderful to see young people leading the march, and there appeared to be well-organized contingents of African-American, Asian and Latino youth in the front of the march, who, as young people always do, had so much surplus energy that they were still chanting loudly and clearly by the time we got to Van Ness, as though they could go another 100 miles!

If these young people not only care enough to come to these demonstrations, but also to take the lead, then it was obvious to me that these demonstrations are vital to our peace movement.

a pep rally for a game we never play.

The huge anti-war war rally over two months ago still manages to reverberate in the consciousness of America-- even though it was poorly covered by the mainstream media.

I still ask myself why I was so cynical that day when others were clearly joyous that large numbers of people had set aside their personal political prejudices to unite their voices against the war in Iraq.

Since then, and more significantly since the November regional elections, we have witnessed an accelerating slide of national opinion to one against continued US involvement in Iraq. All this is good... but why has it yet been so difficult for me to shake my own feelings of cynicism and pessimism?

I had read Rebecca Solnit's book, Hope In the Dark, which helped... but still I felt helpless. Maybe I needed a similar message put more simply, which I got at:

http://theamericanmuslim.org/2005oct_comments.php?id=X1100_0_40_30_C_451

If the anti-war movement is to truly succeed-- it must look even farther past despair and fear, and even the "will to hope." There must be justice for war criminals to be sure, but what will have changed if the troops come home save a respite from but one front in the war on injustice?

Too much emphasis it seems has been on placing blame-- when the truth requires us to acknowledge that there is plenty of blame to go around. If a better future is what we really want then we need to add one important missing ingredient to our growing awareness as a people: we must dare to imagine healthier solutions to the world's problems.

You who are reading this: good if you are already here.

The above link has changed. It is now:

http://theamericanmuslim.org/tam.php/features/articles/where_fear_cant_take_us/

End the colonial occupation? Is that supposed to have anything to do with the Iraq war? If so, you need to take a course in colonization because you don't know what it means.

I'm anti-war, and it frustrates me that so many protesters I see on TV, the Web, and "real life" act like dopes, carrying signs and chanting chants that show zero understanding of the war.