It’s been eight years

Earlier today I attended the local rally against the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and whatever else U.S. imperialism sinks its claws. I found the event rather sad. A couple hundred of us marched down a main street flanked by cops. At first the authorities wanted us to stay on the sidewalk but then generously let us take up a single lane. Organizers gushed about the wonders cooperating with the police and keeping everything disciplined. A tiny black bloc appeared but didn’t cause any trouble. The speech by Enrique Cardiel of La Raza Unida proved the highlight of the day. I can’t imagine how following all the rules while the war machine hums along around us will accomplish anything. Either liberals need to make electoral politics actually work for peace or we need to become a direct material threat to the system. Ideally both. These symbolic actions just demonstrate our powerlessness.