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To CASI & Junior CASI (written in haste, last night - not unflawed). BG. >From: "Bert Gedin" <gedinbert@hotmail.com> >Reply-To: bham_network@yahoogroups.com >To: bham_network@yahoogroups.com >CC: gedinbert@hotmail.com >Subject: [bham_network] Pontifications from an Ivory Tower. >Date: Mon, 31 Mar 2003 23:52:39 +0000 > > >Dear Young & Old on the List, > >This guy may be long in the tooth, an old fuddy-duddy. But he still has a >few brain-cells left, which, intermittently, he mobilises to attempt a >little cerebral activity. > >A new phenomenon has appeared: school students have come out of hiding, to >express their views, publicly, in organised fashion. Good, bad, or...? Some >personal thoughts, sil vous plais. - A few weeks ago, I >witnessed an amazing spectacle: a well-attended student rally, in >Birmingham >City Centre. It was nothing, if not loud, lively, joyous & loud. It >certainly would have impressed many, who had ventured out, perhaps, for >some >w/e shopping. > >Anyone, young, middle-aged or old, could benefit from doing their >'home-work' about the issues, from books, journals, films, newspapers, TV, >'the net', through personal exchanges with family & friends etc., in school >or out of school. My feeling is, if you see what I mean, one should be >simple, yet not simplistic. Don't just chatter, but listen & learn, too. >Try >to think the issues through, and observe from various angles, including >views of political opponents, & from diverse foreign governments, e.g. >Norway or China. Endeavor to go beyond the words, rather than mere >face-value acceptance. Be mindful of differing interests involved, >political, religious, territorial, military, financial etc. Never be >content >just to shout the slogans, unless you have really understood the issues. > >At Chamberlain Square, I watched as some school speakers were trying to >make >themselves heard above all the excitement & shouting. To my mind, >although it's natural that young people lack much experience, >self-discipline is needed, to achieve maximum effect. After all, serious >issues are involved, it should entail more than just an excuse for skiving, >or a fun day out. To, as some did, hurl sticks & bottles in the air, is >pointless & silly. It could be dangerous, too. It might also alienate >people, esp. those who have been struck by a flying missile. > >So, what conclusions to draw, what is "the big picture"? The youthful >enthusiasm, undeniably, has been quite overwhelming. Despite some teething >problems, presently, the student anti-war movement has been an encouraging >development. Hopefully, the kids won't allow themselves to be 'hijacked' by >any agit/prop from older folks, however well-meaning. -War is cruel & >pitiless, no less so when "our" government is one of the perpetrators. The >youth, of this land, may well have something to say about it - loud and >clear! > >BG. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >tv > > > > > >_________________________________________________________________ >Hotmail messages direct to your mobile phone >http://www.msn.co.uk/msnmobile/mobilehotmail > _________________________________________________________________ Worried what your kids see online? Protect them better with MSN 8 http://join.msn.com/?page=features/parental&pgmarket=en-gb&XAPID=186&DI=1059 _______________________________________________ Sent via the discussion list of the Campaign Against Sanctions on Iraq. To unsubscribe, visit http://lists.casi.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/casi-discuss To contact the list manager, email casi-discuss-admin@lists.casi.org.uk All postings are archived on CASI's website: http://www.casi.org.uk