There will be a march on Washington this Saturday, a ritual rallying of the anti-war faithful who will come by the busload as they have twice a year, once in the fall, once in the spring, for decades, on issue after issue.
This mobilization promises to be a big one. The war has lost public support, with only a minority of Americans now endorsing it. The outrages we saw on television after the Katrina catastrophe have stirred even more anger.
For the first time, the Bush Administration seems on the defensive, as its public approval ratings are falling and dissenting voices are rising among the Republican ranks.
You can almost predict the slogans we will hear, and the shape of the stirring rhetoric from the stage. It will rouse us, yes, but will it inform us? Will it lead us into a deeper understanding and commitment?
THE PLAN
Here's the plan from the United for Peace and Justice website:
Saturday, September 24
Massive March & Rally, Peace and Justice Festival, Operation Ceasefire Concert
Sunday, September 25
Interfaith Service, Training for Grassroots Lobby Day, Training for Mass Nonviolent Civil Resistance, National Meeting for Counter-Recruitment
Monday, September 26
Grassroots Congressional Lobby Day & Mass Nonviolent Civil Resistance at the White House
Notice how, once again, most of the energy is aimed only at government, at the White House, at Bush and his boys (and girl, Ms. Condoleezza Rice).
But these targets are, alas, only part of the problem.
Other government institutions and interests are complicit in the war and the policies that the activists oppose. With so many people coming to town, and some staying for Monday, why not split them into teams and smaller marches, and bring some popular fury to these others?
WHY NOT MARCH ON THE MEDIA?
Where is the march on the media? The media is the front face of the corporate interests who stage-manage the government. In an age of globalization, challenging corporate power is essential.
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