Once again, tumult in the outside world will come home to Walnut Creek Saturday in the form of a rally to protest U.S. military intervention in Syria. The rally is organized by the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center, and will take place during prime shopping hours, 10 a.m. to noon, in the prime location of Mt. Diablo Boulevard and Main Street.

Given Walnut Creek’s central location and the fact that the Mt. Diablo Peace and Justice Center–the organization that works to raise political consciousness in these parts–is based in Walnut Creek should explain tomorrow’s “No New War vs. Syria” protest.

Walnut Creek likes to boast about Neiman Marcus or its nightlife, as evidence of a sophisticated, cosmopolitan mindset. Sorry, but $800 shoes or a fondness for appletinis don’t make you more worldly–just more pretentious. I think what makes Walnut Creek interesting is that it’s a community that allows for sometimes thoughtful, sometimes raucous public debates about serious issues confronting us locally, nationally or internationally.