``...This movement really is starting out at far higher level of political consciousness than was the case with the anti-war movement of the '60s. Not only were there no flags in our march last Saturday but the only reference to "support our troops" was a joke one person made.'' Carrol
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I agree, and the reason for the apparent drop in demo attendance around here is probably because the demos represent the obvious---very few people support Bush, let alone his war on Afghanistan. So the demos are in effect stating the obvious. And, yes the rhetoric is tired, but so are US policies. Nathan is right about ignoring whoever is speaking, since that is usually some half-baked old lefty of some sort. Don't ask me what the nuances between initials mean---I gave up somewhere in the middle of the first YSL speech I heard.
As far as I am concerned, the only anti-war option that remains is the move from protest to resistance. But that will probably have to wait for the feds to move against the middle eastern communities here under some bogus anti-terrorism program or start committing serious civil rights violations. In other words, present a reasonable target to promote civil disobedience and resistance.
On a related front, the annual Castro Street Halloween street party is getting jaundiced looks from the police department as a potential security threat. Byline for tomorrow: Al Qaeda terrorists disguised as Castro Street drag queens threaten San Francisco security forces. Hopefully somebody has the guts and bad taste to do Osama in drag.
On the another bright note, it was reported that SUV's are the biggest killer of our local trick or treaters. Rightwing Anthrax, Al-qaeda, and the USAF eat your hearts out. You can't match Ford and Firestone in the branding war for hegemon of domestic terror.
Hey, I like the logic of the latest FBI/Homeland terrorist alert. It follows Max's logic, that since it didn't happen, it was effectively thwarted. Pretty hard to argue against that level of certainty. Testing proves testing works.
Thanks Sheriff Ridge. I feel much safer now. I think Ridge got the job on his looks---looks like Dick Tracy.
Chuck Grimes