This discussion on Portland Indymedia got me to thinking: maybe the differences are really just too great between the remnants of the "New Left" and the Antiglobalization / Anti-imperialist resistance which grows in the Gen-X and younger folks.

I especially like what Citizen K said here:

"This returns us to the U.S. antiwar "movement," composed mainly of the aging remnants of whatever is left of the U.S. middle class. The median age of most rallies, meetings and vigils I have attended has been well into the fifties. You have to figure most people will only come out if they are already secure in their retirement; if they're still working, they won't come out because they have a boss to fear.

What must be recognized is that there is a leadership to the antiwar movement, despite what Scott Ritter says, and I am not referring to ANSWER or Not in Our Name, even though these folks have never received enough credit for organizing the really major events against the war. What I am referring to is the force or forces behind the much smaller, community-scaled events where like-minded individuals really have a chance to make contact with each other.

These groups include, but are not limited to, the various "Peace and Justice" centers, Sound Nonviolent Opponents of War (remember them?), the Fellowship of Reconciliation, etc. All have this much in common: they are very much faith-based, operating with the support and cooperation of local churches, which in turn donate funds and meeting space. What we must do is follow the money trail and ask where this funding is really coming from."

So, if this is reality, what are we gonna DO about it?