What Would Make You Angry Enough To March?

Now, I don't pose the question above to the protesters, those out -- but all of us. And I do realize that anyone who has found their way to a liberal blog is already preaching to the choir. But there is something I've had to get off my chest, for eight years, now. Shouldn't all of us, all of us -- you -- we should be, could be, marching every day? (Marching being only my metaphor for the right thing to do).

Let me explain.

I am looking outside my apartment, toward the street. It's completely empty. Well, to be fair, let me walk all the way to the curb. Maybe you're all there. No. I'm now walking up to my local Arco. If I'd expect to see anyone marching, it would be at the gas station. In fact, I'd expect throngs of us might have just left our cars mid-pump after paying $75.00 for a tank of gas. $75.00? And what other solution could there possibly be here in LA if we couldn't drive? We'd have to be marching, right? It's almost simple. But I don't see a soul.

I am about to examine what I find an unbelievable phenomenon. The idea that we have not taken to the streets in these long past eight years. Now, like I said, marching is my own age-appropriate metaphor, what I think is symbolically right. My choice. But forget about the metaphors. Maybe it's just too hot to march, what with global warming and all. But it's way too expensive to turn on the air, so where is everyone?

My street runs east/west, the same path the pioneers took. In fact, "Go West, Young Man," Horace Greeley's mid-century New York newspaper famously urged. So we've got this 'marching' thing in our blood, we who live in this great experiment of a nation; no, actually, of every nation, we all have pioneer ancestors who marched different ways.

I live in Los Angeles, where you would imagine outrage over something 'car' related. Our mass transportation doesn't quite work. The geography dictates that our subway only goes to a very limited area. Plus, a subway in earthquake country? They say it's perfectly safe. (Of course, they say that about a lot of things).

So, I'm outside, here in the City of Angels. Hoping to spy some fellow foot-soldiers strolling down the Boulevard, much like my Russian/Jewish relatives did (you know, the ones who "didn't die")? But everyone's apartment is shut up tight. I think I heard on the news that it's 114 degrees here in Los Angeles. Even this late in the day. The newscaster also made a joke that triple digit temperatures are only unhealthy if you are unlucky enough to be unhealthy. Typical of my timing. Only I would do all those downward facing dogs and quit smoking cigarettes, just in time for the end.

Well, then, I guess there's only one thing that I can say today is for sure. And that is that I am going to be out here, all by myself. So I'm going to have to put on my Gladys Kravitz glasses and figure out where you all are.

Inside, I presume...??? (It's not rocket science, Beav).

So what's going on inside that's got you all captive -- or captivated?

I'm guessing... you must all have some pretty cool stuff.

Am I right? Am I close enough to get the cigar? (Trust me, if it's the end of the world, I'm gonna smoke)! I have to admit, I'm kind of jealous. My collection of 'Day of the Dead' figurines from Mexico -- though beloved -- isn't enough to keep me indoors.

Everyone must be home looking at their cool stuff.

Now, before I continue doing my best Mrs. Kravitz, I will first toss out a very brief 'history of civil unrest'. I say very brief because I also heard on another newscast that we have shortened attention spans. So I will tell you -- quickly -- what I was taught in a school that was up the street and free. Cost my parents nothing but tax dollars. No waiting on lines, no lists, no applications for a first grader. Just a walk past a scary German Shepherd! So, with a deep breath, here's what I was told: 'We in the United States of America were the best in the world. The very best. And our mission in the world was to spread democracy and goodness through other lands.' That, and a lot of stuff about pioneers and tea.

You notice that I keep mentioning those pioneers. I want to emphasize those who moved, who migrated, who got off their mortar and pestle, wooden davenports and put their feet to the ground. They are our ancestors, our DNA. And just in case anyone thinks I'm making a case that our characters are only ancient history, no, I saw what we are capable of right now, after September 11, 2001, when for a few short months here, we were all brothers and sisters, all very united states.

