It sucks to say this, but in my opinion, such demonstrations are geared more towards helping us deal with the inevitable; as with buying duct tape and plastic, marching makes us feel like we've accomplished something much more substantial than its actual value. The problem with peaceful marches is that the ruling class expect them. Though they may attempt to hinder the exhibitation of civil disobedience, we ultimately live in a society tempered by such actions- an entire decade of popular culture had popularized the peaceful resolution ideal... These demonstrations don't work; the people who want war are the same people who've lived through war and have become numb to its effects and the arguments against it. I don't want war, but it's obvious that the people with access to the red button are itching to vaporize some atoms... and there's nothing I can do about it. That makes me sad. You know what I'm going to do? I'm going to code a nice program, eat a nice cake, drink some tea and watch my fish. And I'll forget all about this stupid war.

So you're saying because it's 'inevitable', we shouldn't try to stand up and express a dissenting opinion? <br />Even if it turns out to be a futile effort, shouldn't we try anyway? To make a stand, and let it be known how we feel? If every time we were up against an 'impossible' situation, we just backed down, what would be have achieved? Greatness can only come when one is willing to persevere, when one is willing to come face to face with adversity, and then walk right past it. Living with the idea that nothing can be changed is hardly any way to live, and certainly not one I'd want. <br />Regardless of what effect this may have, I'd feel much better having expressed it, and having TRIED to change things, instead of just saying 'that's impossible' and giving up.

saying 'that's impossible' and giving up is an ancient chinese ritual that wei has taken on since his visit to the mainland last summer.

I'm not saying that stopping the war is impossible. I'm calling for alternative methods; forgive the tired saying, but thinking outside the box... the box that the Man has kinda put all of us into... the box that tells every American the only part of the world that matters is based on American soil...<br/ ><br />For example, why aren't we talking to Iraqis about this? Why don't we congratulate and support the members of the U.N. that are against war? Why do we insist on thinking of this as a domestic problem (which it elementally is, but the problem is composed of a series of interelated and ultimately _international_ problems). The big international rally just a week or two ago, that's the kind of stuff worth repeating...<br /> <br />Clinton is a puppet- sure, she has the ear of the media, but ultimately little power to stop the war movement. Neither do any of these senators... they're all wishy-washy politicians vieing for power. We can bitch all we want to them, but I propose that a simple gesture demonstrating the true punyness of their importance (don't vote for 'em, tell the public about 'em, no way in hell are they ever going to be president etc.) to be more than enough for small fry like them. A candlelight vigil? pah, an insensitive b*tch like Clinton couldn've give half a sh*t about that. <br /> <br />A better approach to the problem would perhaps be to contact leaders of the tremendous movements against war throughout the world. We can support <br />their efforts (effectively marking us as targets of patriot2, but that's besides the point) by donating money and aid to them. Help strengthen them, support their economies. Stop the atrocities that are happening all over the world. Stop exploitation by American corporations that are siphoning cheap labour everywhere (creating an imbalance of market stability, hurting them by giving them poor conditions and hurting us by taking away out jobs). <br /> <br />Ultimately, we have to form a tighter-knit world community. When the world isn't just a court full of b*tches to these pigheaded, narrow-minded republican slave drivers, it would be much more difficult for any such atrocities to occur ever again. <br /> <br />I mean, in a true world community, our level of empathy to other countries would no longer be reduced to "those poor people". It would be, "why are you killing our brothers and sisters, Mr. Bush?".<br /> <br />Time to wake up; we may not be isolationist in our foreign policies, but we definately isolationist in our social philosophies.