Blowin' In The Wind
How many roads must a man walk down
Before you call him a man?
Yes, 'n' how many seas must a white dove sail
Before she sleeps in the sand?
Yes, 'n' how many times must the cannon balls fly
Before they're forever banned?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many times must a man look up
Before he can see the sky?
Yes, 'n' how many ears must one man have
Before he can hear people cry?
Yes, 'n' how many deaths will it take till he knows
That too many people have died?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
How many years can a mountain exist
Before it's washed to the sea?
Yes, 'n' how many years can some people exist
Before they're allowed to be free?
Yes, 'n' how many times can a man turn his head,
Pretending he just doesn't see?
The answer, my friend, is blowin' in the wind,
The answer is blowin' in the wind.
Friday 30 January 2009
Democracy
The present government was elected upon the strength of the votes of 35% of 61% of the population of Britain. Does that undermine democracy? Well, aside from the fact that representative democracy in itself is not what I think of as democracy, the general principle of democracy is not that people's views should somehow magically be taken into account without them actually doing anything. It's that there are platforms for active citizens to make a difference. I'd love to see everyone in Cambridge being more politically active. Everyone in the world, in fact. My ideal world is one where everyone's so politically active that concensus decision making is the basis of all political activity.
But we couldn't force people to join our occupation and help us decide what it should be. If people thought it should have been something different, we would be the first to commend their actions if they decided to do something about that. A friend suggested that J-Soc and Israel Soc could combine to demand that the university issue a statement recognising the West Bank as part of Israel. If J-Soc and Israel Soc were to organise an occupation and run it using concensus decision making, however, the group that got involved with this week's one would, I'm sure, turn up in force, watch their films, hear their talks, and help to shape their decisions.
If you're interested in knowing more about the occupation, follow the link on the right-hand side, where you can find out all about it. Coming up: my thoughts on nationalism. Isn't that exciting! Please do make sure you let me know what you think by commenting!
But we couldn't force people to join our occupation and help us decide what it should be. If people thought it should have been something different, we would be the first to commend their actions if they decided to do something about that. A friend suggested that J-Soc and Israel Soc could combine to demand that the university issue a statement recognising the West Bank as part of Israel. If J-Soc and Israel Soc were to organise an occupation and run it using concensus decision making, however, the group that got involved with this week's one would, I'm sure, turn up in force, watch their films, hear their talks, and help to shape their decisions.
If you're interested in knowing more about the occupation, follow the link on the right-hand side, where you can find out all about it. Coming up: my thoughts on nationalism. Isn't that exciting! Please do make sure you let me know what you think by commenting!
Thursday 29 January 2009
Something to be Proud of
Images of angry protesters on the news can look quite scary. This week, I have had a taste of something that was labelled 'extreme': taking part in an occupation of a building of Cambridge University, which released demands relating to the plight of the people of Gaza. Over the course of the week, a lot emerged to get angry about. How many people criticised us without being willing to engage with us. How little the university authorities cared what a substantial group of committed students thought. How much effort they made to undermine us, through inconvenience to the students of the faculty we were occupying. How inseparable the issue of Israel's culpability and the suffering of the people of Palestine seems to be from that of Hamas' culpability in people's minds. How quick J-soc is to confuse criticism of the Israeli government with attacks on Jewish students. Maybe at points the expressions on our faces or the tone of our words would have looked scary broadcast on the news.
But then, at the same time, a lot emerged to be proud of. How big and strong Cambridge's student movement is, and how willing they are to take on the apathy of their fellow students, the clouding of the issue from certain groups, and the authoritarian measures of their apparently prestigious university. How much it's possible to achieve cooperatively, non-violently and discursively. How many individuals within the university staff are willing to speak out alongside us. How much love there is in the world that can actively overcome all the hatred, suffering and injustice.
So yes, uselessly waving placards, being told to go away and quietly raise money or volunteer like good little privileged people, and the endless criticism and underhanded treatment more radical actions are subjected to, can make protesters angry. But what met the people who were forced to leave the faculty before negotiations were complete was not mindless, ill-informed anger or violence; it was hugs, tears of mixed joy and disillusionment, and the promise that it would not end there.
But then, at the same time, a lot emerged to be proud of. How big and strong Cambridge's student movement is, and how willing they are to take on the apathy of their fellow students, the clouding of the issue from certain groups, and the authoritarian measures of their apparently prestigious university. How much it's possible to achieve cooperatively, non-violently and discursively. How many individuals within the university staff are willing to speak out alongside us. How much love there is in the world that can actively overcome all the hatred, suffering and injustice.
So yes, uselessly waving placards, being told to go away and quietly raise money or volunteer like good little privileged people, and the endless criticism and underhanded treatment more radical actions are subjected to, can make protesters angry. But what met the people who were forced to leave the faculty before negotiations were complete was not mindless, ill-informed anger or violence; it was hugs, tears of mixed joy and disillusionment, and the promise that it would not end there.
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