(November 13, 2010 at 9:26 am)Cerrone Wrote: So why is it that when however many million people peacefully demonstrate against something they achieve nothing, and when people do take more vigorous action that they're usually successful in getting what they want?Revolutions only work if you have enough people pissed off about something. Revolutions fail when not enough people are involved, or when they turn nasty and people start siding with the ruling party rather than you, which is what happened in this case.
Students could have marched peacefully (and the majority did, thankfully), and they could have debated the politicians directly, but because of the actions of the 2,000 or so who decided to show aggression where no aggression was needed. As a result, they have turned the public opinion against them. If you want to campaign for free education, you have to show the public that you are worthy of receiving free education. I'm afraid that most of the public don't think that people who decide to riot and throw fire extinguishers off of buildings deserve to have free education. Remember, it is the public who are ultimately going to have to fund it, and most students I've talked to haven't given that a second thought.
Quote:Don't accuse me of not doing research.. thats such a cliche lol.. yeah the cops were unprepared, and drafted in the army eventually (wow btw) but so what? They were fucking cowards, fuck them, and fuck the pussyassness of the more passive of the students who objected to the sit in.You have so far failed to provide any evidence to the police being cowards, unless "protecting your fellow officers who are outnumbered and in danger" is some form of cowardice. If it is, then I have obviously been converted to Existentialist's way of thinking, since definitions no longer matter.
Quote:where the citizens displeased with the government start to condemn the citizens who stray from the governments legal guidelines of "peaceful protest".No, the citizens condemned the students who rioted and attacked police, all in the name of something which they (the citizens) have to pay for (free education). People were living in a dream world under labour, and the level of cuts that we've had to make in order to save the economy have snapped them out, and now people are money conscious again. Hard-earning citizens, unlike students, know exactly what "free education" entails...higher taxes. To them, that isn't worth it.
