I want to start this post with the qualification that i'm not actually averse to the giving of humanitarian to people in need (be that as a result of political conflict or natural disaster), I actually think its a really good thing and that universities should be doing more of it!
One of the main 'demands' of the sit-ins has been the sending of humanitarian aid to Gaza, this was also among the more succesful demands (presumably because like this blog universities thought it was a good thing too). Why then have these socially responsible and ethically focused students only now decided this is a worthwhile thing to push for? Equally importantly how did they decide that Gaza was more worthwhile then any other part of the world for humanitarian aid?
There has been a genocide in the Darfur region of Sudan for years now and the Socialist Workers Party et al have never once called for the sending of aid there from our universities? Comic Relief comes around about this time every year and I don't remember seeing the assorted left groups fight for universities to increase their contribution. The list and examples are endless but the question is a genuine one.
The reality is that the humanitarian aid calls were the soft side of the political sword, the hope being that they painted the protestors as reasonable and then maybe the university would give in to some of the harsh political demands being made. This is accompanied by the fact that attacking Israel helps to unite the left (and recruit for the SWP), has a broader appeal then the genuine lefty mission of bringing about the revolution and brings in elements of the student body who otherwise have nothing in common with the left. It's not very principled but it is pragmatic.
The ultimate irony of course has been that at the same time as the students have expressed outrage over Gaza nothing has been said by the same people about Sri Lanka. Tim Marshall said it better then I could in his blog http://blogs.news.sky.com/foreignmatters/Post:71d5e02f-ffd6-40db-bc02-e18dbf646030
I would love for someone to explain this...
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"I would love for someone to explain this... "
ReplyDeleteOh don't you worry, this is only a start for a lot of people. Political activism in unis has been nigh on dead for a long time, and everyone has to start somewhere. I'm sure, in fact no I'm certain, that coverage of Darfur, Zimbabwe etc will ensue. We are in any case very aware, very disgusted, and desperate to act...
Plus, the reason why many started with Gaza is because it linked directly back to the universities; who invest in the (advanced weapons) arms trade, and who can help further the education of those in disrupted unis over there. After all, most people have been crying 'why should unis get involved', and that's why. By beginning here there is a platform of interested young students to find each other, get together and begin a new role of (not just student) activism in the UK. From here we can now link up nation wide and start putting pressure on more political bodies about their continual 'ignorance' to what'd going on in other parts of the world; as after all, we'll need to get better versed and more intelligent so as not to induce similar claims as the anti-semitism in this case when we address these 'big boy' bodies.
There are a thousand different causes and injustice in the world some start with Gaza some start with others - but despite your words you a start with nothing - there are people like Tristan Andersen who are prepared to put their body where their mouth is and suffer self sacrifices for those weaker than themselves - your role in life to denigrate those that try to make this world better - that is the real poverty of your soul.
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