Speaking of character, let me mention -- since I am guiding this history lesson -- 1968. A year that looms large in my imagination, a year I was only eight, so the only place I marched then was to turn over a Bobby Sherman album on my record player. But something happened collectively in that year that seemed to have touched our/my soul. People marched. They shouted, their voices were raised, and they thought they had a right to be heard.

With our civil liberties being attacked worse than ever, it is disheartening that the only place people seem to march against our government now is overseas. Are we tired??? Are we collectively asleep? Soon, we'll be paying as much as they do for gas -- or, as I like to put it, simply printing money for the Bush/oil company cartels.

I recently watched 'Recount,' the HBO account of the Florida election, and wrote to Dennis Kucinich about his articles of impeachment. "That votes were not allowed to be counted in a democracy is what started this American nightmare. The eight years since have been filled with high-level crimes by the Bush/Cheney/Roves. But I believe that there is still an important lesson for the children of America to learn, that actions have consequences." I guess that was something I learned, there amongst all that talk about 'we're the greatest' and tea.

I actually did march after that election, in 2000. My choice. I was pretty much alone. Not too many took to the streets after that. Was everyone sitting at home, just tired??

Ah, here I was. I was only going to take a little look-see inside your apartment, check out your abodes. But it's funny. Give me an inch, and I'll always start screaming about 'democracy.' The reason I say it's funny is because I'd actually be arrested if I ever dared to utter that word -- or any -- at what the Bush Administration is allowed to call Press Conferences, a quality shared by their cohort John McCain, whose recent refusal to go on Larry King to answer questions about a Vice-Presidential decision he made should not be considered okay.

Back to your stuff.

Tell me what it is we were gazing at that's big enough to keep us entertained while gas prices continued to rise, and Halliburton got all the contracts off the shores of New Orleans? I mean, I know Americans can be lazy. I know what it takes to get us out of our -- now -- much comfier throw-pillowed recliners. But we all came here -- metaphorically -- from somewhere else, we all made the journey from Europe or Africa, or wherever yours came from. What's it going to take to get us up, and moving?

You know, maybe I'm being unfair. Maybe typical 'Inside Guy,' and here I'm having to use my imagination -- (which is still free) -- maybe he's an artist. Making all new stuff! Then, I'll make 'Typical Gal,' an artist, too. Maybe she collects flowers, arranging them in ever-larger blooms from her Crate and Barrel vases. Though, since I am the Captain of this ship, maybe I should also make 'Typical Gal' study ikebana, the Japanese way to make flower-arranging. A practice where less is more might help, in this new era.

Still, maybe that's why you're inside. Is pale and pasty the new patriotic?

And, you know, 'Inside Guy', even if you did take up art because your stockbroker left for Jamaica upon hearing that the Starbucks stock had tanked (690 stores closing and counting), well, still, still I commend you. It's not easy to stay unafraid, what with The GAP and BANKS failing, yes, even when they tell us not to worry, it's hard not to.

I've been trying to imagine here your homes, your shelters, the place where you metaphorically go in a storm. I feel like everyone has spent the last eight years in their homes watching an episode I missed. It seems to take a missile to get us out of our Barcaloungers.

I don't know what will happen to us in the next few months. But I see us standing at the gas stations, filling our tanks. We all look slack-jawed. I'm hoping that the seduction of a very incompetent Tina Fey-doll doesn't sway anyone. But I worry that there will be no consequences. Karl Rove is on Fox TV, not in jail. Will there be consequences?

Please, tell me what's going on with you wherever you happen to read this. Because I remember people taking pictures of soldier's caskets used to get Pulitzer Prizes, not fired. Tell me, what is hanging in our collective dens, what is it we're so fixated on that we cannot turn away, cannot be disturbed, we cannot be disturbed from your/our reverie? What is it, is it pixilated, is it fashionable, is it in 3-D? What are you looking at that's gotten you just a little bit lazy? I pose this question because an organized Soccer Mom who can barely read from a Teleprompter is legitimately catching people's eyes.

Tell me your reasons. Tell me what's caught your eye.

Comments

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

You're making me fall in love with you! (I did look you up on the computer at BM, btw).

