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Considering how the war in Iraq has dragged on, the American people have been amazingly patient. But the coincident rise in social mood as reflected by stock prices explains this. Given social moods current juncture, it will be interesting to see how the latest “protest” plays out. Until now, such efforts have continually flamed out but the latest spark seemed to have a combination of spontaneity and breadth that suggests it may catch hold. Jane Fonda’s reappearance, after a Fibonacci 34-years away, may be another sign that the anti-war fervor of the late 1960s is ready to grab. The importance of the parallel to that era was covered here on October 19, 2006.

"It's a gathering storm," insists a Sacramento grandmother, who “didn't protest the Vietnam War but now, with children and grandchildren, feels compelled to make her voice heard. ‘We have power in numbers, and when they see us stand up in discontent,’ others will speak out, too.” The numbers are still relatively small, but Saturday’s protest in Washington coincided with anti-war events across the country. It comes right after George Bush sent another 21,500 more troops to Iraq, which matches the Johnson administration’s decision to escalate in 1968 (see December 14 entry for further details)
 
"What is going on here, in Washington, D.C., and in this country cannot stop," said the mother of a son who was court martialed for refusing to deploy to Iraq. “He joined the military, she said, because he believed he was doing his duty, but he came to realize the war was begun ‘on a lie.’” Just as EWFF suggested.

In a related development, two films about the war in Iraq were among the winners at the Sundance Independent Film Festival. We covered the preponderance bearish themes here last Wednesday. That tone was certainly echoed by two films about the war in Iraq, Grace is Gone, a drama, and a documentary No End In Sight. Both received glowing reviews and won awards at the conclusion of the festival. Both are now being geared for commercial release. No End In Sight won a special jury prize and this comment from the judges: the film "clearly illuminates the misguided policy decisions that have led to the catastrophic quagmire of the US invasion and occupation of Iraq." Isn’t it amazing to watch? As the trend reverses from up to down, the whole focus of the public shifts from patriotism and zealous pursuit of the bad guy terrorists to “lies” and “misguided policy.”