Resistance is not futile, or at least that's the message of Aristosphanes' Lysistrata, in which the women of Athens, fed up with the Peloponnesian War, decide to withhold sex until the men of Athens and Sparta come to their senses and make peace. The famous Greek composer Mikis Theodorakis has written an opera based on this ancient Greek comedy that was first performed last April in Greece as part of the Cultural Olympiad 2001-2004, and featured the voice of another giant in modern Greek music, singer/songwriter George Dalaras. Needless to say, Theodorakis and Dalaras, who both have been steady champions of the political left and who were outspoken critics of the military junta which ruled Greece - with the United States' blessing, mind you- from 1967-1974, are both opposed to the war against Iraq, and vocally so. While American musicians bow to their corporate masters and censor themselves at the Grammies (leaving Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst as the unlikely hero of the evening), it is comforting at least to know that there are those out there who are still willing to speak out, act up, and fight for what is right.

Holy synchronicity, Batman! I can't believe I almost missed this - The Lysistrata Project is staging a series of all-day, round-the-world readings of Lysistrata today. Find yourself a venue and join the protest, or read the play online in its entirety at eserver.org.