Yesterday, I marched through Hollywood with my mom, her friend, and about 100,000 other people. We raised our fists and joined our voice to millions of other voices around the world. We sent a clear message to the Bush administration: This is just the beginning. We will stop your war machine. Your policies endanger America, and enrage the world.
I hope you are paying attention, Mr. Bush. The masses are speaking — the world is speaking — and we are rebuking you, your plutocracy, and everything you represent. Your time is over, Mr. Bush. The Supreme Court can not silence the voice of the world, as it silenced the voice of the American people. It is time for you to fade into history.
I hope that those who politically oppose Mr. Bush are also paying attention. There is a minority, on the cusp of becoming a majority, who are anxiously awaiting your leadership. Rise to the challenge, and give us representation in our government. Greens? Libertarians? Democrats? Who will represent the people? This is your moment. Do not squander it.
Peace.
UPDATE: Thank you, Senator Byrd.
UPDATE: I understand the visceral reactions that come when reading a post like this. If you’d like to comment or discuss, you are welcome to go to the Soapbox.
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Yup. In Seattle we had est. 20K-50K people. It was awesome, but made me think. If we actually impeach Bush *as some of the signs said* would that make things better or worse? There are too many levels of succession before we get to someone less. . . millitant.
Peace and hugs
*blinks* am I first?
Yup. In Seattle we had est. 20K-50K people. It was awesome, but made me think. If we actually impeach Bush *as some of the signs said* would that make things better or worse? There are too many levels of succession before we get to someone less. . . millitant.
Peace and hugs
*blinks* am I first?
I love my country. I will not let a few fanatics take it away from me.
The revolution *will* be televised!
We had up to 2 million people in London and up to 80000 in Glasgow. Do any major political parties actually oppose the war in the US?
Hey Wil, cool, we (people in LA to see Lon and Tooncies) walked around there (saw people with signs, and MUCHO cops) while waiting for a table at Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles. Went to Amoeba for a bit. I would have been at the San Fransisco version if it weren’t for Lon coming here for his movie. So right on!
I saw a T-shirt in the SF Don’t Panic store that I almost bought yesterday…
Showed a woman’s panties with the caption “Good Bush”.
Next to that was a pic of Dubbya and the caption “Bad Bush”.
I agree with it 100%.
Way to go!
Good job to all those who marched yesterday! And to you too, Wil. Bush and his war mongers need to be sent a message that we are sick of war and death. I wonder if Bush is trying to out-do his father’s work in Iraq. If there is another war, the only people who can be blamed for it are the United States Government and the British, led by Bush kiss ass Tony Blair. Will there ever be peace?
There were somewhere between 7-10,000 in my state capital of Raleigh, NC, which is pretty darn good considering how hideously Republican most of this place is…
And Scott, unfortunately the Democrats are either actually in support of going to war or too leery of speaking against it since these days being anti-Bush or anti-war is often labeled as being “unpatriotic”.
You peace-loving hippies don’t speak for _all_ of the American people. You go ahead and sit around and do nothing, the rest of us will go rid the world of terrorist scum.
Bush/Cheney 2004!
MrP
(This is not meant as trolling, only a differing opinion, but, I assume you will treat it as the former, since I don’t agree with you.)
A few people demonstrating up here in Canuk-ville yesterday also:
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030215.wcnd/BNStory/National“>http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20030215.wcnd/BNStory/National
and even though I live in Toronto, Melbourne Australia is my hometown:
http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/2003/02/15/1044927813059.html“>http://www.theage.com.au/photogallery/2003/02/15/1044927813059.html
Peter Garrett rocks! I wish he was the PM there instead of Howard.
Thank you for participating and putting this out there. If enough people continue the protests, it can make a dent in Washington (it did during Viet Nam).
What can help more is if you have friends in Middle America. If people from Iowa, Montana, etc. start voicing their concerns, it can create some concern in Washington. Call your friends out there and encourage them to do their bit.
We forget that Bush LOST the POPULAR vote. So a minority of people actually elected him. And whomever was President during 9/11 would be popluar.
People must keep the heat on……it has been said that one of the problems with democracy is the “tyranny of the majority” and it takes those in the minority to stand up and speak loudly.
When people are afraid, they lose perspective and are easily led down any road that sounds like it will keep them safe…..
I, too, am tired of these people taking my contry away from me…..enough is enough…
As a big Stanley Kubrick fan the only good thing I can say about Bush is that he is making Dr. Strangelove, Paths of Glory and Full Metal Jacket timely again.
