actually, i never got my puppet out.

professor burke has quite insightful things to say about the need for "prudence, patience and planning" from the opposition. [and isn't it funny, and sad, how i'm now part of this amorphous "opposition" rather than an anti-war movement?] obviously, there is to be no turning back now, and thus there's no sense in belaboring anti-war tactics and arguments that no longer apply, or in continuing to do things the same way. but but but but...i can't accept that this means that people who honestly voice their opposition are narcissists looking for a way to demonstrate their own virtue.

we should all be aware that humans are neither perfectly individual nor perfectly rational beings. they are social, and they are endlessly affected by what those around them are saying and doing. to downplay or remove vocal opposition to the war now is to create in our neighbors a belief that the opposition, which was gaining strength only days ago, has evaporated under the force of this defeat. if people are affected by their social situations (and i think they are), the appearance of retreat will soon lead to actual ignorance of the issues -- i.e., an actual retreat. people are remarkably adept at forgetting issues that aren't daily placed before them, and remarkably poor at maintaining independent critical thought in the face of a propaganda war. this is one reason that now is the time to do something -- NOT anything, but something -- to maintain the visibility of the opposition.

of course (and this is what professor burke seems most concerned about) it's obvious (or should be) that we should also not allow the opposition to be vilified ("NOT anything"). we must choose the actions we take with great care. but, and i think this is vital, we should also remember that while these actions, whatever they are, comprise just part of a larger goal, it's worthwhile to remember that real people are going to suffer, right now, at the hands of a government that supposedly represents us. while it is true that this has happened before (and met with very little public outrage), that fact alone cannot possibly justify our failure to display moral outrage this time around. moral outrage isn't narcissistic. it's justified, and necessary. think of how morally vacant the left would look (indeed, think of how morally vacant the left would be) if it took time off from protesting a current and concrete injustice in order to gain votes next fall.

it is true that votes are vital in our majoritarian system. if we want to change united states policy, we have to change the regime. but bringing george bush and his administration to account for this war, and the policies surrounding it, in 2004 requires that opposition to the administration's policies, especially those we find ethically (rather than just politically) abhorrent, sustain itself through whatever comes (unless, of course, what comes is a major triumph for peace and substantive democracy, which i somehow doubt). if paper-mache puppets, rallies and nonviolent resistance are that sustenance -- even if, God forbid, these are actions that also feel good and right to the people taking them -- then i find it shortsighted to condemn them, even if they are ineffectual in the short run.