such indiscreet slime i see you

Today is the two year anniversary of the beginning of the "war" in Iraq. Isn't that great? I was at an open mic last night and someone passed out a flyer about it and as an invitation to the planned ensuing protests. Otherwise, I'm not sure if I would've known. TWO YEARS. That's quite a while for something so murderous to remain still so tactically vague.
I had a related thought this morning. It goes like this: Do the people that consider themselves "conservatives" ever stage marches or protests that involve much more than furiously celebrating whatever slant the domineering government preaches? It's almost like pop-radio fans marching in support of Britney Spears...
But then, are those who involve themselves in any non-government-approved activity merely reacting to their own feelings of inferiority? "Where there is fear there is power," I read once in Starhawk's Fifth Sacred Thing.
Sure, public demonstrations are important because the masses are so swayed by the spectacle of it all (thanks Guy) and we can't all feel fulfilled canvassing door to door for The Environment or any other mendicant attempts to encourage social awareness among the world's population. But, besides an active (read: non-theoretical) expression of frustration, does the message get across? Life is not theoretical. I continue my befuddlement.
I attended the initial WTO protests in Seattle, a number of years ago. I felt passionately that it was important for an example to be set, that it's O.K. for the citizens of the United States to say: Hey! What's going on is bullshit. Please pay attention to the effects of our personal and collective actions, because they DO directly relate to many varying and severe consequences that not only will be endured by the future generations of every class, but even the people we do not know next door.
Since then, I've become a bit disenchanted with overt political expressions. I remain firm in my belief that large, foreign entities should not have more rights to express themselves in my community than those who are a part of that community. I don't beleive that having more money gives you the authority to exploit resources or people, for still greater financial profit. But, marching around, shouting things like, "1,2,3,4! This is a vegan war!" is fuckin' annoying.