” Mr. President, I’m not saying we wouldn’t get our hair mussed. But I do say… no more than ten to twenty million killed, tops. Uh… depended on the breaks.”
yeah, rid the world of terrorism by funnelling money into saudi arabia who then in turn funnel money into terrorist hands, GJ republicans! maybe we can better rid the world of terrorism by not giving people a reason to blow us up?
btw, wil, little wesley crusher in Brooklyn says “hey you knee-biting jerk!”
Always respecting differing opinions, I will agree with the previous poster: we don’t speak for _all_ Americans.
We speak for a growing number of Americans, who will shortly become _most_ Americans.
And you say “peace-loving” like it’s a bad thing. That is truly sad.
My dad was there with you. We have been iced in down in central VA, but we are all with you in spirit.
Thanks Wil:
You make my job easy!
UBL
216.39.138.232 has valid reverse DNS of 216-39-138-232.ip.theriver.com
Pilot – if you are not a troll why are you so damned offensive. Not capable of disagreeing without being abusive?
However, I must rebut your (childish) assertion that the anti-war marchers are all “peace-loving hippies”. What marks this protest as different from others in the past is that ordinary, even conservative, people are opposed to an unnecessary and politically motivated war. That’s why the numbers of marchers are so great this time – because it’s not just the radicals and the hippies but people like me (who voted for Margaret Thatcher) who are voicing their opinion.
“Support the troops – DON’T send them to war”
Absolutely brilliant the way that organizers across the world were able to coordinate on a single day for protests — the impact of each individual demonstration was multiplied by the people on the streets everywhere.
There were 1,500 out (in the 20 F weather) in Wausau, Wisconsin. Anyone out there know where Wausau WI is? Exactly my point — opposition to Bush’s reckless warmongering is widespread and growing.
The time to stop this war is now — before it starts.
Much virtual ink devoted to this issue at blog-O-rama
afuckingmen, wil. well said.
Thank you for trying to give war opposition a place in the media. The LA Times and Pasadena Star-News, as well as all the local news stations keep reporting the situation in Iraq as though war is inevitable and everyone wants it to happen. Kind of hard to ignore 100,000 people marching against the war. We need to keep it up, though, so the media CAN’T go back to ignoring us.
I am in support of peace and diplomacy…
I don’t think that steaming into Iraq with guns and tanks is teh wisest choice as it will only set the Islamic world against us. We need to open the channels of communication to resolve this issue without shedding the blood of innocents.
Saddam has co-operated with all the requests of the United Nations, yet North Korea is blatantly amassing weapons of mass destruction. While diplomacy and tact is used with North Korea, bully boy tactics and threats are used with Iraq. I know who I feel is a more pressing threat/Issue…and its not Iraq.
They use the justification that they are fighting terrorism…yet there is no link between Al Quaida and Saddam..in fact its quite the opposite.
There is no justification for wading in all guns blazing… there is justification for helping the Iraqi people however…but there are better ways for doing this.
Suz
There were “peace marches in September 1941, and again on December 8, 1941.
They were wrong then you are wrong now.
Interesting that the reason you can march for peace is that the USA has waged War to provide that right.
There is a time for peace and a time to defend our way of life.
To hell with the rest of the world!
GWB was elected by the Electorial College for “such a time as this”.
Thanks
TJ
“To hell with the rest of the world” is the most disgusting, sickening, myopic thing I’ve ever read on this website.
Maybe on the entire internet.
Brilliant! Yesterday, I took my husband and son to watch my mother speak at a rally in Vancouver, Washington – we lost my brother in the first Made for TV saga in the desert, and do not want to lose anyone else in a sequel. Small voices, in union, make a loud roar!
Seeing so many millions in just London and Paris alone is encouraging.
It occurs to me that if some people think this war is such a damned good idea maybe they should get out and march in favour of it.
I doubt they will. Armchair generals tend not to be the most active of people.
Resistance is Futile. Persistance is not.
Trust me on this *is annoying*
To the protest bus!
Are protests enough to stop the war?
People protested during the vietnam “police action” and it did nothing to prevent the senseless killing of innocent women and children.
While this is at the moment a good way to show where we stand, this will not be enough to stop good ol Dubya.
So the question now is, what can we do that will work?
We have to come up with something more effective.
I don’t yet know what this is, but I think we should all be thinking about it.