A few things. I know exactly how you feel about Obama, other than you think he's more in the corporate pockets than I might. I don't know what you remember, but Hillary was not my girl. In fact, I've been in love with Joe Biden for decades. I don't understand why the tendency to say too much is so egregious; I actually find it charming, especially in that man.

I was disappointed in Obama's last debate, to be honest. Nonetheless, I am impressed by a person's behavior, and the class act of walking over to the McCains to shake their hands, when McCain had not looked at him, was noted. I understand he did the same yesterday on the Floor. That's who I want negotiating with people. I feel like this is the end of something here in the US -- the end of the world? Our country? I'm not sure. I feel sad about it, to be honest. I know you think it's part of the plan. And let's not get into the fact that the bar is so low that someone with good manners shines.

Thank you back. You say you want to continue this dialogue. How do you propose to do that?

Jodi

[donnswaby]

Awww. Jodi, you're making me blush! Sorry about the reference to Hillart being your girl if it's not true. Thought you refered your suppor of her during the Primaries. Maybe not...my bad.
Remember, the end of something is always the beginning of something else. Its a time continum (sp?) In either case , yes, these are truly exciting times inwhich we live.
We can continue the dialogue here, via e-mail... over coffee or tea perhaps? I'm open.

Talk to you soon. Lookin' forward to your next piece.

Donn

[donnswaby]

Part 5...

So what if Obama 'didn't vote for the war" He has been a part of the power structure in Congress that has given billions more to it while voting on non-binding resolutions that say they are wagging there fingers dissaprovingly at the Bush Administration. He supports the war in Afghanistan and to someone like me, who views war in the historical sense (all wars are about the aquisition resources and power. Read Jared Diamond's book Collapse and Endgame, Volumes I and II, by Derek Jensen), that war is the same as any other. To believe anything else is to believe the B.S. all leaders have perpetually dished out to the great masses of ignorant folk who need the words God, Democracy, or the new one... Terrorism, to be convinced to support, or worse, fight in a war.

But all that is to say, hey, people can believe what they want to believe. The Obama-ites are just as happy and inspired as they were when they were eager to elect the Dems into Congress a few years ago, convinced their political Messiahs were going to save the day. Surprise, surprise, look how that's turned out... so they became angry again. But look! On the horizon! Its another Messiah! He says "believe in yourselves. "

And I do. So why is my belief in myself synonymous with belief in him and his Party?

That's all I'm sayin'.

Thanks for letting me share, Jodi.
Best,
Donn

[donnswaby]

Part 4... (almost done. Promise...)

Hell, the Dems and Repubs will team up to kill one of their own if one of the fold is just a little too radical, as they purposely locked Kucinich out of several debates in the primaries (and the fact that Kucinich is the most radical of the Dems is saying a lot 'cause that man is not really that radical at all.)

I have a friend who thinks that if Obama is elected it will inspire little black boys and little black girls in the US to think that with enough hard work, even they can one day be president.

But that is not true. Obama is related to Cheny. Obama, like all other "front and center" figures that emerge from the Two Big Dominating Parties was hand picked and groomed to be where he is. He has gone along with a program. That is why he is where he is. If truly ANYONE can become president then gee, I guess it's just been a coincidence that all of them have been old white men (save the young white man who was capped for daring to stop a warin the 60's) who have been either a Democrat or Republican. 'Cept I don't believe in coincidences.

[donnswaby]

Part 3...


That does not mean that if I vote for a Green Party or Libertarian or any other third party candidate that I think they will win. They will never win. They are there as a paltry excuse to say, "See! We are truly democratic. We let all these other people on the ballot!" Yeah, but they are marginalized in the media and locked out of debates (as Nader was in 2000. Check out the wonderful documentary about him, An Unreasonable Man, where you actually see democracy subverted before your eyes) And even if a whole mess of people were to suddenly turn around and vote for a Nader or a Cytnhia McKinney, those int he power structure, both Dems and Republicans, would team up to cheat and "win," just the way your girl (trust me, before I evolved, she was my girl too) Hillary and her Republican counterpart threatened to boycott the debates in NYC when she was running for Senate if the Green Party candidate was allowed to debate as well (I mention this in one of my blogs and the Green Party candidate was interviewed about it on KPFK or NPR a few years back) .

