The problem with Youth Activism

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

I found this article which talks about how school-sanctioned activism tends to pacify and remove a real desire for change, it specifically compares the anti-Vietnam war protests to the anti-Iraq war, it also discusses differences and similarities between the two generations.

http://www.prospect.org/cs/articles?article=the_problem_with_youth_activism

Your thoughts?

[Weezer]

Kids are taught the liberal value that rebellion and protesting is cool and hip so do it, but it doesn't really mean anything.

They are real revolutionary youth activists, sadly they don't have a stronghold on the movement anymore.

[Agnapostate]

Boomers had the threat of conscription and deployment into a battlefield far more lethal than modern U.S. occupations have created looming over their heads, which did tend to act as greater provocation. Just as a general rule, there's an ongoing debate on whether it's better to let the bad times roll, so as to goad victims into a more hostile outburst instead of the calmer and more controlled minor response to relatively smaller problems. There's no easy answer one way or the other.

[9]

there's an ongoing debate on whether it's better to let the bad times roll, so as to goad victims into a more hostile outburst instead of the calmer and more controlled minor response to relatively smaller problems.

lol, "an ongoing debate" among whom? Shepherds with delusions of grandeur?

[AK]

Kids are taught the liberal value that rebellion and protesting is cool and hip so do it, but it doesn't really mean anything.
Yet, they are also patronised when they do rebel. :blink:
"Anarkiddies have no ideology and just want chaos"

Che shirts and liberal punk bands aside - most kids are taught the opposite; that is, to make peace with the establishment. We are taught that our states are democratic and that if we want to make real change we should vote, that we are equal and of the same class. We are taught that any opposition to capitalism is inherently dictatorial or chaotic and disorderly, that our race and nation is best and that what is best for big business is inherently good for us. Any strike or workplace occupation is violently put down - and the attitudes spawning from this is reflected by many youth today who think that it is the workers' fault that their strike is put down with such force. Most of all, we are taught to honour our police and respect and support our military for doing such a "great job".

Nothing that the establishment spews out is telling me to rebel. It's telling me to be content with what I've got.

[Coelacanth]

Sad, but true. It can be difficult to get your head around the concept that you, the individual - especially the youth - has power. Most of the time, we believe we have power because it's been fed to us. The school sanctions it, so it must be okay. But beyond that...? Unthinkable. We're not willing to rebel more than they allow us to.

[Agnapostate]

lol, "an ongoing debate" among whom? Shepherds with delusions of grandeur?

Yeah, that too.

[MilkmanofHumanKindness]

Yet, they are also patronised when they do rebel. :blink:
"Anarkiddies have no ideology and just want chaos"

Che shirts and liberal punk bands aside - most kids are taught the opposite; that is, to make peace with the establishment. We are taught that our states are democratic and that if we want to make real change we should vote, that we are equal and of the same class. We are taught that any opposition to capitalism is inherently dictatorial or chaotic and disorderly, that our race and nation is best and that what is best for big business is inherently good for us. Any strike or workplace occupation is violently put down - and the attitudes spawning from this is reflected by many youth today who think that it is the workers' fault that their strike is put down with such force. Most of all, we are taught to honour our police and respect and support our military for doing such a "great job".

Nothing that the establishment spews out is telling me to rebel. It's telling me to be content with what I've got.

The problem, is that all revolutionary outbursts and symbols of rebellion get turned into commodities. Punk Rock sells records and ceases being Revolutionary, Che Guevara becomes a T-Shirt. Our most important battle I feel, is to fight against the commodification of Revolutionary youth culture.

Just as the above examples were turned into commodities, "revolution", "protest" "demonstration" have all become commodified so they are put into proper channels, in order to truly revolt, we have to disconnect our organizations with the Establishment, lest they destroy and weaken the movement.

The Establishment tells us to be content with what we have, but for those who are discontent it creates "proper channels" to guide your direction from revolution, to meaningless action.

[ReDSC]

As a communist in a primarily Christian, conservative high school, I can tell you I face either the reaction of being dismissed as "just another little rebel," or being called a Satan-worshipping, baby-murdering commie-pinko. I always think it's funny when I can call out errors on the part of my history teachers, respectfully, though, of course. I think of it this way: If I can act relatively "normal" despite my political beliefs, and carry myself with confidence, along with a strong knowledge of facts, then people might realize i'm serious or that communism isn't so bad.