Who has not clambered onto a bus, headed off to a protest demonstration and stood amid sparse company in the rain, thinking, "What's the use?" Who has not listened to some plucky orator rasping through a bullhorn, "Let our message go forth ... " and thought privately, "Forth to whom? Who's listening? Who cares?"
These days, there's a spirited movement growing across the United States opposing a war against Iraq. There have been some big events, like the rallies in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, attended by vast throngs. But there have also been rallies and vigils by the score in small towns.
Are they making a difference?
Of course they are, just like the demonstrations in Europe, the Middle East, Australia and elsewhere. U.S. ambassadors and CIA heads of station may deprecate and downplay the world protests in their reports, but they cannot dismiss them, any more than can the White House. How can you ignore a turnout of 500,000 in Florence?
