Saturday, about 500,000 people marched in Washington, DC, to voice their opposition to the war in Iraq.

A protest to be proud of.

500,000 = “tens of thousands” in New York Times math, but dissenters are used to being underestimated in every way. I’m sure the U.S. military know exactly how many people were in Washington, along with their Social Security numbers, since the U.S. military keep such a close watch on anti-war protestors. Close watch, spying, surveillance. Whatever you want to call it, they keep records.

The first speaker invited to the peace rally was none other than Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. In a speech that resembled the stirring speech he gave in Salt Lake City on August 30, 2006, he told the crowd,

No more God-is-on-our-side religious nonsense to justify this immoral, illegal war.

Listen to Rocky Anderson’s Saturday speech at the Salt Lake Tribune, and read about how Rocky ran into Karl Rove, another Salt Laker just like us–well, not JUST like us. Also, just for me, just because I love this song so much, listen to the August speech remixed with the Black Crowes “Soul Singin’” from Head On Radio.

I know you aren’t afraid to face the details of the Iraq war. Watch and read more reports at DC Indy Media, where you can get the close-up local view.

The rally involves more than marching and speeches. In a smart move, those in DC have been encouraged to talk to Congress in an all-out campaign to end this unpopular war. Today is the day for peace activists to visit their Senators and Representatives, voicing their opinions on the war in Iraq. Move On is also asking for a virtual march on Washington this Thursday, February 1st, to send 1 million messages to Congress about the war.

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“3,000 deaths in Iraq, countless tears at home,” said the New York Times headline.

“Iraq braced for unhappy New Year,” said the BBC.

Every big number is shocking, no matter how it is calculated, so let me offer this one.  More than 650,000 Iraqis dead.  For what?  I know the justifications given.  I’m still asking.  For what.  Is life really so expendable for the people willing to make decisions to send soldiers to kill and be killed?  Well, yes, of course it is–at least some lives are.

What I wonder is how life could become precious enough to these decision makers that they would look to nonviolent means to settle differences in the world.

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United for Peace and Justice are determined to use their First Amendment rights and take the mandate for peace to Washington, DC, on Saturday, January 27th. They are under Petagon surveillance, but spying won’t deter them.

“One of the main things we have to be concerned about is how this whole war on terror plays out here at home and how they use it to justify absolutely everything they do no matter how outrageous.”

Are you going to Washington?

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This time Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is serious about reinstating the draft. He says it is a matter of fairness. Thomas Jefferson agreed. It is probably no surprise, however, that students don’t tend to agree. Students involved in Nonmilitary Options for Youth in Austin, Texas, asked high school students how they would solve the problem faced by the all-volunteer army.

If most young people are adamantly opposed to universal military conscription, and if some understand the unfairness of the de facto draft we have now, what is the solution?

Students suggest that answers may be found in what schools have taught all along: “I think we should handle things in a nonviolent grown-up way.” “We should be big enough to reach an agreement with our enemies and settle it like civilized human beings.” “I think that people who think war is the best option are completely lazy; there are so many more options!” One student concluded simply, “I believe that the best way to make peace is with peace.”

College students at Campus Progress have been weighing in, too. Some say no way to the draft, others favor joining the Israeli Army (!). Then comes the response that suggesting joining any army is no way to run a progressive website.

I like the alternatives offered by the high school students. I am not crazy about the draft. I do think it would be completely fair to have mandatory national service, though. National service doesn’t necessarily mean serving in the military. No, that’s not an idea that is making me excited either. I don’t know. I don’t know.

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First Annual Solstice Synchronized Global Orgasm for Peace

The mission of the Global Orgasm is to effect change in the energy field of the Earth through input of the largest possible surge of human energy. Now that there are two more US fleets heading for the Persian Gulf with anti- submarine equipment that can only be for use against Iran, the time to change Earth’s energy is NOW!

The intent is that the participants concentrate any thoughts during and after orgasm on peace. The combination of high-energy orgasmic energy combined with mindful intention may have a much greater effect than previous mass meditations and prayers.

The goal is to add so much concentrated and high-energy positive input into the energy field of the Earth that it will reduce the current dangerous levels of aggression and violence throughout the world.

Don’t forget to read about the science of the Zero Point Field or Quantum Field and how human consciousness can (may) effect the field, showing up (the organizers hope) on Princeton University’s Random Event Generators.

I’m not even sure if this is legal in Utah.

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