Thoughts on Stopping a War
Garth Liebhaber

It was very cold out, close to zero if not below. I don’t know much to write about right now. I wished people who were there would post more. I’m sure the police were expecting everybody, but they also knew we weren’t a violent threat. There was no large response… the revolving doors were cleared and employees with i.d.s were let in. Those lying on the floor were picked up and lined against the wall to be taken for processing. There were also a few undercover cops that looked like overweight Bears Fans…
We just got done listening to the State of the Union Address and it looks like February 5th may now be the big date of invasion. This is the largest pre-emptive peace movement in our history, but is it enough to stop the escalation of the Iraqi Genocide?
Still we pump oil in our cars. Wishful thinking that those hippies with their posters can make a difference for things. Isn’t it a great country where we at least have the freedom to express ourselves? …I struggle with what seems an overwhelming cynicism. We are after all trying to affect the direction of the greatest purveyor of violence on this planet…
My hometown of DeKalb has narrowly passed an anti-war resolution with a vote of 3-4. The Mayor who was once a Democrat threatens veto… I would like to ask him where the pro-war activists have been vigiling every Friday for the last 15 months? Where were the pro-war letters to the editor? I am reminded of the observation that most people will follow the authoritative nature of government-directive, rather than claiming the freedom we claim we have. Our freedom seems to be the freedom to gluttonously consume. But what else is there in a culture disconnected from communion with the creation and community around us? The thirty seconds of snow I saw today was beautiful…