(continued..)

[donnswaby]

Part 2 (You know I write long... smile)

But I will not support him. Nor would I support anyone coming from the power structure because the power structure (politically, the "one big party" of the Dems and Republicans, although they only represent one level of global power) wants to keep the status quo and are brilliant at hiding that fact from those suckered by Obama's charm.

They will not stop the wars because they will not stop the profiteering that they and their Big Business friends are engaging in as a result of the wars. They will not stop the global industrial pollution, neither here nor in China, their biggest trading partner. Obama's energy policy, listed on his web site, should make that clear enough, as he has the major polluting industries basically pay money (called pollution credits) to then continue to pollute all the way to 2050. There are many more reasons why I will never vote for someone from the power structure but I think you get where I'm coming from.

(continued...)

[donnswaby]

Part 4...

Once people have accepted what has been handed to them as "reality" they can be manipulated any which way. People are sedated with the disease of over-consumption, with shopping, with drugs both pharmacuetical and street, with television and American Idol/Dancing With the Stars/name any mind numbing "reality" show... that's what they are doing inside.

Or some are outside, vainly trying to protest what they don't like while simultaneously buying into the "solution" provided by the very power structure concerned with keeping its power intact, that "solution" (which is just another illusion) being to vote for them as we've done in the past and THIS TIME they will change things... as they laugh all the way to their bank in Dubai, having long since divested their money out of the US, which is intentionally being pushed to socio-economic collapse as it was before the Great Depression, which is all part of the program, part of the Matrix. And most are falling for it. And that's whay they are inside.

Again, great piece Jodi. Rock on!

[donnswaby]

Part 2 from above...

Some of those few who did and do know this have used that advantagously to manipulate and control the ignorant masses who could not understand that the metaphors they found in their religions were not meant to be taken literally and therefor did not see that said metaphors directly pertained to how all the laws of the universe directly related to them. Easy pickin's for the manipulators who have always weaved a very deceiving Matrix of "reality" that they have dished out to the ignorant masses who are sadly on "default", meaning they think "reality" is fixed/Static, and therefore cannot be changed. Unless someone like Obama comes along and tells them it can... even though his idea of change is actually not challenging the status quo (ongoing, money-making wars, foreign Imperialism, the rich gettin' richer while the poor get... well you know, etc) or urging people to symbolically exercise their free speech via marching in the streets, but convincing people to vote for one half of the US power structure, the Democratic Party, since, as Kucinich believes, all the mess "started" six years ago with Bush and Co... as if the US has not been engaged in money-making, resource-gathering, protests-by-poor-displaced-peoples-in-other-US ravaged-countries-sparking wars for the greater part of last century. (continued...)

[donnswaby]

Great piece, Jodi! Hey, its Donn Swaby from the almost-Burning Man Ride share! Yes, I truly enjoyed your humorous style of writing while you were making your point.

I have a long response so its in the nesxt 3 or 4 posts...

It is my opinion that in recent history, geologically very recent being the last 10,000 years, the majority of people on this planet have been unawarre, unconscious, and grossly ignorant of who they are (co-creators of their every "NOW" moment of existence, and what they can do (create their own reality from moment to moment, one with the Universe/God/Whatever You Want To Call It).

[donnswaby]

Great piece, Jodi! Hey, its Donn Swaby from the almost-Burning Man Ride share! Yes, I truly enjoyed your humorous style of writing while you were making your point.

I have a long response so its in the nesxt 3 or 4 posts...

It is my opinion that in recent history, geologically very recent being the last 10,000 years, the majority of people on this planet have been unawarre, unconscious, and grossly ignorant of who they are (co-creators of their every "NOW" moment of existence, and what they can do (create their own reality from moment to moment, one with the Universe/God/Whatever You Want To Call It).

