Millions of immigrants and their supporters showed up at rallies and protests in at least 70 different cities today, and more demonstrations are forthcoming. These massive events were planned quickly, almost hastily, but were well-organized, mostly peaceful, and certainly, infinitely empowering to those in attendance.
Watching and reading about these rallies, I wasn't thinking about immigration at all.
Instead, I was thinking: why can't WE do this? Why haven't WE rallied against the lies and the wars and the secrets? Why can't WE assemble, coast-to-coast, and send OUR message to the Bush Administration?
Seriously, why aren't WE angry enough to pull together millions of people, in dozens of cities, all on the same day? Do we feel powerless? Are we too busy blogging? Don't we care enough?
Immigrants seem to understand the power of assembly better than disenfrachised Americans do.
If we're not motivated now -- if everything that's happened isn't sufficient to get us off our asses -- what will? What's it going to take to pull out the most basic, most fundamental activities of a democracy -- to call in sick to work, paint a few signs, write a few chants, recruit a few inspirational speakers, and hit the streets in the best of interests of our country?
Why hasn't Iraq been protested the way Vietnam was? Why has it taken a previously under-the-radar issue like immigration to get a single belief represented en masse?
I'm up for a rally to save our government from the Republicans. Are you?
I suggest June 12th -- the day after Yearly Kos ends.