If anyone remembers the days before terms like \homeland security"" were thrown around like confetti, they might also remember the vibrant protest culture that thrived on campuses across the country.
In the world before Sept. 11, a spectrum of issues vied for our attention. Whether we liked it or not, issues in all their forms were up for debate on a regular basis.
Any true believer in the efficacy of demonstrations will tell you, protest does not change politics but changes the minds of those who control politics: namely, the public.
It is undeniable that Sept. 11 pushed many issues to the back burner. In the wake of such rocking events, concerns which just days before seemed legitimate policy initiatives looked trivial in comparison.
And while those events should have spurred us to heightened awareness of issues and concerns, we have the opportunity to speak up again.
The potential war with Iraq demands a return to dialogue. War used to have a signaling moment. But with the shift to a policy of pre-emptive attack, there must be a shift to pre-emptive protest. When there is no starting point, when we are the initiators of war, there is no dialogue because it slips under the radar of a public busy living their lives.
This is evident in the pro-war rhetoric floated in recent weeks. In the rush to force regime change in Iraq, there is a distinct silence in the halls of government about what many Americans hold to be true: That war is not a good idea.
The point is not to force one position, but force an acknowledgement of all positions. This is why protests like the ones happening this weekend in Washington, D.C. and across the country, including Madison, are important. Protests provide that counterpoint, act as the messenger to remind us all of the unsaid ramifications of our actions.
