I simply can’t wait to try to write something smart, engaging, even very coherent. Something needs to be done…and soon!
Yes. Buhdy, we must come together behind a “unified field theory & action” to take back our country, to take back the soul of our country.
Impeachment is a good one. A high percentage of people are for this. There is an even higher percentage of people who think we should get out of Iraq.
The issue is not “finding” an issue. The issue is how to empower and persuade people to do something, to “yell louder,” to get up, go out and make their opinions heard. This is what appeals to me about the IRAQ MORATORIUM. I am also greatly in favor of a General Strike.
So, I think we can unify and act behind these three ideas:
IMPEACH
IRAQ MORATORIUM
GENERAL STRIKE
The Iraq Moratorium was conceived as a platform to bring out massive numbers of people.
Although between 2/3 and 3/4 of people surveyed are now in opposition to the Iraq war, they don’t come out to express their feelings. The population of the United States is 300 million. The last major, national demonstration, October 27th, had been planned and organized for months in advance; but only about 80K to 150K people came out to protest.
While 67% to 75% of the U.S. population opposes the war, only about 5/100s of 1% came out to protest. The apathy, distraction, or feeling of hopelessness expressed by these numbers should be taken into account.
The Iraq Moratorium takes account of these dismall numbers and has developed an idea to help the voiceless speak out through the simplicity, regularity, and non-competitive umbrella nature of the action. All P & J groups can join in under the umbrella of Iraq Moratorium. Power in numbers. “Solidarity Forever!”
Hopefully, the Iraq Moratorium can turn into a General Strike! The Iraq Moratorium (IM)is scheduled for the Third Friday of Every Month. People who participate in IM take a pledge to do something for peace on the 3rd Friday of each month. The commitment is easy as there is a broad range of actions to be taken, ranging from wearing a black ribbon or arm band, to buying no gas on that day, to vigils, to informational forums, to civil disobedience. The main thing is to sign the pledge (numbers are important)
and to
do something!
The Iraq Moratorium could be combined easily with The General Strike. Garrett Keizer, a contributing editor to “Harper’s Magazine” had an excellent essay on this in the October ’07 issue “Notebook” section:
“Specific Suggestion: General Strike”