To make crystals, a single pure crystal is entered into a saturated solution. This is called the seed crystal. Other crystals then begin to form around the seed crystal, building themselves into the crystal lattice structure.
Cindy is the seed crystal of the renewed antiwar movement. We are crystallizing about her, it is our job to build the lattice, the enduring structure that facilitates continued growth and emerges from the solution.
x-posted from Liberal Street Fighter
Let the lattice-building begin, we need to form organized, active grassroots antiwar structures everywhere we are. Don't be afraid if your little town or conservative suburb has few against the war--now. Look at what one person, our seed crystal, has accomplished. We don't need to be national heroes. But even a few voices, if everywhere, will grow together into a rising national chorus. Already the fundamental political tide has turned, I needn't recite the poll numbers on Iraq here. Now your neighbors need to know that the antiwar movement isn't a bunch of faraway professional troublemakers and dirty hippies. That it's ordinary folks in their home town, their daughter's third grade teacher, that helpful bagboy at the supermarket, that antiwar activists are people just like themselves who have decided the time has come to take a stand.
So you say, I live somewhere remote, or somewhere ultraconservative, if there was a local peace group, I'd be glad to join, but what am I going to join here? I'll answer your question with some questions of my own. How remote? How ultraconservative? Do you live in, say, Alabama? What if I told you I could immediately locate 15 local peace groups active in Alabama? Hard to believe? Here they are: 15 Peace groups in Alabama. Perhaps Utah? Here's 8 Peace groups in Utah. And for our Californian friends, I count no fewer than 179 peace groups from Tehachapi to Ukiah. Every single one of these groups, whether in Alabama or California or wherever else are always in need of new blood, new energy, new ideas. To find a list of local peace groups in your state, click here. (If you are in a local peace group that isn't on the list, you can submit your group information right there on the same page.
So often netroots activists find themselves dealing with organizations that don't provide us with the tools that allow us to work efficiently. United for Peace and Justice is different. They have many of the tools we need already in place, what does not yet exist is our awareness of them. This diary is an effort to begin remedying that. I've already shown you their list of local groups. If you have a local peace group that isn't in their data base, you can have it added. Deaniacs will recall the high value the "Get Local" had for our grassroots efforts. UFPJ has a Local Events Calendar tool that can be used in the same way. You can use it to find a local action, or if you create your own local event, and you can post it to the Calendar. A couple of days ago browsing the Massachusetts calendar, I found this event for September 25 in the little nowhere town where I graduated from high school. Since I probably won't be able to make it to Washington for the 9/24 rally, you can bet I'll be in Southwick on 9/25. As I implied above, I believe that in its own way it is just as important to be present in places like Southwick as in Washington.
Students! Lest you think I'm forgetting you, I know there are plenty of students reading the blogs. Does your campus have an active peace group? Hundreds do: check the list at the Campus Antiwar Network. You'll note that high schools as well as colleges have CAN affiliated chapters.
This is how we build the lattice, with a thousand small crystals all over the country, bringing the message to each and every community in America, and uniting for the big pushes such as supporting Cindy and the big marches. Bushco has made it clear that they intend to continue playing the same lying imperialist game that got us into this mess. The Democrats are still fearful, still under the sway of the Peter Beinarts telling them they must out-hawk the Republicans. But if the people lead, the leaders will follow. Cindy has opened the door, in her way not unlike the stand of Rosa Parks so long ago. Now is the time. Come together all you crystals, let us be the rock on which the warship of the regime is broken. Shine on, you crazy diamonds, shine on.