Although I spend about two months each year in the United States, I often end up sitting here in Paris feeling helpless to affect events in the belly of the beast, even though the entire world feels the effects of these kinds of outrageous decisions. I do what I can to raise my voice, contribute to those candidates and causes that counter this madness, and just basically try to stay sane. Although I rail against the Democrats and even the antiwar movement for its relative passivity, the very limited reaction in countries like France and elsewhere in Europe is also reprehensible. The French were of course right about the Iraq invasion, as Chirac gloated about the other day, but they have been happy to take satisfaction in American stupidity and do nothing–other than one, count them, ONE big march against the invasion back in 2003–but sit back and feel superior. But America and Americans, at least a good number of Americans, created this awful situation and the responsibility now rests with those of us who have seen through the madness to stop it. My next trip over will be in April, and I pledge to attend every march and rally I can wherever I am. Maybe by then the Democrats will have found their spines and the antiwar movement its mettle.