- 10 Jul 2010 20:43
#13442553
I have a question for those who consider themselves supporters of revolutionary change in world economic and political systems. (Everyone who does not fit this description, thanks for reading. I hope I don't offend you if I invite you out of this discussion.)
How do you conceive of your role in the revolution? I was watching a talk by Zizek today on what it means to be a revolutionary, and I wondered about all the people in the audience, all the people who write and think and speak about revolutionary theory, practice, and methods. (Including myself.)
I'm a teacher, and I really believe that information and awareness are the most urgent ingredients needed for transformative change in the world today. But sometimes I feel like it's not enough. All the theorizing and conversating seems well and good, but it's hard to shake the feeling that it's simple navel-gazing. Like these are ways to keep us spinning our wheels while nothing really changes.
On the other hand, I can only laugh at concepts like the Attentat, as promoted by Goldman and Berkman. (And not just because I believe that violence of this sort is morally unjustified.) The idea of jump-starting a revolution while so many folks lack a theoretical awareness is just absurd.
So, are you waiting, preparing, taking action, laying the foundation for future action, or what?
How do you conceive of your role in the revolution? I was watching a talk by Zizek today on what it means to be a revolutionary, and I wondered about all the people in the audience, all the people who write and think and speak about revolutionary theory, practice, and methods. (Including myself.)
I'm a teacher, and I really believe that information and awareness are the most urgent ingredients needed for transformative change in the world today. But sometimes I feel like it's not enough. All the theorizing and conversating seems well and good, but it's hard to shake the feeling that it's simple navel-gazing. Like these are ways to keep us spinning our wheels while nothing really changes.
On the other hand, I can only laugh at concepts like the Attentat, as promoted by Goldman and Berkman. (And not just because I believe that violence of this sort is morally unjustified.) The idea of jump-starting a revolution while so many folks lack a theoretical awareness is just absurd.
So, are you waiting, preparing, taking action, laying the foundation for future action, or what?
.
![Image](http://www.fbesp.org/pfsig4.jpg)
"Whatever you are is never enough; you must find a way to accept something, however small, from the other to make you whole and to save you from the mortal sin of righteousness and extremism." Chinua Achebe
![Image](http://www.fbesp.org/pfsig4.jpg)
"Whatever you are is never enough; you must find a way to accept something, however small, from the other to make you whole and to save you from the mortal sin of righteousness and extremism." Chinua Achebe