Protest: Like a gentleman

 

As a student from America, where the general mood towards politics is rather somber, and the scene is only peppered with radicals (such as the tea-partiers), coming to the UK was quite a shock. Witnessing student activism here was incredible. From the lecture I was given about being a ‘global citizen’ from Mr. Forstenzer, the President of the Student Union, to the socialists handing out “down with Capitalism” fliers in the Union, the involvement of students here borders on the unreal.

So I was quite surprised by an article I read asserting that the average British student was too polite in debate, and should instead act more like a German student activist. The author recounts several instances of student activism both here at Sheffield and in Berlin, and suggests that the Sheffield student pulls a leaflet out of the German book. Well, Mr. Leeuwen, I respectfully disagree.

While I think the degree of student activism here is delightful, and a welcomed change from the apathetic and willful ignorance of the average American student toward politics, there are right ways and wrong ways to attract attention to a political issue, and I think the German students have taken the latter form. It’s right to want student activism at Sheffield to be forceful, perhaps he is right, the students here are a bit docile. But does this mean resorting to throwing petrol bombs and hurling stones?

We, at the University level, should demand a higher class of activism. I am an advocate of the “use your words” school, and think that instead of resorting to violence, we should employ our greatest asset – our intellectual ability. Passion is a mighty force, and I encourage students to take advantage of that passion; but, we must be mindful that in the hands of anyone, passion can also be a deadly weapon.

You have to wonder to whom the German students are appealing when they protest in such vulgar ways. Fellow students? I think not. They’re attracting people who don’t take the time to look into the issues and instead are drawn in by the cheap thrills of blowing up a McDonald’s or setting on fire a Burger King. It’s theatrics. And it’s a disappointing show, especially coming from students, from whom more, and better, is expected.