There is no escaping the fact that in many parts of the world, there is an undercurrent of discontent. Wherever one looks, there is some sort of movement designed to challenge a disenfranchising status quo: Some want the land to be given back; others want school fees to fall; and, yet again, others want the protection of exclusionary economic capital to come to an end.
Of course, and necessarily so, some want patriarchy to be checked. The list goes on.
Everywhere, it would seem, everything must fall.
Some of the movements, the ones which actually have the whiff of foresight about them, have some good ideas about achieving their goals, and others, the ones which divide without offering any reasons or solutions, just make noise.
The people asking for land have a point; it is long overdue, and, really, there is enough for everyone – they just want to see that something is being done, and that something is actually done within their lifetime.
The people asking for reduced tuition fees or free education also have a valid case for their demands. Education is vaunted as the great equaliser and anyone who is denied an opportunity to further themselves is effectively being relegated to a life of less, a life of constant struggle. However, at the same time, the more extreme elements in their faction fail to present a workable model for how the reduction or abolition of fees will be reasonably achieved. Instead, they prefer to pilfer and pillage campuses, leaving most bystanders wondering where on earth they plan on studying when the fees finally fall.
Those who want economic capital to be shared fairly also have a valid case. Even if the fees fall, there is no point in playing by the rules and getting degrees only to have the game rigged when the time comes to apply for job interviews, bank loans or other business opportunities that are supposed to be part of a system aimed at ensuring that chances of success are available to everyone. They also want to see something tangible happen this side of creation when it comes to addressing privilege.
Patriarchy can never be decried enough, really, but what is to be achieved with “men are trash” tweets? What is the plan there? What happens after the municipal trucks come to collect us? Then what?
I hear the pain, I see the injustices and I try to keep up with the literature and the discussions, but when I see such drivel I have to ask myself what comes next after such a sweeping summation. The same goes for those who want science, literature, art, music, and everything they are not a part of to fall. What next?
If everything falls, then what must rise in its place? Most importantly, who will build it?
If standing next to the smoking ash heap of history with matches in our hands and confused looks on our faces is part of the plan, then lead on. If not, we need reasoned plans of action.
– @remythequill on Twitter; remythequill.com
