I'm with you, 'a', about learning from the immigrants march.

But you might find a few things you might not appreciate -- even if others do.

First, there were plenty of buses used, and trains, too. Metra and CTA.

Second, there were red flags and newspapers being sold there, too. It's just that the American and Mexican and Polish flags were way more numerous, which is also a good thing, at least for now.

Third, how about that speakers lineup? Featuring Luis and Da Mare? The Dems decided to jump on this one in a big way, which is fine by me, mixing left and liberals and even the center in a common front vs the right....And all those churches, too! Pretty 'mainstream,' don't ya think? Wish they'd do the same against the war, or at least with the same degree of mobilization.

Fourth, the Latino radio jocks, hammering away, for days. We got a few, like Cliff Kelly, who do this, but we gotta get some more.

But bored? Where were you on Michigan Ave? I didn't see a single bored face, but then maybe I missed the 'contingent of bored revolutionaries' and their float. All I saw were enthusiastic, empowered and upbeat people determined to stop the war.

Here's what I think.

First, the far right overreached on their new anti-immigrant bill. They made felons not just of immigrants, but ANYONE who even HELPS an immigrant in some way. When you add up all the citizens--of Polish, Irish, and Mexican ancestry--in this town who've done this, you've probably criminalized the majority of the population. Every Irish-American parishoner in Bridgeport knows a priest and a nun or two who've helped 'illegal' cousins from County Mayo or wherever, even if they haven't done it themselves.

So the lesson is: A just cause enjoys abundant support, and greater injustices aimed widely will build even more support, if the organizers know what to do. And in this case, the grassroots pro-immigrant organizers, and the immigrants themselves, knew exactly what to do.

A final note. You're entralled with spontaneity. I love the spontaneity of mass action, too. But it's one thing to appreciate it, but quite another to worship at its altar. Google "Lenin" and 'bowing to spontaneity' and 'worshiping spontaneity,' and dig into it to get a different take, even if it is a little boring.