Re: What now?

["Eli Stephens" <elishastephens@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

lp wrote:

> A chunk of the anti-war movement will pick up their marbles and go back to
> their ordinary lives.  I can understand the temptation.  We'll see on
> Saturday how big a chunk it is.

I think this is a BIT unfair. Let's say most people think, and unless
something
incredibly surprising happens in the next 48 hours it isn't unreasonable to
do
so, that the "war" (a.k.a. the slaughter) is over, or at least "all over but
the
shouting." In that case, "Stop the war on Iraq" becomes a curious demand,
and even "Troops out now" has a funny ring to it. It certainly is the exact
thing that SHOULD happen, but to most people viewing the situation, pulling
the troops out in the middle of absolute chaos (which, of course, they
caused)
will just be worse for the Iraqi people. "Hands off Iraq" is probably a
better
demand, but even that has some of the same character to it.

My point is that the overwhelming majority of people who have been to
recent demos will likely not see the point of coming Saturday, and I don't
think it's because they have "gone back to their ordinary lives." It could
well be that they just want to wait to participate in activities which they
feel have a CHANCE of making a difference, and that they will feel that
Saturday's demo doesn't fall into that category. Even professional
revolutionaries, and of course most of the demo participants aren't in
that category, have to choose how to spend their time most wisely.

P.S. - This post should come through with a revised first name; when
I created a Hotmail account, I didn't realize that putting a complete
first name would result in people addressing me by that name, and
even, as one poster did, mistaking my sex. No offense taken. :-)



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