The fliers are hanging ragtag on posting boards across campus, bold and headlined “WALKOUT NOVEMBER 2nd!”. Surely a rally composed of high school and college walkouts cannot by itself stop a war. Aren’t such protests self-indulgent and fruitless pursuits?

To some extent such rallies are exercises in aggrandizement, but on a deeper level they represent a youthful hope in the possibilities of unified communities. They represent a belief that if only enough people believed and committed to action, the world would change.

Mexican revolutionary Emiliano Zapata provides a quote that we should all live by: “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.”

Apathy is acceptance. The war in Iraq does affect everyone in the United States. After all, we are all paying for it. Every dollar we touch and spend contributes something to the murder of innocents.

Some people are more personally connected. They have relatives serving in Iraq or relatives who are having their homes bombed in Iraq.

True, the walkout on Wednesday won’t stop the war by itself but it is part of a larger movement. It is part of a larger group of people raising their voices against the war. Those walking out are reaffirming a belief that if enough voices speak out in our democracy, it won’t matter how much money is poured into politicians’ pockets. Things will change. One might as well be part of the positive.

In a democracy, we all have the obligation to be informed and speak out. Things can change, and they will change if we do not give up hope.

The road to justice many times starts from the hearts of small groups of individuals. If you’re in class, reading this preachy little editorial, consider walking out of class this Wednesday. It may end up being something you can feel good about.