The spreading protests around the world and here in the US over union rights are exciting to behold.
I haven't been especially politically active for the last 3 years but I'm starting to feel inspired again. I went a political event for the first time in a couple years last night. Daniel Ellsberg and Mike Gravel were speaking at a fundraiser for Bradley Manning. Jeff Patterson of Courage to Resist mentioned how one of the leaked cables about Tunisia helped to spark the revolt there and it was an eye-opening reminder of how one person's actions can have a historical impact.
http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/106613/20110129/wi...
Bradley Manning probably had no idea what the result of his decision would be (assuming he was the source), but he made a selfless and powerful choice to take a risk and do what he thought was right.
I could easily take a skeptical conspiracist view on all of this, assuming that most of it has been engineered by elite forces to play out according to their plan, but I really don't believe that.
Now there are protests in North Korea and Wisconsin has passed the bill taking away union rights.
http://www.asianews.it/news-en/First-public-protes...
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110225/ap_on_re_us/us...
Taking to the streets and taking action don't feel like the same old pointless exercises anymore.