Where have all the wise men gone!?!?!

On Sunday March 20th 2005 Boston Mobilization along with several other groups, most notably United for Peace and Justice, held a Rally and March to asking the United States for a secession of hostilities in Iraqi. They were joined over the weekend by an estimated 765 towns & cities, in all 50 states, holding similar protests to mark the 2nd Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraqi (March 19th 2003).

These numbers jumped up from last year, when a reportedly 319 cities and towns across the United States held protests for the 1st anniversary of the ‘Invasion of Iraqi.’

This year, as with the rallies held in 2004, the United States was joined by countries around the world in this call for the end of hostilities. In Rome, one million people took to the streets, in the largest single protest of the day. In Spain, demonstrations took place in more than 40 cities around the country, bringing hundreds of thousands out into the streets for the second time since the terrorist attacks that killed more than 200 Spaniards and injured 1500. Not to be left out London and Tokyo also held protests drawing tens of thousands of participants.

The Boston Rally, held on the historical Boston Common, featured speeches by City Councilor Chuck Turner (Boston -District 7), John Schuchardt (Veterans for Peace), Shalom Keller (Boston Iraqi Veteran Against the War), Nancy Murray (ACLU), members of Military Families Speak Out (MFSO), School Bus Drivers Union (8751), students from Tufts and Northeastern Univ, and many others. Some were eloquent. Some were not. But the one thing that united them was there beliefs. Or so one might think...

But it seems that this, like so many of the 21st century rallies I have been to, was a conglomeration of activists pulling in every direction but the same. This was a Rally that marked two years of our sons and daughters occupying a foreign land. Dieing in our name. Killing in our name. And while I did hear many a word on this I believe I am not exaggerating in saying I heard more on a range of topics from deforestation, to free Palestine and every thing in-between.

I personally came out to support the ideals of peace and democracy. To bare witness to freedom and liberty at work. I would have thought the organizers would spend more time on this... this paramount event in our lives. This WAR, as the media still calls it despite our President's declaration that the War had ended. But what I saw on Boston Common spoke to me more of the awesome array of ideals and problems people are wrestling with worldwide. Though fascinating, this unfocused attempt to educate seemed wasted on of fair-weather freedom lovers who were left impotent and hard-core activists who already knew the what's and when's and where's that go along with the fight.

I am left wondering if many of the groups out to speak that Sunday had presented to this large forum, that lay before them, plans or ideas of some real actions it might have lead to feel significant... even mighty in the face of overwheling apathy. But all we heard were 'pull out of Iraqi,' 'they're suffering in South America,' 'the wetlands are being turned into mini-malls'.... And the question on so many faces was simple: How should 'WE THE PEOPLE' get involved? What do you recommend?

Is it a symptom of the society we're living in? Saying this is wrong and not suggesting anything we can do to fix it? Are we becoming a country of Siskel and Eberts? Critics all, but creators none?!?!

I don't... I can't believe that! I stood out there in semi-inclement weather with hundreds of folk who want to see a change but just don't know how to, or think they can't do anything about it.

Between the speakers were interspersed by performances from bands like Toussaint, returning from a recent USO tour of Latin America. The Roots of Creation, Brian O'Connell, Sandy Pliskin, Reflect and Strengthen a performance art team and of course the now infamous Billionaires for Bush. Here is creativity, here are people who imagine that trough art, trough performance they can reach out and change the world. Then… Finally we leave the stage to march through the streets of Boston. Streets that have seen the Armies of the Revolution. Streets with a history unlike many American cities. Yet we march in disarray, in patches. With the young run to the front with expectations of triumph and freedom in the back of there tongs. Scream for America to leave Iraqi…

Lost to them is the idea of responsibility. Of finishing what you have started. The WAR is now our responsibility. The lives of these people are part of our lives now!

Thinking peace only means to leave the country to fend for itself is ludicrous. But what else can we expect?!? Did the speakers on stage just moments ago tell us anything of what could happen if we just leave? No! Do we get a sense of responsibility, of cleaning up our mess, from the government? From the media? From anywhere? NO! We have become a disposable culture, discarding the old in moment and expecting 'the help' to clean up after us.

No, they march and cry bloody murder while onlookers smile or sneer. They march on fighting each others chants, they march on leaving the leaders to run to the front to say “you’re marching the wrong way.” They march on and on waiting to change the world… And when we stop seven people are arrested.

What did they do?

I was there. All they did was stand up when a police officer used his office as a way of protesting. All they did was push back. But that was something they shouldn't have done. For what’s the point of protesting for peace if you’re not peaceful no matter the cost?

Does pride make peace? Does hate make peace?

In well over 275 other cities throughout the world protesting the War in Iraqi. Here it ended in violence as it did many places. I witnessed a 40 year old man in suits trying to stop police from beating young man. And what could I do? What did I do? I watched and I tell.

I don’t know if they cop who spit on the kid did it to start something. I don’t know if they kid who cursed then pushed him was stable or unstable. But it does seem that none of these adults (young or old) knew what this was all about. These ‘improper’ Bostonians fought each other, some got away others paid the price of liberty.

This protest left us all wondering, "How can you win a fight by not lifting a hand in anger?" I wish I knew, but I know I will keep trying. I know I will be at the next rally, and the one after that, and the one after that! Because I believe in America and I believe in people. And one day all this confusion will lead us to the truth covered up by the awful lie.

"The main business of humanity is to do a good job of being human, not to serve as appendages to machines, institutions, and systems." - Paul Proteus