In case you're confused about where I stand on Iraq: I'm against the war. I'm against the Bush administration on a lot of things, and have been since well before George II was elected (yes, he was elected. Sure, it was a less-than-mandate election, to be sure, by Electoral College majority, as certified by the Supreme Court. But he was elected. Gore supporters, get over it–there's a better use of your energy.)

I do not count myself, however, among the traditional liberal left (My politics are a bit more complex than that). And ever since I was in college, as a Navy ROTC midshipman on a campus dominated by left-wing politically correct hit squads (remember the mid-80's?) I have had little tolerance for protest as performance art.

There was a group at the University of Wisconsin that called itself the Nu Parable Dance Troupe (that's Nu, as in Nuclear). They liked to gather in a public space and do “die-ins”, like they were the victim of a nuclear attack because of the unwise policies of the Reagan administration. Once, during the National Anthem of a nationally-televised football game, they ran out onto the field toward the Navy ROTC color guard and “died” (not knowing that the TV coverage had cut away for a commercial). One of them tried to grab the flag as he “died” and pull it down with him.

It wasn't pretty. I believe a classmate of mine on the color guard gave him a quick butt-strike with his parade M-1. The football crowd was not impressed with their performance; none of them even knew what they were supposed to be doing, or protesting for that matter. It was a classic Spartacus Youth moment.

Now, there are idjits “dying” on the streets of New York. Okay, it's direct action. Big whoop. But it just trivializes the whole anti-war effort, because it creates an opportunity for ridicule.

Want to get their attention? Go douse yourself with gasoline on the steps of the Pentagon and light a match–it's more effective and makes better television.