We’re now five years into the tragedy that is the Iraq War, and the Bush administration, as well as all the cowards who remain callously loyal to the official White House line, are touting its “successes.”
That fact is galling. It reduces five years of lies, death, destruction, protests, vigils, public dissent and public outrage to background noise, as easily dismissed as it is ignored. Frustration is appropriate. Despondency is understandable, but unacceptable.
This week at Take Back America, which concluded today, I had the pleasure of sitting in on a panel discussion between the Reverend Jesse Jackson, former assistant attorney general to LBJ and civil rights leader Roger Wilkins, and MLK historian Taylor Branch. All three men shared experiences from their dogged efforts in the Civil Rights Movement, which was ignored and repressed in equal measure. They offered encouraging words and sound advice from that most noble of 20th century American ventures.
Their message was clear; keep up the pressure on the government in the face of any and all failures. Let nothing sap your will, energy or determination when fighting the good fight. Some choice quotes:
Wilkins: “Oftentimes people are skeptical about how effective their protests are around the country, but even if the government pretends they’re not listening, they are. They may not react, but it weighs on them.”
“When you become silent, the government concludes that your silence as acquiescence, and you should never let that happen.”
“Change will come, but only if Americans take seriously their citizenship in this country … people say the only thing certain is death and taxes. That’s a lie. The only certain things are death, taxes, and change.”

Jackson: “Don’t ever underestimate the power of hope … JFK won the presidency by the margin of hope.”
“Some have the idea that they must run from the word ‘liberal,’ but America is a liberal idea. The idea that every man’s blood is royal, the idea that you can be born in Harlem and end up as the governor of New York [that’s a liberal idea].”
“Independent minds are the source of conscience, change and idealism in the United States.”
“A more mature America is expressing itself, and we will see the fruits of our battles.”
“A civil rights leader met with President Roosevelt, and, after he was done telling Roosevelt the president the changes that needed to be made, the president said ‘I’ve heard everything you said, I believe everything you said, now go out and make me do it.’”
“Vanity asks the question ‘is it popular?’, politics asks the question ‘will it win?’, conscience asks the question is it right?’” (attributed to MLK)
Branch: “The Civil Rights Movement redeemed the ideal of our nation.”
While the 5th anniversary of the war is a somber and discouraging date, we should look at the optimistic view; the anti-war movement is strong and growing, and political engagement from the younger generation is soaring. A responsible end to this war is in sight. Cheers to those who’ve kept their chins up, and their voices heard.
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