Neph
*side note: It is not an opinion that makes someone a troll but the way they go about stating their opinion(name calling etc.~~ I saw a troll today.*
AMEN !
To hell with the rest of the world is exactly the attitude why America is dispised around the world…
All the good that you do…all the foreign aid that you provide is wiped away in that one simple sentence.
Such views are disgusting… we are all one people, no matter our religion, our politics or our nationality… we must strive to help our fellow man, not to promote more dissention in the world. In this society where a single bomb could start a world war, we must be careful and seek other methods of bringing peace and understanding.
In some cases war is unavoidable…in this case we have a man always known to be a warmonger who is heading the most powerful nation on the planet… do not abuse your power…so much good can come it.
Suz
TJ, comparing Saddam Husayn with Hitler is a little illogical.
Hitler was an actual menace with an army marching across Europe.
Husayn doesn’t even have an army capable of marching across Iraq.
“John need to pay his rent… John need to feed his kids… John fed the kids”
That is a myopic decision because in a week he will be homeless.
Myopic? Maybe. But it is still the only thing he could do.
Thanks
TJ
Good job Wil and to everyone else out there at the rallies. It’s time for this administration to learn that jingoism is not responsible foreign policy.
“To hell with the rest of the world.”
What a sad and ignorant thing to say.
I respect everyone’s right to state their opinion, though I must admit I find that statement so repugnant I wanted to delete it and wipe it off my site.
I will leave it, though, in the hopes that its ugliness and stupidity will serve to enlighten.
I don’t believe I’ve met anyone in person who believes Bush doing the right thing. This war is a bad idea. I think the only people Bush is representing are poeple he’s brainwashed with his post 9-11 reteric. Still, Wil – your blog made me giggle. Just the thought of Wil Wheaton rallying the masses into peacful action is funny to me. Its also funny to me that the two causes I’ve put the most energy into are “Stop Bush” & “Save Farscape” – the latter, I know will have very little impact on the world. Still, I sure don’t want to get stuck watching current events or reality shows at a time like this.
Amen. Peace to all.
Chriswife 🙂
Wil
Thanks for participating in the march, and not being afraid to admit it. Beleive it or not some people out there (politicians) are afraid to admit to be against the war. Bush must learn before its to late, nothing good comes from war, and war should never be started from a personal vendetta.
Just because Daddy could not do his job does not mean Jr. has to make the same mistake.
LONG LIVE PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
TJ said:
“GWB was elected by the Electorial College for “such a time as this”.”
I say:
GWB wasnt elected by anything…He was placed into power by the Supreme Court.
Wil
Thanks for participating in the march, and not being afraid to admit it. Believe it or not some people out there (politicians) are afraid to admit to be against the war. Bush must learn before its to late, nothing good comes from war, and war should never be started from a personal vendetta.
Just because Daddy could not do his job does not mean Jr. has to make the same mistake.
LONG LIVE PRESIDENT HILLARY CLINTON THE 44TH PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES
Fuckin’ A Right, Wil. I marched in Seattle yesterday, with about 50,000 other people, and it was one of the most diverse protests I have ever seen, and also one of the most mainstream. Local neighborhood associations were out there protesting. Homeowners, people with children, people with jobs and 401k’s and investment brokers. There were cranky little old ladies holding signs that said “Impeach Bush”. There were war veterans carrying signs saying “This is a stupid war.” I respect the right of others to disagree, because this is America, where you have more right to be proudly, vocally, openly wrong than anywhere else in the world, but I didn’t march with a crowd of peace-loving hippies yesterday. I marched with a crowd of peace-loving war-fearing regular people.
If you could have prevented the bombing of Pearl Harbor would of you?
If you could have prevented 911 would of you?
That is why Iraq must be stopped. The way to stop Acts of Terror is not to sit down and talk to people that refuse to talk. The only way is to take away the power of evil leaders and give the power to the people.
The reason that America is a nation today, is due the idea of representation. We were unfairly represented to Britain. This is also the case in Iraq, what other choice do the people have then to vote for him? We have a responsibility as Americans, the remaining super power on this planet, to protect the rights of our people and the rights of all of this worlds people. If we have to send and lose some of our soldiers in the name of human rights and democracy then so be it.
To those who say that Iraq has fully cooperated. How has he fully cooperated? By giving us ACCESS to all of their palaces? By telling us how they destroyed all their weapons of mass destruction? Or by training scientists is what to say? Now tell me have they fully cooperated?