[Jodi Lampert - Huffpost Blogger]

Hey, Donn. We keep meeting these crazy ways!

Btw, I believe this is the last phone conversation we had, verbatim.

I definitely think I like Obama more than you do, but I also know you think this has been coming for decades and decades. I wonder what you think with what is happening currently, the financial crisis. Something come home to roost, I suspect?

Thanks for all the many words!

Jodi

[donnswaby]

Hey Jodi,

I just didn't want to assume you remembered me. And by the way, it was Last Minute Camp and I put our address on the computer as well as a (small) sign on the bulletin board. Oh well...

Wanted to respond,keep the dialogue going. (Can you tell I am starved for good intellectual dialogue?)

Well again, it's not that I don't like Obama as far as how good of a politician he is. As a politician, he, like Bill Clinton, is superb. He gives inspiring, rousing speeches, he has charm and charisma. and he seems genuine.

[musselmanm]

As one of the original baby booming protesters, I AM FIRED UP AND READY TO MARCH!
I have beens posting thoughts somewhat more radical than you but it is time to SHOW NOT TELL!
"Takin it to the streets!"
Thanks, Doobies!

[candyc]

For FIVE years, we did take to the streets. We protested this horrendous war. No one cared. 500,000
people and no news coverage. Dc and NYC. We were in DC in January just before they started the war. Thousands of us begging everyone to SLOW down and not buy the lie. No one cared.
Ever since 9-11, a local peace group, Women in Black, has organized peace vigils during rush hour. Every car that goes by honks and waves in agreement. But no one really cares.

[Rivercs]

I'm out marching, after a fashion; my march is door to door and house to house, rousting out my neighbors in an effort to bring out the vote. My weekends are devoted to campaigning for my candidates in an effort to elect actual progressives who will do something about health care, and pollution, and poverty, and wildlife, and cleaning the crooks out of government. My weekdays are often given to phone banking for those same candidates. And now I'm watching the U.S. government try to give away my future without giving me anything in return for it? Heck yes, I'm mad, and I'm calling them to put a stop to it. I will wear their ears off.

I may not be able to do much actual marching these days (though I do, as I said, go doorbelling), but I'm protesting in my own way. The lessons of the Vietnam War era are not forgotten by this child of Berkeley.

[Willow712]

I campaigned for McCarthy, in 1968. I answered phones, I passed out flyers, etc . when I was 16. The next time I voted, I realized that I was voting against someone, rather than FOR someone. I didn't vote again for a very long time. I registered to vote again a few months ago. I volunteer, I donate, I have a bumper sticker on my truck and a sign in my yard. I have marched in a moratorium against the war (way back when), then I gave up. This is the first time I voted (and I already have) FOR someone, rather than against someone.

[vernbvb]

Jodi, this is an excellent piece and should stimulate many of those who read it to ask themselves that question as well as "what exactly will their expression of protest look like?".I am making calls, sending emails and attending various types of meetings in the community where i live. We find ourselves in very trying times and you would think it would be hard to be apathetic or complacent at this moment - but, i guess not.

I, too, would like to know when the real march will start. What are we waiting on. So many of us are yelling our heads off but doing it in an ineffective way. We need to organize much like Senator Obama has organized. We need to make our march rise to a crescendo and refuse to be ignored. How about it America. Let's make some noise!

[hrayovac]

addendum to my first post:

It is increasingly important to let go of the "circus atmosphere" look of recent demonstrations in favor of a less theatrical and sorry, less fun, more serious manner and dress code. No entertainment or music is needed. This is life and death, like the civil rights movement. You didn't see any puppet figures of Ross Barnett or costumes like orange prisoner suits in 1963. The Code PInk people are foolish to believe they are "accidentally" let into senate hearings even though they are well known by face and name. It is no accident; they discredit the peace movement by being ridiculous and thus give the right wing an easy excuse to dismiss as idiots the entire lot of us who opposed the Iraq war on Feb 15-16th, 2003 (the largest worldwide demonstrations in world history). So I say, dress in your work clothes, carry an intelligent sign if you like but most of all, be serious.