Captain Future's Log

In commenting on Saturday's peace marches, inevitably the phrase "preaching to the congregation" is going to come up to demean their effectiveness. I catch the drift of the saying but basically it is nonsense. For who else does a preacher preach to but the congregation?

Certainly these marchers want to convince others of the rightness of their cause, but that effect is either out of their control (insofar as it's based on media coverage) or a secondary result. That effect is gained through the enthusiasm of the crowd and the beauty of the event, more than any words spoken from a podium.

Does anyone believe that people go to a candidate's rally to weigh his or her arguments? They may go skeptically, but they go for the feel, to sense the energy, to get a read on the person and his or her effect on fellow voters. If they are only interested in positions on issues, they can read all about them. But they go for the energy. So do the partisans. They all go for touch.

A peace demo's main effect is for the congregation to get a good look at each other. It is to have the common feeling, to be inspired, encouraged and energized. They can be missionaries when they go home, in their city, their neighborhood, their workplace.

These events tells people they aren't alone, and these events enact the love and beauty that the participants individually feel and desire. Beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder, so not everyone watching from afar is going to like what they see. But some will.

Maybe they will be surprised to see people just like them. Or like people they want to be. Or maybe their doubts or leanings are crystallized by a clever sign, or a potent symbol, or the testimony of a participant. And they will be enboldened to speak out in their communities.

And should it be necessary---as sadly, it probably will be--for people to demonstrate for peace (or healthcare or the environment, voting rights etc.) in five or ten years, some will remember being inspired by the peace marches of September 24, 2005. Just as some of its participants were enthralled by seeing or hearing about the crowds who congregated in Washington in 1971 or 1968 ir 1963.

Random Notes

This past week, thanks largely to a link from Raw Story to the Log entry bidding farewell to the NY Times columnists , Dreaming Up Daily had over 400 visitors in two days, and its best week overall. A diary based on the "Defeating ourselves with fear" post was on the recommended list for a full day at The Booman Tribune community blog.