You Hollywood moron. Leftists and pacifists aren’t even remotely close to being a majority; they might pull 25% if they were really, really lucky.
Fortunately, the people in the real world aren’t about to let a bunch of show-business half-wits, ageing Stalinists, and empty-headed college kids let this country surrender to a pack of barbarians who’d just as soon *kill every one of us* as have a second cup of coffee.
Say, how many protest rallies were there in Bagdhad yesterday? Or ever, for that matter? And how long do you idiots think you’d last in a place like that, where there’s a real ‘plutocracy’ and real oppression?
No time at all.
You fools.
66.23.192.134
PEACE PEACE PEACE…!!!
I was very disconcerted when Tony Blair was quoted in the NY Times this morning as saying something along the lines of “sometimes being a leader and doing the morally superior thing makes you unpopular” (I have paraphrased because I don’t remember the exact quote).
I still have hope though that Dubya and his cohorts won’t get away with going against the people and stomping all over democracy. Glad to hear others were speaking out yesterday too! I went to the Seattle rally for a little bit but didn’t go on the actual march. Crowds terrify me. It was amazing to me that I actually made it to the rally.
Fantastic post, Wil.
I could rant on about my views for ages, but there’s one simple lesson we – as a species – need to heed, and yet time and again fail to do so: those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.
Will, idealitic you are but not realistic. ~6 million protestors worldwide out of almost 6 BILLION people is hardly a resounding “No!” You guys talk and talk that “war is never the answer” yet offer no viable solutions yourselves. For 12 years Iraq has flouted UN resolution after resolution yet the UN has done nothing. When exactly does the farce stop. The situation today is very analogous to Hitler and the Rhineland. A little backbone on the part of France and the UK then would have avoided the deaths of millions of people in WWII. Blix clearly states that Iraq has not “accounted” for tonnes of chemical and biological agents. Where do you think those things are?
We will stop your war machine.
***
Melodramatic… and doubtful.
Your policies endanger America, and enrage the world.
***
The Arab/Muslim world has been “enraged” by the US for decades.
The Supreme Court can not silence the voice of the world, as it silenced the voice of the American people.
***
An old, tired and inaccurate argument.
I marched through Hollywood with my mom, her friend, and about 100,000 other people.
***
Meanwhile… Saddam laughed.
Will, stick to the regular blog subjects. Your political views are rather rabid in tone and not well-formed. Also, if I wanted to read politics, I would go to a news site.
In regaurds to NT’s post..
By your logic, we should disarm everyone that has the power or capability to do any harm to the United States. This is impossible. Even Americans do harm to others… look at what happend at Oklahoma City.
We cannot wage war against everyone that could harm us, but has not threatened us. That would be the whole world. The terrorists did not even use any conventional weapons they used our own airplanes against us.
I am asking you to consider your words.
I wish I could find the right words to help you see what I am saying, but perhaps those words do not exist. Perspective is a very powerful thing.
Neph
I hear George Bush is an avid reader of wilwheaton.net
Thank you.
I am one of those that when 9/11 happened, was enraged, terrified, scared, lost, and downtrodden, all at once. The proof that yes, this can happen on our own soil, takes away that layer of comfort knowing you lived in the most powerful nation in the world.
I am one of those that watched Saddam do the things he did that proved he was not a just leader. Propaganda on a Stalin-esque level. Holding back food from his civilians and then blaming us. He has not met a single demand of the previous resolutions from the UN. (To whoever said he’s fully cooperated with inspectors has not been watching global events.) I would love to see him removed from power.
I am one of those currently caught in the middle: What Bush hopes to achieve is in the right place, but what he would do to do it, pushing away the rest of the world’s feelings to do it ourselves, i am not even close to being able to raise a fist for. But at the same time, i could not find it in me to protest. I saw photos of people holding up signs making Bush look like Hitler. I saw signs claiming Saddam to be a “victim”. The victim’s are Saddam’s people, not him. I saw very trendy Hollywood people (dont’ worry Wil, you are excluded from this) taking every opportunity to bash Bush while they could, totally putting aside all facts because they didn’t fit their arguement.
Two of my friends just got activated for active duty, to be sent up the 24th. (any mojo you can spare for Devon and Chris would be much appreciated.) I pray for them daily.
I am not for war. But i am not for peace. Is there anything in the middle?
Very confused,
Chris