There is a movement, centered at this web site, to execute a silent protest against Bush on his inauguration day. As the site points out, the Bush administration has become highly efficient and effective at gagging public protest, shipping them off to distant “free speech zones” and arresting anyone who dares criticize Bush within eyeshot of his motorcade. So they’ve developed new–and inevitable–tactics. Wear no anti-Bush shirts, buttons or other apparel, and carry no protest signs. Instead, mass along the route of the inaugural motorcade, and when Bush passes by, turn your back on him. It would be unspeakably embarrassing for the country and the administration for an American to be arrested for simply turning around–not that I’d put it past them.

This strategy will make it impossible for anyone–even those organizing and participating–to know who is participating and who is not. It also means the protesters will be thoroughly mixed in with the rest of the crowd. Because they will have no distinguishing appearance–they’ll just be facing the other way–it may not be as visually impressive as you might expect. But it will be telling, in more than one way: it will be virtually the only way that Americans can protest to their president in any direct fashion. That in itself tells you a lot about how hostile and uncaring this administration is to its own people in a country that is supposed to be the world’s leader in public participation and empowerment.