As one sign said quite clearly, "the honeymoon is over." Well, at least it might be for those who swallowed the campaign rhetoric and convinced themselves that this particular politician is different, that he isn't the typical political face dancer, that he would regard their opinions and honor his word.
Turns out he is a cut from the same common cloth as all politicians. These elected officials who regard the bankers and financiers on Wall Street, the Generals in the Pentagon and they who occupy the Corporate Suites as the true America. Not the workers whose toil built and sustains the economy; not the soldiers who volunteer their lives and limbs to insure corporate profits; not the people, the fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, who in every facet of their lives provide the United States with its common wealth.
Perhaps many are now waking from a year of quiescence, from what was thought to be a well deserved R & R after 8 years of constant attack by the former Administration. But, in my opinion, the transition from the past to the present Administration is seamless, and offers very little to celebrate.
So we now protest the elite decisions of Barak Obama, as we protested those of George "W" Bush. But they don't see the world as we do. These are actually not wars, but Occupations, and though the difference might be lost on our politicians, our Media, and even many of our people, it is not lost to those people whose country we occupy.
And this one fact alone will doom any investment of our blood and treasure to naught.
But those who stood across from the Federal Building in Portland tonight understand that "War is Terrorism," that "War and Occupation Can Never Bring Liberation," to anyone, except those who lives are sacrificed for the fancy rhetoric and grandiose ideals of the Oppressor. As a nation we fool ourselves and drag other nations into our folly.
A few speakers each briefly addressed the crowd. They spoke out against, not just the escalation, but the invasion and occupation as well. Many offered ways to step up and make a difference, whether it was redirecting one's taxes or running for elected office.
Perhaps something began tonight, something many people falsely believed began in November of last year.
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