I thought that this article by Eric Ruder was a good one with which to start my blogging. I think a lot of us right now are considering what are our roles as activists are now that Obama has been elected. There is a tremendous amount of hope out there and people are finally interested in politics and in "doing something." But for those of us who have been out there chanting, protesting, writing, reading, sticking it to the man, for a while it is kind of confusing. Some people think Obama really is going to end the war; others understand that his foreign policy is not all that different from what McCain had promised (100 years of war, anyone?)

But then again, if you really think about it, it isn't all that confusing. It's inspiring and motivating. People are excited to do something and that means that we are in a great position now to incorporate more people into our work, into our movement. Because the fact remains, that we need an anti war _movement_. Not just a protest here or there, or a redeployment plan, or withdrawal of only combat troops. The demands need to be made with a unified voice from below.

I think this article really makes it clear just what Obama promised, what we can expect, and exactly why we need an antiwar movement.

http://socialistworker.org/2008/12/12/still-need-an-antiwar-movement