L.A. Anti-War Protest, March 22, 2003

If I took your picture at the march and you've come here to see it, it might be here [NOTE: Ran out of space on that server. Working on a fix]. This photo essay is a bit longer than previous ones, but there's lots of story to tell.

Amanda, a young protester who got arrested for the first time today, shares her compelling story here. She also offers advice, including, "Pee before you get arrested (they will make you wait)." Check.

I'm thinking about getting arrested tomorrow. Have to find out how to get back downtown from Van Nuys, because apparently they take some arrestees there.

You can see other pictures from the protest at LA Indymedia.

I just noticed that Robert Byrd made a statement on the floor of the Senate on Wednesday, condemning the war choice in no uncertain terms.

What is happening to this country? When did we become a nation which ignores and berates our friends? When did we decide to risk undermining international order by adopting a radical and doctrinaire approach to using our awesome military might? How can we abandon diplomatic efforts when the turmoil in the world cries out for diplomacy?

Why can this President not seem to see that America's true power lies not in its will to intimidate, but in its ability to inspire?

At least it was said.

Meanwhile, of course, we'll do what the Senate failed to do. I've been reading Robert A. Caro's 2nd volume of his Lyndon B. Johnson biography, Master of the Senate. The first part of the book explains how the Senate is the center of conscience and reason in our legislative system, making the hard choices instead of being swept away by the emotion of the times. History makes a good case for that assertion. But not any more. Now it's up to us.

War blog plug: Stand Down. A collection of bloggers against the war, including L.A. anti-war activist Bob Morris.