The protests that mobilized before the 1991 and recent 2003 US invasions in the Middle East were indeed historic events rarely paralleled in history. Even if we compare the mass marches to the iconic 1960's, those of the recent era are distinguished in enormity and the fact they came before the imperial assaults.
Whereas there were no such marches in the mid 50's or early 60's as the US escalated military presence in Indochina, only long after.
But the power structure responds in kind. I remember in the 1991 march in San Francisco coming home and finding the network news shrinking the thousands that filled Market Street from the Castro District to City Hall to a few measly hundred and describing us banally as "expressing our concern" about imminent US invasion of Iraq.
Of course, the political class, its corporate elites, and its media elite conspire to manufacture the illusion that all is well, and when thousands take to the streets these agents will lie to the many more who are not in the streets.
Hundreds expressing concern is an outlier, something to be dismissed like a tea party activist (who should not be dismissed) ... thousands may suggest a paradigm shift, and a threat to the world order.
But what of those marchers themselves, who were large in 1991 and even larger in the drum-roll up to the current invasion and occupation?
Not much. Our leftist, anti-war movement is like a hollow egg. From the outside you see a proportioned oval shell, but the yolk has been sucked from it.
So where there is quite ample opposition to both wars, against dismantling public schools, against neglecting infrastructure, against enriching the banks with public bailouts while instructing the poor and underemployed in civic values, against giving a captive audience to the health-care industry, the yolk - as it were - is who this movement continues to support at the ballot box.
Barack Obama gave us every indication where his loyalties to the corporate class lay when he flip-flopped his opposition to the invasion and courted the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC). The DLC is that brainchild of Bill Clinton who wanted to distance the Party from its traditional base and court corporate validation ... and Reagan Democrats.
Obama got the blessing of the DLC and became the Goldman Sachs candidate.
And those leftist, anti-war activists voted for him.
This is what always happens, and I can't figure out why except maybe we live in a country with a lot of bad marriages, so electing candidates whom you hope won't beat you again is par for the course.
I started my political life a monarchist in 7th grade, realized the US was a republic and voted as a Republican in 12th grade, was b*tch-slapped awake freshmen year of college and became a social[ist] democrat, and when crafty Bill Clinton maneuvered the Democratic nomination in 1991, I not only left forever that strange political party but also actually fled the country for Mexico and a new life (which lasted only three months until my money ran out). Ten years as a public school teacher solidified my socialism.
In other words, I may learn slow, but I learn. But these anti-warriors have swelled impressively in their ranks and numbers on the one hand, and grown equally dumb on the other.
Dumb? Oh, I meant that with kindness, as Dame Edna would say.
Because not only do they continue to turn to their abusers in local, state, and national elections, but they keep doing it. Every Tuesday. Then Saturday, they put on their marching clothes, rehearse the chants, and demand the troops be brought home; or schools be funded; LGBT rights; or the public option be put on the table.
I would no sooner expect a drunk driver to steer straight.
When the Ross Perot or Ron Paul emerged, they were treated like folk heroes. Former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin and the tea party is feted.
Whereas many on the left continue to this day to attack Ralph Nader for Al Gore's loss. Others take him as seriously as any other in our third party basement. He can't win, so why vote for him, is the all too common excuse. So he won't win, and you get what you paid for.
The left not only scorns its own rebels. It scoffs at Palin and the tea party, forgetting the "thumping" an unknown, unrehearsed George W Bush gave Gov. Anne Richards in Texas.
The left, progressives, even socialists, and communists commit the sin of their beliefs on Friday, then bow their heads like vassals to the Democratic Party church on Sundays. Our communities and our country will not change into the things we march for, picket for, and diatribe for as long as they continue to give credibility to their oppressors.
We are the masses. The worker's party is us.
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