Why will we march?

"Where have all the unions gone?
Long time fading...."


Organized labor may be rare at progressive demos,
but several union contingents swim in the rain
at the 2006 SF St. Patrick's parade, March 12.


I think of a Down-Under song about Anzac Day:
"The young people ask,
'What are they marching for?'
Sometimes I ask
myself the same question...."


Three to six persons represent one or two "anti-imperialist" grouplets.
Their dark blue flag seems to portray the Big Dipper.
"Follow the Drinking Gourd...."


I see only part of this parade,
on my walk to the library,
where I enjoy a literary reading.


Six days after the Irish march,
SF will enact yet another anti-Bush demo.
We Left Coast progressives need these opportunities to vent our rage.
To scream for catharsis. To feel we're not alone.


But does our marching affect voters east of Sacramento?


Would red-county and red-state voters listen
more attentively to veterans --
especially to Iraq vets?


Perhaps to those who are running for Congress this year,
as the "Fighting Dems" ?

-- TBL
12 March 2006

............


SF: Monday March 13,
8 pm:
Progressive Reading Series:
A monthly literary benefit to support progressive congressional candidates nationwide. featuring:
Julie Orringer, author of How To Breathe Underwater, Kirk Read, author of How I Learned To Snap, Geoff Brock, author of Weighing Light, Beth Lisick, author of Everybody Into The Pool, Josh Davis, author of The Underdog. Hosted by Stephen Elliott, author of Happy Baby.
$10 - $20 sliding scale
($30 includes a copy of the new anthology
Stumbling And Raging)
Proceeds to benefit The Fighting Dems, a group of Iraq war veterans running for Congress in 2006.
For more information or to purchase tickets in advance go to
http://www.stephenelliot.com
the Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St near Mission
..........