I recently had a long conversation with a young man who was very well informed about our invasion and occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan. He even knew about drones and the number of civilians we are killing as well as the war supplementals Obama is requesting - and getting - even after his campaign promise never to do this.

As we spoke I became more and more baffled. Here was a young man obviously smart and well informed, expressing much concern and sympathy for the lives of everyone, not just US soldiers, and he had no compunction to do anything about it.

After we both agreed that horrific things were happening, and in our name, I asked him what else has to happen before he himself would be willing to get out onto the streets and protest.

First he shrugged his shoulders. And I repeated what would happen to make him get active?

He looked at me sheepishly and said, "well, our country would have to be attacked." He owned how lame that is but how true.

As the horrific attack on the Gaza Floatilla by the Israeli military unfolds and a flurry of protests are being called for, I'm wondering if his prediction will come true.

We should get out in the streets to protest and hold this military accountable - but we should already BE in the streets holding our own military accountable.

I'm hoping the civilians who are getting killed at the hands of our military will also be remembered and this violence also be protested.